Aaron Judge is having a historic 2024 season. On Saturday, the right fielder achieved a feat no other New York Yankees player has ever accomplished in the franchise’s storied history.
During the fifth inning of the game against the Baltimore Orioles, Judge followed a home run by designated hitter Juan Soto with a solo shot of his own. It was Judge’s 34th homer of the year, breaking the franchise record for most home runs in a single season before the All-Star break.
Judge was one of the previous holders of that record, having hit 33 homers in the first half of the 2022 campaign. He was tied with outfielder Roger Maris, who also hit 33 home runs before the break during his legendary 1961 season.
Now, Judge stands alone.
Only six players in MLB history have hit more than 34 home runs before the All-Star break. This elite group includes San Francisco Giants left fielder Barry Bonds (39 in 2001), Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (37 in 2013), St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire (37 in 1998), Oakland Athletics outfielder Reggie Jackson (37 in 1969), Seattle Mariners center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. (35 in 1998), and Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Luis Gonzalez (35 in 2001). Additionally, first baseman and left fielder Frank Howard hit 34 in the first half for the Washington Senators in 1969.
Judge is currently outpacing his American League record-setting 63-home run season from 2022 and still has another game to play on Sunday before the break.
This marks the third season in which Judge has hit 30 or more home runs before the All-Star break. Only McGwire, who did it four times, has more such seasons in MLB history, while Griffey is tied with Judge with three.
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