Aaron Judge’s dramatic grand slam not only secured a thrilling victory for the New York Yankees against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, but it also elevated the Yankees’ captain into an elite group in Major League Baseball history.
Judge’s grand slam marked a significant milestone, as he became one of just three players to achieve a season with 50 or more home runs, 30 or more doubles, 120 or more walks, and 130 or more RBIs. The only players to have accomplished this feat before him are Babe Ruth, who did it twice in 1920 and 1921, and Barry Bonds in 2001.
In the Yankees’ 5-4 comeback win, Judge recorded two hits in four at-bats, including the pivotal grand slam. His walk in the first inning was his 120th of the season, and the four RBIs from the grand slam brought his seasonal total to 130.
At 32 years old, Judge is enjoying another remarkable season, positioning himself for a potential second MVP award in three years. He is batting .321 and leads the league with 52 home runs and 130 RBIs.
Following two home runs against the Colorado Rockies on August 26, it looked like Judge might surpass his own American League record of 62 home runs set in 2022. However, he entered the longest home run drought of his career with a 16-game stretch without a homer.
He broke this slump at a crucial time, hitting his grand slam in the seventh inning to put the Yankees ahead. With this win and the Baltimore Orioles’ loss to the Detroit Tigers, the Yankees stretched their lead in the American League East to three games. The team aims to further increase their division lead in their next matchup against the Red Sox on Saturday.