On Tuesday night, Aaron Judge launched his MLB-leading 56th home run of the season, teeing off on an offering from Baltimore Orioles starter Dean Kremer. With this blast, the New York Yankees slugger entered an exclusive club of power hitters who have achieved multiple 56-plus home run seasons.
Judge joins Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr., Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire as the only players to accomplish this feat twice. But how does Judge’s offensive prowess stack up against these legendary sluggers?
Let’s examine each player’s 56-plus home run seasons to determine if they were simply power hitters or in an offensive league of their own.
Babe Ruth (59 in 1921, 60 in 1927)
The Sultan of Swat led the majors in eight offensive categories in 1921, including an eye-popping .846 slugging percentage. In 1927, he dominated six major offensive categories. Interestingly, Ruth didn’t win MVP in either of these seasons, with his lone award coming in 1923. Regardless, the Bambino was unquestionably in an offensive league of his own.
Sammy Sosa (66 in 1998, 63 in 1999, 64 in 2001)
Sosa’s power was undeniable, leading the league in total bases all three seasons in which he clocked at least 56 homers. However, he also led in strikeouts twice, fanning 171 times in both 1998 and 1999. Notably, Sosa never led baseball in home runs during these campaigns. Slammin’ Sammy was just a power hitter.
Mark McGwire (70 in 1998, 65 in 1999)
Big Mac led the league in five major offensive categories in 1998, including a .752 slugging percentage. In 1999, he only led in home runs. While impressive, McGwire falls short of Ruth’s overall offensive dominance, though it’s worth noting that he had several additional high-percentage slugging seasons throughout his career, showcasing his consistent power threat.
Ken Griffey Jr. (56 in 1997 and 1998)
The Kid led several categories in 1997, including 147 RBI, 125 runs scored, a .646 slugging percentage, and 393 total bases. In 1998, he only led the AL in homers. Despite his iconic status, Griffey was just a power hitter.
Aaron Judge (62 in 2022, 56 so far in 2024)
Judge dominated seven major offensive categories in 2022, scoring 133 runs and amassing 391 total bases. Entering play on Wednesday, he leads the bigs in home runs (56), RBI (139), walks (130), and has a .699 slugging percentage. His 10.4 bWAR underscores his all-around value.
It’s worth noting that Judge’s offensive dominance isn’t new — in his 2017 rookie season, he led the AL in three major offensive categories, foreshadowing his current success.
As Judge chases history again, he isn’t just hitting homers. He’s redefining what it means to be a complete offensive force in today’s game.
With a chance to join Ruth and McGwire as the only players with multiple 60-home run seasons, Judge is cementing his place among baseball’s all-time greats.
The verdict? While Sosa, McGwire, and Griffey were primarily power hitters during their 56-plus homer seasons, both Ruth and Judge stand out as being in a league of their own. Their ability to dominate multiple offensive categories while maintaining historic home run paces sets them apart.
Judge’s current season is particularly impressive given the modern pitching landscape. If the Yankees captain maintains his torrid pace (three home runs in his last three games), he could become just the third player to hit 60-plus homers twice in a career, potentially surpassing a .700 slugging percentage in the process.
As we enter the final stretch of the 2024 season, all eyes are on Judge. His pursuit of history isn’t just about the long ball — it’s about a player performing at a level rarely seen in the game’s long and storied history.
