The New York Yankees are not like other teams in the Major Leagues. Sure, the baseball juggernaut has had its fair share of on-field success, but the overall (and media-)perception of the Bronx Bombers is different from any other franchise. From the makers of The House that Ruth Built and The House of Steinbrenner now comes The Hype that Judge Built.
With three games left in the regular season, Aaron Judge sits at 61 home runs – tied with Yankees legend Roger Maris for the team and the American League record. Now, outfielder has three games left to secure the AL honors for himself: A double-header on Tuesday as well as the last game of the season on Wednesday, all of which will be played at the Texas Rangers.
Granted, the Yankees have had a successful MLB season. They are the AL East champions and are consequently gearing up for a playoff run. With the division locked up, the majority of the media attention has – rightfully so – shifted to Aaron Judge and his pursuit of the home run record. But this is where the terminology becomes slightly more complicated.
Judge and Marris, the two Yankees greats, are tied for seventh in the MLB’s single-season record books. There are still six spots and three names above them [Sosa (3x), McGwire (2x), and ultimately, Bonds]. While Judge is going for the AL honors, he is still twelve home runs away from the MLB’s all-time mark set by Bonds in 2001.
When trying to properly gage Aaron Judges 2002 season, two things are for certain: Firstly, all three players above him on the HR list have been linked to steroid use. And secondly, despite the media frenzy, the Yankees number 99 is putting together a historic campaign. Judge doesn’t just lead the MLB in home runs but also in runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and numerous other categories.
So, whether you’re rooting for Judge to break the record or you’re rooting against it … whether you’re donning the iconic pinstripe jersey or you’re among the many that can’t stand what’s arguably the most recognizable sports logo on the planet … or whether you’re just counting the TV appearances of an excited Maris family each game the Yankees play now … Aaron Judge is on the brink of baseball history, however people are trying to phrase it.
