Aaron Judge has done it again. The New York Yankees slugger reached the 50-home run mark for the fourth time in his career, etching his name even deeper into the history books alongside iconic sluggers like Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire.
In a season full of jaw-dropping power displays across Major League Baseball, Judge’s achievement stands out for both its historical weight and the consistency he’s shown despite battling injuries.
This latest milestone puts Judge in an exclusive group. Only three other players in MLB history have recorded four or more 50-homer seasons: Ruth, McGwire, and Sosa.
Judge, who already owns the American League single-season home run record with 62 (set in 2022), continues to prove that when healthy, he is one of the most dominant forces the game has ever seen.
Even more impressive is that Judge reached 50 despite missing time earlier in the season. His power surge in the final stretch has helped fuel a late Yankees push and reignited his MVP campaign. His presence in the lineup transforms the Yankees’ offense, drawing walks, breaking up pitching plans, and delivering tape-measure shots with regularity.
A historic season for sluggers across the league
While Judge’s resurgence headlines the story, he’s far from alone in rewriting the record books this season. Three other stars – Shohei Ohtani, Cal Raleigh, and Kyle Schwarber – have also reached the 50-homer mark, making 2025 just the third season in MLB history to feature four players hitting 50 or more long balls.
The only other times this occurred were in 1998 and 2001, both iconic home run eras.
Seattle’s Cal Raleigh has been a revelation. The switch-hitting catcher not only became the first at his position to hit more than 50 homers, but he’s also set a new benchmark with 20+ home runs from each side of the plate in a single season.
His 60 home runs shattered both the catcher and switch-hitter records, previously held by Salvador Perez and Mickey Mantle, respectively.
Kyle Schwarber, known for his raw strength, has finally crossed the 50-homer threshold, pushing for Ryan Howard’s Phillies franchise record of 58. His contributions have helped power Philadelphia to one of its most explosive offensive seasons in recent memory.
Then there’s Shohei Ohtani, whose ability to excel on the mound and at the plate continues to defy belief. With 53 home runs and more than 50 strikeouts as a pitcher, Ohtani is now the first player in league history to achieve both marks in a single season, a true two-way marvel.
As the regular season draws to a close, eyes are on Eugenio Suarez, who is within striking distance of joining the 50-homer club. If he succeeds, 2025 would become the first season ever with five such players.
This year will be remembered not only for the numbers but for the spectacle and at the center of it stands Aaron Judge, once again proving that greatness can be both rare and repeatable.
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