Yankees captain Aaron Judge sets new milestone with St. Louis shot

ST. LOUIS — ST. LOUIS — New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge etched his name deeper into baseball history Saturday night at Busch Stadium. The slugger’s 39th home run of the season carried special significance beyond the box score.

Judge led off the third inning with an opposite-field blast that bounced off the top of the wall and into the front row of the right-field bleachers. The homer completed a remarkable feat: Judge has now homered against all 29 other major league teams.

The milestone accomplishment came during the Yankees’ 12-8 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Judge, who has played his entire career with the Yankees, delivered his first multi-hit game since the All-Star break with an RBI double in the first inning to go along with the historic homer. Last time he did it was on July 13, 2025, against the Cubs.

Historic home run caps Judge’s list

Until Saturday, the Cardinals were one of the few teams Judge had yet to homer against. By sending a pitch into the St. Louis stands, he checked off the final franchise on his list.

Players can only homer against 29 different clubs because they cannot face their own team. For Judge, that now means every possible opponent has been conquered with at least one long ball.

“It’s another great accomplishment for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “When you hit homers against every team, that speaks to how consistent and special a player you are.”

Players who have homered against every MLB opponent

These players are part of a rare club—having homered against every active MLB team, something that only became possible after expansion added the Diamondbacks and Rays in 1998.

Setting the tone for Yankees’ slugfest in  St. Louis

From the outset of the game, Judge appeared locked in against former Yankees pitcher Sonny Gray. He wasted no time making an impact, lacing a line drive into the left field corner on the very first pitch he faced in the top of the first inning, driving in a run.

While teammate Ben Rice stole the spotlight with seven RBIs in the victory, Judge’s contributions set the foundation for the offensive explosion. Rice homered and tied a career high with seven RBI, while Trent Grisham singled four times and scored four runs.

The victory snapped a short skid for New York and highlighted how critical Judge remains in powering the lineup.

Dominant 2025 season continues

Judge’s milestone homer represents just the latest highlight in another exceptional campaign. The reigning American League MVP entered Saturday’s game with impressive offensive numbers that have him in contention for another award.

Judge is posting a .454 wOBA this season with a 94.8 mph average exit velocity and 55.5% hard-hit rate. His 24% barrel rate demonstrates his consistent ability to make optimal contact.

The captain’s 39 home runs lead the majors and put him on pace for another 50-homer season. Judge has reached that milestone three times in his career, making him one of just five players in history to accomplish the feat multiple times.

Rare achievement in MLB

Only a handful of players in league history have managed to homer against every opponent. Judge now joins that group, adding to a résumé that already includes two MVP awards, a franchise single-season home run record, and a reputation as one of the game’s most feared hitters.

“It’s always nice to contribute,” Judge said. “These milestones are special, but the most important thing is helping the team win.”

Judge’s home run against the Cardinals on August 16 adds another chapter to that history, cementing his status as the face of the franchise in this era.

For Yankees fans in St. Louis, it was a night to remember. Judge powered his way into MLB’s record books, one swing at a time, and completed the circle of opponents he has homered against across his nine-year career.

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