All Rise for the Judge: Another Week, Another Gavel Slammed Down on MLB History
Published on: September 16, 2025
Aaron Judge. The name resonates through Yankee Stadium like the crack of a perfectly timed swing connecting with a fastball destined for the bleachers. Last week, that crack echoed even louder, reverberating across the baseball landscape as the towering Yankee captain put on a display of power hitting so prodigious it earned him his second AL Player of the Week award of the season. But this was no ordinary week, even by Judge’s lofty standards. This was a week etched in history, a week where the Judge didn’t just preside over the game, he ruled it with an iron fist encased in a batting glove.
Let's rewind to the scene of the crime, shall we? Six games. A .450 batting average. Five home runs that left pitchers shaking their heads and fans scrambling for souvenirs. A 1.200 slugging percentage that sounds more like a sci-fi movie prop than a baseball statistic. Judge’s 1.760 OPS for the week? It led the entire American League, making everyone else look like they were swinging pool noodles. This wasn’t just dominance; it was a declaration of intent, a reminder that even in a season overflowing with talent, Aaron Judge sits on a throne built on dingers and draped in pinstripes.
The Player of the Week award is just the latest accolade in a season brimming with them. This is his 14th such honor, tying him with Albert Pujols and the legendary Frank Thomas for fourth all-time. In the American League, only Manny Ramirez stands ahead of him, a testament to Judge’s consistent ability to deliver game-changing performances week after week, year after year.
But the numbers, as impressive as they are, only tell part of the story. Last week wasn’t just about statistical dominance; it was about historical significance. On Thursday, facing the Detroit Tigers, Judge launched two majestic blasts into the Detroit night, tying the Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio, for third-most multi-home run games in the storied franchise’s history. Only Ruth and Mantle, two titans of the game, sit above him on that list. Even more impressive, Judge’s 45 multi-homer games since his 2017 debut lead all of baseball, surpassing even the prodigious power of Manny Machado. The Judge, it seems, has a penchant for dispensing justice in pairs.
Then came Friday, a night etched in the annals of Yankee lore. Facing their bitter rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in the cauldron of Fenway Park, Judge connected for his 362nd career home run, vaulting him past DiMaggio on the Yankees' all-time home run list. He now sits behind only Ruth, Mantle, and Gehrig, names whispered with reverence in the hallowed halls of Yankee Stadium. Imagine that company. Imagine being mentioned in the same breath as those legends. It’s a testament to Judge’s talent, his dedication, and his ability to rise to the occasion on baseball's biggest stages.
But this historic homer wasn’t just about climbing the all-time ranks. It was also Judge’s 19th first-inning bomb of the season, shattering the previous Major League record of 18 held by Alex Rodriguez and, remarkably, matched by Judge himself just last year. The man seems determined to rewrite the record books one swing at a time, establishing new benchmarks for early-game explosions. Opposing pitchers must be dreading that first inning stare-down, knowing they’re facing a man who treats the opening frame like his personal batting practice session.
The Judge’s rampage didn’t stop there. He reached base safely twice in each of his last four games, including another towering home run at Fenway on Sunday, bringing his season total to a staggering 48. He now sits just two shy of his fourth 50-home run season, a feat that would place him in an exclusive club alongside Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa. While the steroid era casts a long shadow over the accomplishments of the latter two, Judge’s clean power hitting stands as a testament to the raw, natural ability that has made him the face of baseball.
Despite the Yankees' somewhat uneven 3-3 record last week, Judge's performance has kept them firmly in the playoff hunt, trailing the Toronto Blue Jays by just four games and maintaining a slim lead over the Red Sox for the top Wild Card spot. His .326 average, .447 OBP, and .678 slugging percentage, coupled with those 48 homers and 102 RBIs, paint a picture of a player at the peak of his powers, a player making a strong case for his third AL MVP award in just five seasons. While Seattle’s Cal Raleigh has emerged as a worthy contender, Judge remains the clear frontrunner, the man to beat in a league overflowing with talent.
While Judge held court in the American League, the National League had its own star turn in the form of Mookie Betts. The Dodgers dynamo earned his sixth career Player of the Week award after a week of offensive fireworks, slashing .462/.517/.808 with two home runs, 10 RBI, and a whole lot of other eye-popping numbers. Betts' performance was a reminder that while Judge may be the reigning monarch of the AL, the National League has its own share of royalty.
But this week, this particular slice of baseball history, belonged to Aaron Judge. It was a week where he not only solidified his place among the game’s elite but etched his name even deeper into the legendary tapestry of Yankee pinstripes. The Judge, as always, is in session. And the verdict is in: guilty of being exceptionally good at baseball.
Let's rewind to the scene of the crime, shall we? Six games. A .450 batting average. Five home runs that left pitchers shaking their heads and fans scrambling for souvenirs. A 1.200 slugging percentage that sounds more like a sci-fi movie prop than a baseball statistic. Judge’s 1.760 OPS for the week? It led the entire American League, making everyone else look like they were swinging pool noodles. This wasn’t just dominance; it was a declaration of intent, a reminder that even in a season overflowing with talent, Aaron Judge sits on a throne built on dingers and draped in pinstripes.
The Player of the Week award is just the latest accolade in a season brimming with them. This is his 14th such honor, tying him with Albert Pujols and the legendary Frank Thomas for fourth all-time. In the American League, only Manny Ramirez stands ahead of him, a testament to Judge’s consistent ability to deliver game-changing performances week after week, year after year.
But the numbers, as impressive as they are, only tell part of the story. Last week wasn’t just about statistical dominance; it was about historical significance. On Thursday, facing the Detroit Tigers, Judge launched two majestic blasts into the Detroit night, tying the Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio, for third-most multi-home run games in the storied franchise’s history. Only Ruth and Mantle, two titans of the game, sit above him on that list. Even more impressive, Judge’s 45 multi-homer games since his 2017 debut lead all of baseball, surpassing even the prodigious power of Manny Machado. The Judge, it seems, has a penchant for dispensing justice in pairs.
Then came Friday, a night etched in the annals of Yankee lore. Facing their bitter rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in the cauldron of Fenway Park, Judge connected for his 362nd career home run, vaulting him past DiMaggio on the Yankees' all-time home run list. He now sits behind only Ruth, Mantle, and Gehrig, names whispered with reverence in the hallowed halls of Yankee Stadium. Imagine that company. Imagine being mentioned in the same breath as those legends. It’s a testament to Judge’s talent, his dedication, and his ability to rise to the occasion on baseball's biggest stages.
But this historic homer wasn’t just about climbing the all-time ranks. It was also Judge’s 19th first-inning bomb of the season, shattering the previous Major League record of 18 held by Alex Rodriguez and, remarkably, matched by Judge himself just last year. The man seems determined to rewrite the record books one swing at a time, establishing new benchmarks for early-game explosions. Opposing pitchers must be dreading that first inning stare-down, knowing they’re facing a man who treats the opening frame like his personal batting practice session.
The Judge’s rampage didn’t stop there. He reached base safely twice in each of his last four games, including another towering home run at Fenway on Sunday, bringing his season total to a staggering 48. He now sits just two shy of his fourth 50-home run season, a feat that would place him in an exclusive club alongside Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa. While the steroid era casts a long shadow over the accomplishments of the latter two, Judge’s clean power hitting stands as a testament to the raw, natural ability that has made him the face of baseball.
Despite the Yankees' somewhat uneven 3-3 record last week, Judge's performance has kept them firmly in the playoff hunt, trailing the Toronto Blue Jays by just four games and maintaining a slim lead over the Red Sox for the top Wild Card spot. His .326 average, .447 OBP, and .678 slugging percentage, coupled with those 48 homers and 102 RBIs, paint a picture of a player at the peak of his powers, a player making a strong case for his third AL MVP award in just five seasons. While Seattle’s Cal Raleigh has emerged as a worthy contender, Judge remains the clear frontrunner, the man to beat in a league overflowing with talent.
While Judge held court in the American League, the National League had its own star turn in the form of Mookie Betts. The Dodgers dynamo earned his sixth career Player of the Week award after a week of offensive fireworks, slashing .462/.517/.808 with two home runs, 10 RBI, and a whole lot of other eye-popping numbers. Betts' performance was a reminder that while Judge may be the reigning monarch of the AL, the National League has its own share of royalty.
But this week, this particular slice of baseball history, belonged to Aaron Judge. It was a week where he not only solidified his place among the game’s elite but etched his name even deeper into the legendary tapestry of Yankee pinstripes. The Judge, as always, is in session. And the verdict is in: guilty of being exceptionally good at baseball.
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