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Aaron Judge is doing exactly what Yankees greats are supposed to do. He is breaking records, carrying the lineup, and making the Stadium rock again. As his prime unfolds, he is putting his name in the record books next to men like Derek Jeter, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth.
So, it’s fair to ask the bigger question: where does Judge stand among the legends in pinstripes?
Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter pose together at the press conference announcing Judge became the New York Yankees' 16th captain. © Jessica Alcheh-Imagn Images
From 2017 to 2022, Judge hit .284 with 220 home runs and a .983 OPS. He won Rookie of the Year, racked up multiple All-Star nods, and in 2022, delivered a season for the ages with 62 home runs, 131 RBI, a 1.111 OPS, and 10.6 WAR. It was the best season by any Yankee since Mickey Mantle’s 1961 MVP campaign.
But the bar in the Bronx is different.
Babe Ruth’s best five-year stretch (1927–31) produced 255 home runs, a .347 average, and back-to-back World Series titles. Lou Gehrig drove in 776 runs over the same span and hit .349, including a record 184 RBI in 1931. Joe DiMaggio hit .350 from 1937–41, won two MVPs, and brought home four rings.. Mantle? He won two MVPs and hit 195 homers between 1955–59.
Judge’s numbers—especially the power—hold up in that company.
His five-year home run pace is right there with Mantle’s, and his peak WAR matches some of their best seasons.. He belongs in the conversation.
But there is one area where Judge falls well short of the men he will join in Monument Park someday. He’s never won anything other than awards.
And that’s where Judge is still chasing shadows. Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Jeter—every one of them led the Yankees to championships during their prime. Judge won his first pennant last season, but he hasn’t had that true Yankees October moment – yet.
There is no doubt we are watching one of the Yankees’ Greats right now. His start to this season has been historic. But the greats built their legacies in October. Judge has the numbers and the awards.
He just needs that World Series ring.
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So, it’s fair to ask the bigger question: where does Judge stand among the legends in pinstripes?
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Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter pose together at the press conference announcing Judge became the New York Yankees' 16th captain. © Jessica Alcheh-Imagn Images
From 2017 to 2022, Judge hit .284 with 220 home runs and a .983 OPS. He won Rookie of the Year, racked up multiple All-Star nods, and in 2022, delivered a season for the ages with 62 home runs, 131 RBI, a 1.111 OPS, and 10.6 WAR. It was the best season by any Yankee since Mickey Mantle’s 1961 MVP campaign.
But the bar in the Bronx is different.
Babe Ruth’s best five-year stretch (1927–31) produced 255 home runs, a .347 average, and back-to-back World Series titles. Lou Gehrig drove in 776 runs over the same span and hit .349, including a record 184 RBI in 1931. Joe DiMaggio hit .350 from 1937–41, won two MVPs, and brought home four rings.. Mantle? He won two MVPs and hit 195 homers between 1955–59.
Judge’s numbers—especially the power—hold up in that company.
His five-year home run pace is right there with Mantle’s, and his peak WAR matches some of their best seasons.. He belongs in the conversation.
But there is one area where Judge falls well short of the men he will join in Monument Park someday. He’s never won anything other than awards.
And that’s where Judge is still chasing shadows. Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Jeter—every one of them led the Yankees to championships during their prime. Judge won his first pennant last season, but he hasn’t had that true Yankees October moment – yet.
There is no doubt we are watching one of the Yankees’ Greats right now. His start to this season has been historic. But the greats built their legacies in October. Judge has the numbers and the awards.
He just needs that World Series ring.
Related: Yankees Not Ready to Remove Struggling Devin Williams From Closer Role, Report Says
Related: Aaron Judge’s 2024 Numbers Show Why 2025 Could Be Even Bigger
Related: Aaron Judge’s 2024 Numbers Show Why 2025 Could Be Even Bigger
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