33 years old. And Aaron Judge feels like he’s just getting started. Captain America is rolling high with an average of .354, 35 homers, and an OPS of 1.188. Every swing is opening the next chapter in his story that’s still being written, frame by frame, and home run by home run. And now, he has a clear plan for his future.
Aaron Judge’s recent milestone—hitting his 350th career home run, the fastest player ever to achieve that record in just 1,088 games—wasn’t just another number. It was a picture of what his career has become. With each blast, he pursues legends, quickly catching up to franchise greats like Lou Gehrig, A-Rod, and McGwire. But he has his sights on something bigger before he leaves the diamond.
When Aaron Judge recently spoke with The Athletic, he expressed his wish to play until his 40s. He said, “That’s the plan.” While his current deal lasts until 2031 (39 years old), he might not retire right after. Judge explained further, “When I signed this deal, one of the things I promised was that I wanted to come in and be a contributor all the way to the end of that contract. So hopefully we’ll continue that.”
With his 350th homer, Aaron Judge is sitting fourth among the Yankees’ all-time leaderboard, after Lou Gehrig (493), Mickey Mantle (536), and Babe Ruth (659). And to be fair, it feels like passing them won’t be a pipe dream for him.
Jun 26, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts after hitting a two run home run in the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
“To get near those guys, wow. That’s a special trio right there. It’s kind of crazy to judge a career against somebody who did it for 20 years and had such a great career, so maybe when I’m done playing, I can look back and see the things that I’ve done. Any sentence with those three guys is special,” reflected Judge.
While The Judge remains humble, true to his own nature, the BTS applause never fades. Hitting coach James Rowson mentioned once, “Nothing he does is normal. So, I would never bet against him, and I would count on him to do more than anyone has done before him.”
Then there is his manager, Aaron Boone. “I don’t know what to say about it. He is playing in a different league, really.” Well, the numbers back it up as Judge joined Ruth, McGwire, Sosa, and A-Rod, becoming the fifth player in MLB history to hit more than 50 home runs in three different seasons.
Wait… there’s more than the baseball diamond that has happened with Aaron Judge in the Big Apple.
Beyond baseball: Judge named NY top athlete over NBA & NFL stars
On July 16, SNY published its list of the “Top 10 New York Athletes Right Now.”And Aaron Judge was number one there, beating out stars from NBA, NFL, WNBA, and others. Take a moment and guess which stars he beat…
Jalen Brunson of the Knicks (rather the face of the Knicks), Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto of the Mets, and even Garrett Wilson and Dexter Lawrence II from NFL. A true sports supremo! SNY even remarked, “The captain of the Yankees has overtaken Brunson for the top spot on this list.”
No fighting that New York boasts the Knicks, Nets, Giants, Jets, Rangers, Islanders, and Liberty, but Aaron Judge stands out. And it’s not just with his stats, but his leadership, calm demeanor, and bond with fans, too, that make him the heart of NYC.
So, while we argue about the baseball GOAT, maybe, we have the New York sports scene GOAT here… Thoughts?
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