Watching Judge Play Ball Is History In The Making

Aaron Judge didn’t just hit a home run Friday night—he swung his way into Yankees history and left Joe DiMaggio in the rearview mirror. With one thunderous crack of the bat, a 468-foot blast into the Boston night, Judge secured career homer No. 362, leapfrogging the Yankee Clipper for sole possession of fourth place on the franchise’s all-time home run leaderboard.

Let that sink in for a second: Joe DiMaggio, the icon who gave us the 56-game hit streak, Marilyn Monroe, and a name that still rolls off the tongue like a jazz solo, just got passed by a guy who looks like he could probably punt a sedan if you asked him nicely.

A Monster Mash for Cap’s 362nd Career Homer 🫡#AllRise pic.twitter.com/BdPIrwI2lk

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 12, 2025

The moment wasn’t just symbolic—it mattered in the standings, too. Judge’s moonshot put the Yankees up 1-0 on the Red Sox, a game they went on to win 4-1. That victory nudged New York a game and a half ahead of Boston in the AL East, turning what could’ve been just another chapter in Judge’s personal record book into a pivotal night in the playoff race.

And true to form, Judge played it cool afterward. “It’s special,” he said. “But just like all those guys in front of me on those lists, they weren’t playing for records. They were playing to win. I’m just trying to follow in their footsteps. I’m here to win.”

That’s classic Judge—downplaying the feat while everyone else scrambles to update the record books. But make no mistake: this is history we’re witnessing. DiMaggio’s 361 homers once looked like a skyscraper few could climb, but Judge scaled it with ease, pausing only to tip his cap to the legends above him.

Now the conversation shifts. If Judge has already moved past DiMaggio, who’s safe? Mickey Mantle? Babe Ruth? Lou Gehrig? The answer: no one should feel too comfortable. Judge isn’t just rewriting Yankees history—he’s erasing lines and penciling in new chapters at a pace that feels inevitable.

So, while Toronto and Boston keep stressing about playoff math, Yankee fans are basking in the bigger picture. Every Judge at-bat is a chance at another milestone, another “I was there when” moment. Beating DiMaggio’s mark is incredible, yes—but it feels less like a finish line and more like a mile marker on a journey that still has plenty of thunder left in it.

Friday night wasn’t just a win over Boston. It was a reminder that we’re watching one of the greatest sluggers in Yankee history live out his prime—towering home runs, shattered records, and all.

And somewhere, Joe D is probably smiling.