Aaron Judge is moving on up.
The New York Yankees' 6-foot-7 superstar has climbed a spot on the legendary franchise's all-time home run list.
On Tuesday night, Judge's homer meant that he has 359 for his career. That broke a tie with Yogi Berra, who hit 358.
Judge is now alone in fifth place on the franchise's leaderboard.
“Passing Yogi, it’s pretty special,” Judge told reporters after the game. “All-time great Yankee, what he meant to this organization. Even when he was done playing, being around, the stories we heard. He’s the definition of a true Yankee. So anytime you’re on a list with a guy like that, it’s pretty remarkable.”
The four names above him are the most legendary of legends:
- Babe Ruth - 659 (of 714 career)
- Mickey Mantle - 536
- Lou Gehrig - 493
- Joe DiMaggio - 361
Astoundingly, the top-five had been the same five players since Aug. 7, 1957. And they'd been in the same exact order since July 29, 1966, when Mantle hit his 494th home run to pass Gehrig.
“What Aaron’s done in this league and the seasons he’s had, he’s been in some rarified air, obviously," manager Aaron Boone told reporters. There’s been these impressive lists or names that he’s up next to, but when you see a career list like that with this organization and where he is now in the center of it -- it’s pretty awesome.”
Berra once told Johnny Bench of the career catcher home run record: "I always thought the record would stand until it was broken."
And now, Berra looks down from the diamond in the sky and is probably feeling the same way.
“The way Yogi played the game, what he meant to the pinstripes,” Judge said, “you know how much it meant, being a New York Yankee, to him. I feel the same way. I’m honored to wear this jersey. So it’s pretty cool to be on that list.”
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