Aaron Judge smashes 45th home run, ties Roger Maris on all-time Yankees list
from Mike Santa Barbara, with YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
Over a week into August, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is on a historic pace at the plate this season.
On Wednesday, Judge not only smashed his league-leading 45th home run of the season but, in the process, also tied a Yankee legend in the record books.
Judge took Seattle Mariners’ reliever Penn Murfee deep in the seventh inning for his 203rd career long-ball, moving him into a tie with Roger Maris for 16th on the Yankees’ all-time home run list.
Homer 45 and RBI 99 for @TheJudge44! pic.twitter.com/kkSfVEgkko
— MLB (@MLB) August 10, 2022
Judge becomes just the fifth Yankee to hit 45 or more home runs in a season multiple times, joining Mickey Mantle (2), Alex Rodgriguez (2), Lou Gehrig (4) and Babe Ruth (9).
In MLB history, only Barry Bonds (47) in 2001 and Ruth (46) in 1921 hit more home runs than Judge through 112 games.
Most HR Through 112 Team Games in MLB History:
2001 Barry Bonds – 47
1921 Babe Ruth – 46
2022 Aaron Judge – 45
1998 Mark McGwire – 45— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) August 10, 2022
As he continues to smack balls out of the yard, Judge also widens the path toward breaking Maris’ American League single-season record for home runs at 61, set in 1961.
Earlier this week, Maris’ son, Kevin Maris, wished Judge ‘the best’ in his run toward immortality but added, ‘I don’t know if anybody likes their record being broken.’
Judge leads the league in home runs (45), RBI (99), slugging percentage (.681), and OPS (1.077).
The 30-year-old has already set himself up for a big payday this offseason. The Yankees and Judge avoided arbitration in June, agreeing to a one-year, $19 million deal for 2022. Judge can be an unrestricted free agent this winter.