New York Yankees: Top 15 Moments of the 2017 Season
By Sean Dyer
4. Aaron Judge’s 50th Home Run Breaks Mark McGwire’s MLB Rookie Record
Aaron Judge had the greatest home run hitting season of any rookie in the history of baseball. Let that soak in. Of every player to ever play this game, no one hit more home runs in their rookie season than Aaron Judge.
Judge had plenty of noteworthy home runs along the way. We already mentioned his 495-ft bomb against the O’s. Judge’s 30th home run broke Joe DiMaggio’s franchise record for most home runs in a rookie season. His 49th tied Mark McGwire for the MLB rookie record. And, of course, big No. 50 put Judge atop the record book by himself.
Judge’s second-half struggles made 50 home runs seem like a long shot, but a red-hot September got him all the way to 52 dingers. He also added four more in the postseason.
Giancarlo Stanton was the only player to hit more home runs than Judge with 59.
Aaron Judge’s remarkable rookie season has him all but locked into AL Rookie of the Year and has him in serious consideration for the AL MVP.