With each passing season, Aaron Judge continues to strengthen his case as one of the most significant figures ever to wear the iconic pinstripes of the New York Yankees.
Already a towering presence in modern baseball, Judge further etched his name into history by securing his third American League MVP award in 2025, a milestone that places him firmly among the elite performers in MLB history.
As accolades accumulate, so too does the conversation about where Judge ultimately ranks among the pantheon of Yankees legends.
That debate has taken on new life thanks to MLB.com analyst and former New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips, who has made the bold assertion that Judge will finish his career as the greatest player in Yankees history.
Rather than relying solely on traditional milestones, Phillips frames his argument through the lens of the strength of competition and how dramatically the sport has evolved.
Is Aaron Judge better than Babe Ruth and Roger Maris?
Comparing Judge to two of the most revered figures in franchise lore, Babe Ruth and Roger Maris, Phillips highlighted the stark differences in the eras they played in and the challenges each faced.
“Babe Ruth had great seasons. Hit 714 home runs. Remember, he hit 60 home runs in 1927. He faced 64 pitchers that season in 154 games,” Phillips said.
“When Maris hit 61, he faced 101 pitchers. Look at where the game is today. When Aaron Judge hit 62 home runs, he faced 256 different pitchers in that season.
“All of them throw 98-99 [mph]. They didn’t do that back then.”
The evolution of pitching depth and velocity has fundamentally changed how offensive performance is evaluated, and Phillips believes that context is essential when comparing generational stars.
Modern hitters face specialized bullpens, relentless velocity, and constant matchup adjustments, which prove conditions far removed from those of earlier eras.
“Even Babe Ruth in his year didn’t face the best pitchers in the Negro Leagues. So, his numbers were enhanced because of that,” he added.
“I’m telling you. Aaron Judge will go down in history as the greatest New York Yankee. He will be the greatest Yankee in history.”
Measuring greatness across eras
Historically, Ruth revolutionized the sport by ushering in the power-hitting era during the Live Ball Era of the 1920s, at times out-homering entire teams.
Maris later surpassed Ruth‘s single-season mark in 1961, a record that stood for decades before Judge shattered the franchise benchmark in 2022.
Beyond home runs, advanced metrics further bolster Judge‘s case.
According to Phillips, Judge has already distinguished himself as the greatest right-handed hitter the sport has ever seen.
Examining his production over a four-year stretch across MLB history, Judge ranks third overall, trailing only Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth-both left-handed hitters.
“You look at what Aaron Judge has done. He is arguably the best right-handed hitter to ever play the game. I don’t think there’s any question about that,” Phillips said on MLB Network.
“You can take a look at a four-year span for Aaron Judge and look at the comparisons with the guys on the list with him when you start looking at OPS+.”
While debates over legacy are inherently subjective, the statistical evidence continues to mount. If Judge maintains anything close to his current trajectory, the conversation may soon shift from whether he belongs among the greatest Yankees ever to whether anyone truly surpassed him.
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