Aaron Judge: Single season home run record| 50th home run

Aaron Judge: Single-Season Home Run Record & the Historic 50th Home Run

In the world of baseball, certain milestones define greatness. One of them is hitting 50 home runs in a single season—an achievement reserved for the most powerful and consistent sluggers. As of September 2025, Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees’ behemoth outfielder, has once again joined that elite club; in doing so, he tied a storied record and added another dramatic chapter to his career. This article explores the significance of his 50th home run in 2025, how he stacks up historically, what records he’s tied or broken, the implications for his future, and more.

1. The Moment: Judge’s 50th Home Run

On September 24, 2025, Aaron Judge clubbed his 50th home run of the season during a game against the Chicago White Sox.  It was a three-run blast off Jonathan Cannon, struck on the first pitch he saw, a sinker, which Judge turned around and sent into right-center field, over the bullpen. That shot put New York ahead early and set the tone. In the same game, he would go on to hit his 51st homer in the eighth inning.

This was not the first time Judge has crossed the 50 home run threshold, but it marked the fourth time in his career — a distinction shared only with legends.

2. What Makes It Special: The Historic Context

Joining Legends: The Four 50-Home Run Seasons Club

With this 50th home run of 2025, Judge became just the fourth player in Major League Baseball history to record four separate seasons with 50 or more home runs. The only others are:

• Babe Ruth

• Mark McGwire

• Sammy Sosa

In Judge’s case:

• 2017 — 52 HRs as a rookie/full season breakout.

• 2022 — American League record 62 home runs.

• 2024 — 58 HRs.

• 2025 — now has 50+ in this season again.

How It Compares to the Single-Season Home Run Record

While 50 home runs is a huge milestone, the single-season MLB home run record remains higher. Some notable record holders:

• Barry Bonds holds the all-time MLB record with 73 home runs in 2001.

• Aaron Judge holds the American League record with his 62 home runs in 2022.

• Roger Maris previously held the AL record with 61 homers in 1961.

So while Judge is not (yet) challenging Bonds’ overall mark or some National League records, his 2025 performance reinforces his status among the all-time greats, especially in the AL.

3. The Stats Behind 2025: More Than Just Home Runs

Judge is doing more than hitting bombs. In 2025:

• He is leading Major League Baseball in batting average (.328), on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.

• He already added the 51st HR in the same game he hit his 50th.

• His home run total adds to his career home run count—he now has over 360 HRs.

Additionally, Judge has had to juggle the wear and tear: returning from injury, dealing with hard throws in the outfield, and facing intentional walks. He actually set a high mark for intentional walks this season, tying AL records.

4. Records Tied, Records Broken

Here’s what Judge has tied or broken with the 2025 season so far:

While he has not yet broken Barry Bonds’ all-time single-season record, his consistency and power make him a serious presence in discussions about future home run marks.

5. Challenges & Context: Why 50 HRs is So Hard

Why is reaching 50 home runs in a season such a standout achievement? Several reasons:

• Durability & Health: The season is long, pitching is varied, and wear and tear (including injuries) often limit players. Judge himself has had to overcome elbow issues.

• Quality of Pitching: Modern MLB has many sophisticated pitchers, with advanced analytics, specialized bullpen usage, and frequent adjustments. A slugger must adapt constantly.

• Ballpark factors, weather, schedule: Not every stadium is conducive to home runs; travel, climate, and even line-ups affect opportunities.

• Intentional walks & pitcher tactics: Once a hitter like Judge becomes a threat, pitchers avoid giving him good pitches. Intentional walks rob at-bats and chances. As noted, Judge is receiving more free passes than ever.

These make Judge’s current season all the more impressive.

6. Comparisons with Legends

Let’s compare Judge’s achievements with those of Ruth, McGwire, Sosa, and Maris.

• Babe Ruth: Achieved four 50+ HR seasons (1920, ’21, ’27, ’28), and had seasons with 60+ HRs when the game was different in terms of pitching, training, and scheduling.

• Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa: Both had multiple seasons of huge HR totals during the late 1990s / early 2000s, often in a context (the “Steroids Era”) that has since drawn controversy. Judge operates in a post-PED era under tighter rules, making his feats less disputed and arguably more difficult.

• Roger Maris: His AL record of 61 home runs stood for decades before Judge broke the AL mark in 2022. Maris played in a period with fewer teams, different ballparks, but also less advanced technology and less favorable meteorological/hitting analytics support.

Judge’s power, consistency, and now repeated 50+ HR seasons put him in rarefied air. Few others match his combination of average, power, consistency, and leadership.

7. What This Means Going Forward: Legacy, Records to Chase

Legacy and Hall of Fame Considerations

Judge’s career trajectory, with multiple 50 HR seasons, an AL home run record, high batting averages, and leadership for a marquee franchise—all are strong hallmarks for Hall of Fame consideration. This 2025 season adds another major box to his resume.

Records Still Ahead

• MLB Single-Season Home Run Record (73): Held by Barry Bonds in 2001. That remains a tall order.

• Number of 50+ HR Seasons: Could Judge surpass four? To break into even more elite territory, five 50+ HR seasons would set a new MLB standard.

• Total Career Home Runs: Judge is accumulating at a pace that suggests he may climb high on the Yankees’ all-time home run list, perhaps even challenge legends like Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle.

8. Possible Counterarguments & Contextual Nuances

• Records from past eras are often judged differently due to changes in ball design, stadiums, training, and even the length of season.

• The “Steroids Era” casts a shadow over some of the comparisons (McGwire, Sosa), so Judge’s achievements may be viewed more cleanly.

• Intentional walks, which rob at-bats, are a double-edged sword: they flatter a hitter’s reputation but also reduce opportunities for extra hits/home runs. Judge’s high number of intentional walks this season is indicative of pitchers respecting him.

9. The 2025 Home Run Landscape: Others in the Club

In 2025, Judge is not alone in hitting 50+ home runs. The club includes:

• Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners) — leading MLB with highest HR total this season.

• Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies) — also has 50+ HR.

• Shohei Ohtani — likewise in the 50 HR club this season.

This demonstrates that while 50 HR seasons remain rare, more sluggers are reaching that height in 2025 than in many years past. Judge 50th home run.

10. Conclusion: Judge’s Place in History

Aaron Judge’s 50th home run in 2025 is more than just a moment—it’s another milestone in a career already full of them. By joining Ruth, Sosa, McGwire as the only players with four seasons of 50 home runs, and by continuing to lead in batting average and slugging, Judge is reinforcing a legacy of power, consistency, and excellence. While the MLB single-season record remains safe in Bonds’ hands, Judge is weaving himself more deeply into the fabric of baseball lore, particularly in the American League.

For Yankees fans, for baseball historians, and for anyone who loves the long ball, Judge’s 2025 season is one to watch—and will likely be referenced for decades to come.

FAQs

Q1. How many players in MLB history have had four seasons with 50 or more home runs?
A: Four: Aaron Judge (2017, 2022, 2024, and 2025), Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa. Judge now joins this select group.

Q2. What is the single-season MLB home run record?
A: The all-time single-season record in Major League Baseball is 73 home runs by Barry Bonds in 2001. Judge’s highest in a single season is 62 (in 2022), which is the American League record.

Q3. Who held the American League single-season home run record before Judge?
A: Roger Maris held the AL record with 61 home runs in 1961. Aaron Judge broke that mark when he hit 62 in 2022.

Q4. How many home runs has Aaron Judge hit in his career so far?
A: As of hitting his 50th HR in 2025, Judge has crossed 360 career home runs. Exact figures report 365 HRs after his 51st in the same game versus the White Sox.

Q5. What challenges or obstacles has Judge faced to reach these milestones?
A: Several:

• Injuries (including issues with his right elbow) have sidelined him at times.

• Pitchers adjust strategies, including intentional walks (which limit good pitch opportunities). Judge tied a record for intentional walks in AL this season.

• Consistency over a long season against top competition. Judge 50th home run.

Q6. Will Judge break the all-time MLB single-season home run record?
A: It’s possible, but difficult. He would need to exceed 73 HRs, set by Barry Bonds in 2001. Judge has shown power, consistency, and leadership; but surpassing Bonds’ record would require an exceptional second half of this season and likely some favorable conditions.