So after hitting his 58th and 59th home runs of the season in the Yankees’ win over Milwaukee Sunday, what was on Aaron Judge’s mind in the clubhouse?
“I’m thinking we’re coming down the stretch, and we have some big games coming up,” Judge said coyly. “That’s really the only thing on my mind right now.”
Judge homered in the third and seventh innings, and after the second one, many left American Family Field in Milwaukee, as the Yankees were up 10-4 and Judge wasn’t likely to see another plate appearance.
However, with two outs in the ninth, Aaron Hicks singled, bringing Judge to the plate one more time – and instead of a homer, which would have made his record-tying 11th multi-homer game this season his first-ever three-homer game, he rapped a two-run double that one-hopped the wall, and that turned out to bring in two big insurance runs in what finished as a 12-8 win.
“With a tough righty throwing sidearm like that, and two outs, I was focused on trying to get a good pitch to hit and getting those runs in,” Judge said. “We had a big lead, but they’re a scrappy team, so I wasn’t thinking about a home run, just trying to do my job.”
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Judge was so locked in he didn’t even notice balls were being switched out, as his next homer ties Babe Ruth and makes Aaron only the third man in American League history to hit 60 dingers in a season.
So as he chases history, now just two homers away from tying the Yankees franchise and AL record of Roger Maris’ 61 in ’61, how is Judge keeping that chase out of his mind?
“It’s not too difficult if your main focus and your main objective is to go out there and win a game,” Judge said. “The numbers, they’re just numbers. I’m focused on doing what I can to be a good teammate and help the team win. If that means hitting a homer, it means hitting a homer, but it’s never been my focus or main objective when I play this game.”
“His priorities are correct: it’s about the team and being a great teammate. If you can do that, the rest will take care of itself, especially when you’re as good a player as he is,” manager Aaron Boone added. “Sometimes even the best teammates can get caught up in the personal stuff, but I think he’s really confident in his ability so he knows the numbers will be there, so he doesn’t concern himself with it at all. When you have that simple mindset and focus…Aaron embodies that.”
Only Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, whose totals of 73 and 70, respectively, have both stood as the single-season record, had more homers through 146 team games than Judge does in 2021. He’s quite a few ahead of both Ruth’s pace for 60 and Maris’ pace for 61, and on pace for 65 – which would be tied for fourth-most ever.
As he said, numbers are just that, but there are some other numbers Judge is creeping close to: a Triple Crown. His 4-for-5, two-homer, four RBI Sunday has him in the lead in home runs and RBI by 22 and 15, respectively, and at .315, his batting average is just one point behind Minnesota’s Luis Arraez for the league lead.
“You set personal goals and have dreams, especially as a kid, if you ever reach MLB, but never in your wildest dreams do you think that would ever come true,” Judge smiled when asked if he ever dreamt of that feat. “You hope, pray, and work, but you never know what’s going to happen until it does.”
“I think sometimes I take him for granted, but it’s so good what he’s doing,” Boone added. “And just the ability to not get caught up in it; he keeps it really simple, focusing on his at-bats and ready to go – and I know that the thing he probably takes the most pride in is being able to hit for a high average. When you consider what he’s doing, with the talent and the person, nothing is surprising.”
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Judge’s last four homers have come in a pair of two-homer games, and Yankees fans could see history sometime this week when the Bombers play six at the Stadium starting Tuesday – a week the skipper is looking forward to, harkening back to seeing history unfold on the field 25 years ago.
“It should be really special; we’re in a pennant chase, and there will be that added buzz every time he comes up,” Boone said. “I experienced that playing against Sammy (Sosa) and McGwire in ’98, where every time they came up, it was an event. I think where we are in the race and what he’s doing should create an awesome environment at the Stadium.”
And in true Judge fashion, when asked by YES Network's Meredith Marakovits what it would mean to tie and/or break Maris' record in the Bronx, Judge gave an answer best described as "Judgian."
"Let's talk about it if it happens. I don't want to get ahead of myself. We have to focus on winning, but if that ever happens, I'll give you a good answer."
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