Aaron Judge’s Historic Season Spurs Yankees Debate

Aaron Judge continues to make history for the New York Yankees, recently hitting a ninth-inning home run against the Red Sox to join an elite club with Babe Ruth and Matt Holliday and reaching 26 home runs this season. His performance through 67 games places him alongside Ruth, Gehrig, and Mantle, on pace to potentially lead the league in average, on-base percentage, slugging, home runs, and walks. Former Mets GM Steve Phillips has declared Judge the greatest Yankees hitter ever, citing the modern era’s tougher pitching environment and noting Judge has faced 156 different pitchers this season, far more than Ruth or Maris. This has intensified debate over whether Judge surpasses past icons, given today's unique baseball challenges. Meanwhile, Brewers catcher Eric Haase has highlighted the personal sacrifices and family commitments required in a professional baseball career. These narratives together underscore both the evolving standards of greatness and the personal journeys shaping Major League Baseball.