Aaron Judge continues to make waves in baseball, breaking records left and right. In a recent game against the Cubs, he hit his 350th career home run, becoming the fastest player in history to reach this milestone, doing it in just 1,088 games.
This achievement is remarkable, considering he surpassed the previous record holder, Mark McGwire, by a full season. Judge’s two-run homer in the ninth inning solidified this milestone, even amid a 5-2 loss for the Yankees.
After the game, Judge reflected on his achievement with humility. “I honestly got nothing, to be honest,” he said with a smile. He credited his teammates for supporting him over the years, saying, “It’s really just a shoutout to all the teammates I’ve had.”
Judge burst onto the scene in 2017, hitting 52 home runs in his first full season. He later set the American League record with 62 home runs in 2022, surpassing legend Roger Maris. Just last season, he hit 58 homers, proving his consistency and power in the game.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Judge’s talent, stating, “He’s playing in a different league.” Boone acknowledged how Judge reached this milestone 200 games faster than McGwire, underscoring his greatness.
When looking at the fastest players to 350 home runs, it’s striking that only one of the top six—Harmon Killebrew—is in the Hall of Fame. The other five, including McGwire and Alex Rodriguez, faced controversies over performance-enhancing drugs, raising questions about their legacies.
Interestingly, Judge has spoken with McGwire before, though their conversations didn’t focus on hitting techniques. Instead, they shared personal stories, including talks about McGwire’s son entering baseball.
Currently, Judge is batting .358, and his 35 home runs this season mark the most by a Yankee before the All-Star break, surpassing his previous record of 34 from last year.
Judge’s journey is truly inspiring. As he breaks records, he lifts the entire team, proving that success is often a team effort. With each home run, he adds another exciting chapter to baseball history.
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