Aaron Judge – Building a Legacy of Greatness, Even Without a World Series Ring
Aaron Judge has solidified his place in baseball history by winning his second AL MVP Award in 2024, following his first in 2022. With his dominance at the plate and record-setting performances, Judge continues to elevate his legacy. Let’s explore what makes him one of the all-time greats—and how his career compares to other Yankee […]
Aaron Judge has solidified his place in baseball history by winning his second AL MVP Award in 2024, following his first in 2022. With his dominance at the plate and record-setting performances, Judge continues to elevate his legacy. Let’s explore what makes him one of the all-time greats—and how his career compares to other Yankee legends.
Historic Accomplishments in Regular Seasons
Judge’s 2024 MVP season, highlighted by 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, and 122 runs, places him among the most elite hitters in baseball history.
Here’s a breakdown of his remarkable achievements:
Multiple 50-Homer Seasons: Judge joins an exclusive group of just six players in MLB history with at least three 50-homer seasons. Only Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire have achieved four or more.
RBIs and Runs Scored: Judge has surpassed 130 RBIs twice in the past three years, a feat accomplished by only 14 players since 2000. His ability to score over 120 runs in a season has placed him alongside names like Albert Pujols and Barry Bonds, with three such seasons in the last decade.
Elite WAR Seasons: Judge has recorded a WAR (Wins Above Replacement) exceeding 10.5 in two of the last three seasons. Only 18 players in MLB history have reached that mark, and Judge stands alongside legends like Willie Mays, Rogers Hornsby, and Mickey Mantle as one of just 10 to achieve it multiple times.
OPS+ Mastery:With OPS+ seasons of 210+ in both 2022 and 2024, Judge joins a group of only 10 players to achieve such efficiency at the plate, including Ruth, Josh Gibson, and Ted Williams.
These numbers emphasize that Judge isn’t just excelling—he’s delivering generational greatness.
Yankees Legacy: Joining the MVP Elite
With his second MVP Award, Judge enters the pantheon of Yankees greats who have won multiple MVPs:
- Lou Gehrig (1927, 1936)
- Joe DiMaggio (1939, 1941, 1947)
- Yogi Berra (1951, 1954, 1955)
- Mickey Mantle (1956, 1957, 1962)
- Roger Maris (1960, 1961)
- Alex Rodriguez (2005, 2007)
Among this elite group, Judge stands out for his modern dominance, excelling in an era of intense competition and advanced metrics.
