Celebrating Aaron Judge's place in the Yankees record books through Yogi-isms

Congratulations, Aaron Judge, on passing Yogi Berra for fifth on the Yankees' all-time home run list. Berra's career as a player and later a coach spanned four decades. He was an 18-time All-Star, who won 10 World Series championships and three MVP awards. He played 19 seasons for the Yankees, made the All-Star team 18 times, and retired at age 40.

As an 18-year-old, Berra was part of the Navy during the Invasion of Normandy in World War II and was later awarded a Purple Heart (Berra sacrificed two seasons of his playing career to fight for the Allies). After the war, Berra received mentorship from Yankees great Bill Dickey. Later, Berra credited Dickey, saying, " I owe everything I did in baseball to Bill Dickey. He was a great man.”

In 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, and 1956, Berra had more home runs than strikeouts. In 1950, he played 151 games and struck out just 12 times; he was one of the most feared clutch hitters in the game, rivaling even Mickey Mantle. In 1956, he was behind the plate for Don Larsen's perfect game in the World Series. Then, 43 years later, on Yogi Berra Day, Larson threw the ceremonial first pitch to Berra, and David Cone pitched a perfect game against the Expos.

In baseball circles, the name Yogi is synonymous with joy and off-beat witticisms. Berra's footprint was larger than baseball. He has many famous quotes that are both silly and deep. As we honor Judge for another great accomplishment in a legendary career, let's do it Yogi Berra style. Here is how Berra would describe each of Judge's seasons.

2016 - "Slump? I ain't in no slump ... I just ain't hitting."

Aaron Judge made his MLB debut and struggled. He struck out 42 times in 84 at-bats and had a .608 OPS. Fellow rookies Gary Sanchez and Tyler Austin overshadowed Judge. The Yankees won 84 games, finished fourth in the division, and missed the playoffs.

2017 - "I can't think and hit at the same time."

Judge opens the season as the starting right fielder and dominates the first three months. He has 30 home runs before the All-Star break and a 1.139 OPS. He struggles in August but makes up for it with a spectacular September, hitting 15 home runs during the month with a 1.352 OPS. He finishes the year with a then-rookie record 52 home runs and comes in second in the MVP voting to Jose Altuve, despite leading him in every major category except batting average. Of course, 2017 was the first year of the Houston Astros' cheating scandal, which makes Altuve's MVP win even more controversial. It's clear from Judge's success that he wasn't overthinking.

2018 - "All pitchers are liars or crybabies."

After a tough June, Judge rebounded in July. Then, on July 26, facing the Royals, Jakob Junis threw a fastball up and in, which hit Judge and fractured his wrist. Judge misses almost two months of the season, returning in time for the playoffs, but the Yankees lose in the Division Series to the Red Sox. Judge hit three home runs in five games during the postseason with a 1.447 OPS after finishing the year with a .919 OPS in 112 games. It was a down year by his standards, but still enough to make any pitcher cry.

2019 - "Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical."

Judge somewhat unfairly earns himself the injury-prone label, as he misses a third of the season with various ailments (shoulder, oblique). His numbers are consistent with his 2018 performance, .921 OPS over 102 games. Ironically, his oblique injury, which was the main reason he missed so much time, also came in a game against the Royals.

2020 - “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”

The COVID pandemic wreaks havoc on the world, and the baseball season is shortened to a 60-game sprint, with seven-inning doubleheaders and ghost runners during extra innings. Fans aren't permitted to attend games until late in the season, so teams face off in empty stadiums. Judge plays only 28 games due to injuries (ribs, calf) and has an .891 OPS. In September, he had his worst month since his rookie season, hitting .194/.326/.222, and those struggles continued during the playoffs.

2021 - "Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too."

On December 13, 2021, Aaron Judge married his high school sweetheart, Samantha Bracksieck, in Hawaii. It must be hard planning a wedding in the midst of a pennant race, but Judge did it with aplomb, hitting .294/.370/.567 during the second half of the season and finishing the year with a .916 OPS in 148 games. It's his first full season since his rookie year, and he finishes with 39 home runs, but the Boston Red Sox end the Yankees' playoff lives when they defeat the Bombers in a one-game Wild Card playoff.

2022 - "I always thought that record would stand until it was broken."

Married man Aaron Judge sets the baseball world on fire, breaking the long-held, non-enhanced, single-season home run record with 62 home runs, winning his first MVP award. Judge hit his 61st home run, tying Roger Maris in Toronto against future Yankee Tim Mayza. He then broke the record in Texas against Jose Tinoco. He ends the year with a 1.111 OPS, taking his game to a new level, becoming the undisputed best hitter in baseball.

2023 - "A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore."

Judge signs a record-setting nine-year, $360 million deal with the Yankees, becoming the highest-paid player in baseball history. The Bombers honor Judge by naming him team captain, the first since Derek Jeter. Judge is a little cold coming out of spring training, but gets hot during May, slugging 12 home runs with a 1.356 OPS, before fracturing his big toe in a freak accident on June 3. Playing against the Dodgers, Judge made a highlight-reel catch and slammed into the wall. His toe found the only unpadded section of the stadium. Judge missed 42 games before being reactivated on July 28, and finished the year with a 1.019 OPS. The Yankees miss the playoffs.

2024 - “It’s deja vu all over again.”

Judge flirts with breaking his own home run record, but falls short, ending the year with 58 homers in 158 games. Despite a slow start and a mini-slump at the end of the season, Judge still won his second MVP award and first pennant. The Yankees lose the World Series to the Dodgers in five games. Judge sets a career high with a 1.159 OPS.

2025 -  "I want to thank everybody for making this day necessary."

On July 12, Judge became the fastest player ever to hit 350 home runs. On August 31, he tied Yogi Berra for fifth on the Yankees all-time list and then passed him on Sept. 5 against the Detroit Tigers. He has now set his sights on Joe DiMaggio, who has 361 career home runs. As we celebrate Judge and remember Berra, it seems only fitting to "thank everybody for making this day necessary."