Aaron Judge Takes His Place Among Yankees Legends
Aaron Judge is climbing the ranks of Yankee history. The towering 6-foot-7 outfielder achieved a significant milestone on Tuesday night by hitting his 359th career home run, pushing him past the legendary Yogi Berra, who finished his career with 358. This achievement places Judge fifth on the New York Yankees’ all-time home run leaderboard.
“Passing Yogi, it’s pretty special,” Judge reflected after the game. “He’s an all-time great Yankee, and his contributions to this organization are immense. Even after his playing days, the stories we heard about him and what he represented—he’s the definition of a true Yankee. Being on a list with a guy like that is remarkable.”
The four names now above Judge on the prestigious list are some of the most iconic figures in baseball history:
Babe Ruth – 659 (of 714 career)
Mickey Mantle – 536
Lou Gehrig – 493
Joe DiMaggio – 361
Remarkably, this top five has remained unchanged since August 7, 1957, and the order has been consistent since July 29, 1966, when Mantle hit his 494th home run to surpass Gehrig.
Manager Aaron Boone praised Judge’s accomplishments, noting the significance of his place in the franchise’s history. “What Aaron’s done in this league and the seasons he’s had—he’s been in some rarified air, obviously,” Boone said. “When you see a career list like that with this organization and where he is now in the center of it, it’s pretty awesome.”
Reflecting on Berra’s impact, Judge recalled a conversation where Berra once remarked to Johnny Bench about the career home run record: “I always thought the record would stand until it was broken.” Now, as Judge ascends the ranks, Berra’s legacy continues to resonate.
“The way Yogi played the game and what he meant to the pinstripes is monumental,” Judge stated. “You can see how much it meant to him to be a New York Yankee. I feel the same way. I’m honored to wear this jersey, so it’s pretty cool to be on that list.”
