On Saturday, Aaron Judge set a new franchise record for the New York Yankees by hitting his 34th home run before the All-Star break, surpassing the previous record of 33 held by Roger Maris since 1961.
Judge, who had also hit 33 home runs before the break in 2022, now aims to continue this momentum into the second half of the season.
Judge’s record-setting home run contributed to the Yankees’ 6-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, a win that brought the Yankees within a narrow margin of the AL East lead. Reflecting on his achievement, Judge emphasized the importance of the team’s success over individual accolades, saying:
“Hopefully those 34 homers came in a lot of wins. That’s what it’s all about.”
The Yankees’ victory on Saturday marked their second win in the series at Camden Yards, ending the Orioles’ impressive streak of 22 series against AL East opponents without a loss. The series concludes on Sunday, with the division lead hanging in the balance heading into the All-Star break.
In the fifth inning of Saturday’s game, both Judge and teammate Juan Soto hit back-to-back home runs to center field, solidifying the Yankees’ lead. Judge’s solo shot traveled 431 feet, while Soto’s drive measured 426 feet. Judge had an outstanding game, reaching base in all three of his plate appearances, including a walk, a double, and his record-breaking home run.
Despite a challenging start to the season, Judge has significantly improved, hitting 14 home runs in May and 11 in June. He downplayed early-season struggles, focusing instead on the team’s overall performance.
“Things like that happen. You can’t worry about that, can’t worry about getting booed,” Judge stated. “We were winning ballgames, that’s all that really mattered to me.”
The major league record for home runs before the All-Star break remains 39, set by Barry Bonds in 2001. As the Yankees look to maintain their strong performance, Judge’s contributions will be crucial in their quest for the division title.
