New York — Aaron Judge made history again Saturday at Yankee Stadium. The New York Yankees slugger crushed his 350th career home run in the ninth inning against Chicago. The milestone shot came off Cubs reliever Brad Keller during a 5-2 loss.
Judge became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 350 home runs. He accomplished the feat in just 1,088 games, shattering Mark McGwire‘s previous record by 192 games.
Despite the historic achievement, Aaron Judge remained characteristically humble.
“I honestly got nothing, to be honest,” Judge said after the game. “It would have been great if we got a win today, to do something like that.”
The Yankees captain quickly deflected praise to his teammates. He credited their support for his individual success over the years.
“I’ve had a lot of great teammates and I’ve been on some good teams,” Judge said. “They put me in the best position to go out there and perform at my best. It’s just a shoutout to all the teammates I’ve had over the years.”
Historic pace continues for Judge
Judge’s 350th homer wasn’t just another personal milestone. The blast came on a 97.7 mph fastball that he launched to right-center field on a 0-2 count.
The achievement adds to Judge’s growing list of unprecedented accomplishments. Only four Yankees are on the list of 10 fastest sluggers to reach the 350-HR milestone. Babe Ruth (7th), Alex Rodriguez (4th), Giancarlo Stanton (8th), and now Judge (1st) join that exclusive club.
| Rank | Player | Games |
| 1 | Aaron Judge | 1,088 |
| 2 | Mark McGwire | 1,280 |
| 3 | Juan Gonzalez | 1,298 |
| 4 | Alex Rodriguez | 1,301 |
| 5 | Harmon Killebrew | 1,319 |
| 6 | Albert Pujols | 1,320 |
| 7 | Babe Ruth | 1,329 |
| 8 | Giancarlo Stanton | 1,341 |
| 9 | Ralph Kiner | 1,345 |
| 10 | Albert Belle | 1,361 |
His pace destroys even legendary standards. Through 1,088 games, he has 50 more homers than Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner managed in the same span.
The speed of Judge’s ascent continues to amaze baseball observers. His record-breaking timeline puts him in territory few players have ever approached.
Boone marvels at Judge’s dominance
Yankees manager Aaron Boone struggled to find words for Judge’s latest feat. The skipper emphasized how the captain operates on a different level than other players.
“I don’t know what to say about it,” Boone said. “He is playing in a different league, really. The fact that it is [close to] 200 games faster than McGwire, it’s just a testament to his greatness.”
Judge’s 2025 season ranks among his finest campaigns. He’s batting .358/.465/.739 through 95 games with a league-leading 1.204 OPS. His 6.6 WAR also leads MLB.
The 32-year-old has 35 home runs and 81 RBI at the All-Star break. His 125 hits put him on pace for another monster season.
The Yankees captain could be eyeing another 60-homer campaign. He last reached that mark in 2022 when he set the American League record with 62 long balls.
His first-half total ties for the fourth-most home runs before the All-Star break in MLB history. Only Cal Raleigh (38), Barry Bonds (39), and a few others have hit more.
Judge’s 35 homers also set a new Yankees record for most before the All-Star break. He topped his own mark of 34 from last season.
Mutual respect with McGwire
Judge expressed genuine admiration for McGwire despite breaking his record. The two sluggers have developed a personal connection over the years.
“I’ve talked to McGwire, oh yeah,” Judge said. “We really didn’t talk much [about] hitting… We talked about his son a little bit when his son was getting into it.”
Their relationship began in 2020 when McGwire’s son suffered a fractured rib. Judge had experienced the same injury and offered advice.
“He asked, ‘How did I heal, what did I do?'” Judge recalled. “I gave some tips on that. We chitchatted a little bit. He has been great over the years.”
The Yankees slugger holds records for being the fastest to 250, 300, and now 350 home runs. His Hall of Fame credentials strengthen with each milestone.
Among the next five fastest players to reach 350 homers, only Harmon Killebrew is in Cooperstown. McGwire, Juan Gonzalez, Alex Rodriguez, and Albert Pujols round out that group.
MVP competition intensifies
Judge currently ranks second behind Shohei Ohtani in MLB jersey sales entering the All-Star break. League data released Friday confirmed the popularity contest between the two superstars.
Both players led All-Star voting in their respective leagues. The competition adds intrigue to the AL MVP race as the season’s second half approaches.
Judge will start for the American League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta. He enters the break leading MLB in total bases, OPS, and home runs.
The Yankees star continues building an MVP-caliber campaign while chasing team success.
Hall of Fame path clear
Judge’s career statistics paint a clear picture of greatness. He has 1,151 career hits, 197 doubles, 350 home runs, 797 RBI, and 821 runs.
His Hall of Fame trajectory has transformed dramatically in recent years. Through his age-29 season, the Yankees slugger had only 158 home runs with durability concerns.
Since then, he’s stayed healthy and become the Yankees captain. His record-breaking pace has rewritten baseball history books.
Judge now stands alongside Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Joe DiMaggio in Yankees lore. His sustained excellence has elevated him to legendary status.
The humble superstar
Saturday’s loss overshadowed Judge’s historic moment on the scoreboard. The achievement represented another defining milestone in his remarkable career.
Judge maintained his grounded perspective despite the record-breaking feat. His humility remains constant even as the numbers reach extraordinary heights.
“It would have been great if we got a win today,” the Yankees slugger repeated. “But yeah, it’s cool.”
The understatement perfectly captures Judge’s approach to individual success. He values team victories above personal milestones, even historic ones.
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