Willing to make history
Although it’s improbable that Aaron Judge will reach the career home run numbers of legends like Barry Bonds or Hank Aaron—largely due to the timing of his entry into the league—it remains an interesting possibility. Bonds and Aaron started their careers in their early 20s, whereas Judge made his debut at 24 and didn’t truly establish himself until he was 25.
As Judge is likely to finish the season with about 315 home runs, it’s notable that by the same age, Bonds and Aaron had already amassed 374 and 442 home runs, respectively.
Judge, however, has distinguished himself by reaching 300 home runs faster than anyone else in terms of games played and at-bats. His longer route to the majors, which included time at Fresno State and in the minors, may impact his ability to catch up with the all-time greats who began their careers earlier.
For instance, Judge’s 300 home runs before turning 33 place him 62nd, tied with Ryan Howard. In contrast, players like Alex Rodriguez, Jimmie Foxx, and Albert Pujols had accumulated significantly more home runs by that age due to their earlier starts.
Unlike Bonds, who saw a notable increase in home run totals later in his career due to performance enhancers, Judge’s success has come from honing his skills and gaining experience.
If Judge continues to play at this level, he could maintain impressive numbers for several more years, even though surpassing Bonds’ record might seem a distant target.
After hitting his 300th home run, Juan Soto expressed hope that Aaron Judge could eventually break the all-time home run record of 762. Soto believes Judge has the potential to achieve this historic feat and hopes Judge remains healthy enough to make it possible, adding that he looks forward to watching Judge chase the record.
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