Aaron Judge sets historic NY Yankees record, surpasses nearly century-old mark

Aaron Judge shows no signs of slowing down at the plate for the New York Yankees. The 2024 AL Championship MVP continued his dominant season with another standout performance against the Seattle Mariners. Judge, who is leading the team in nearly every major offensive category, has now reached a historic milestone in franchise history.

The Yankees’ 24–17 record is due in large part to Judge’s stellar play. He’s putting together one of the most impressive seasons of his career, proving that last year’s World Series run was no fluke. His impact has also helped fans quickly move on from the departure of Juan Soto, who joined the Yankees’ city rivals.

Judge currently leads in 14 of 27 statistical categories. Among his most impressive numbers is a 3.5 WAR through the Yankees’ first 41 games of the season. He’s also logged 65 hits and 14 home runs, solidifying his place among the league’s elite hitters.

With those numbers, Judge now ranks among the top three Yankees in franchise history for highest batting average through the first 40 games while hitting at least 14 home runs. He’s batting .409 during that stretch, surpassing the legendary Lou Gehrig, who hit .397 over the same span in 1927.

Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees.

Judge nearly joins Yankees legends with hot start

Through his first 40 games of the season, Judge posted a .409 batting average with 14 home runs, a performance that nearly placed him alongside two Yankees legends. Mickey Mantle hit .430 over the same span in 1956, while Paul O’Neill posted a .456 average in 1994. Judge came close to matching those franchise-best marks.

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But Judge isn’t stopping there. Determined to make history in pinstripes, he’s on pace for another MVP-caliber season. If the season ended today, he’d likely be the frontrunner for the award. With plenty of games still to play, Judge is expected to add significantly to his totals in runs, hits, and home runs.

Judge nearly matches historic starts by Foxx and Ramirez

Judge’s red-hot start also drew comparisons beyond the Yankees’ franchise. His .409 average through 40 games came close to the marks posted by Hall of Famers Jimmie Foxx (.425) and Manny Ramirez (.412), two of the best hitters in MLB history. Judge’s numbers put him within striking distance of those elite performances.

One thing is clear: Judge is off to a spectacular start. While the Yankees have faced some inconsistency under manager Aaron Boone, they remain at the top of their division. The team continues to put up impressive numbers, and the fans are taking notice.