Aaron Judge Ties Major League Record with 50th Home Run

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge solidified his status among baseball’s all-time greats on Wednesday, tying a major league record by hitting 50 home runs in a season for the fourth time during an 8-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox.

Judge delivered his historic 50th home run with a three-run shot to right-center field, giving the New York Yankees a 3-1 lead in the second inning. He added his 51st homer in the eighth with a solo blast, solidifying his impressive performance for the night.

This feat puts him alongside legends Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa, who are the only other players to have four seasons with at least 50 home runs. Judge also achieved his 46th career multihomer game, tying Mickey Mantle for second on the Yankees’ all-time list, surpassed only by Ruth.

Earlier this month, Judge moved past Yogi Berra and Joe DiMaggio to take fourth place on the Yankees’ all-time home run list. He also recently tied Ted Williams for the most intentional walks in a season for an American League player with 34.

Despite his personal achievements, Judge stated he is focused on the team’s goals. “If you sit back and admire it, you’re going to stop your momentum,” he said. “A lot of work that needs to be done. Hopefully, I have a long career here and we can talk about it at the end.”

The Yankees’ victory, combined with a loss from the Toronto Blue Jays, moved New York into a tie for first place in the American League East with just four games left in the season. Judge stressed the importance of staying focused, saying, “If we just take care of what we do, we’ll be where we want to be.”

Winning the division title is essential for the Yankees to secure a chance at their first World Series title since 2009. Earlier in the game, Judge also displayed impressive defense, making an 85.8 mph throw to second base, signaling a positive recovery from a right elbow injury that had sidelined him.

Since September 11, Judge has been on fire, batting .439 with seven home runs, contributing to the Yankees’ 10-3 record during this stretch. Manager Aaron Boone praised Judge’s performance, noting his consistent effort at the plate.

The atmosphere in the stadium changed as chants of “M-V-P” echoed throughout the game, further emphasizing Judge’s significance to the team as they approach the postseason.

He continues to assert his place among the all-time greats, with a season batting average of .328 and leading the league in OPS at 1.136, along with 109 RBIs.