The Yankees lost Sunday's 3-2 series finale at the Chicago White Sox, blowing an opportunity to sweep the American League's worst team, but Aaron Judge's first-inning home run was an undeniable moment.
New York's captain launched his second homer in as many days, bringing his season total to 43 through 127 games, but more importantly tied Yogi Berra on the franchise's home run list with 358 career long balls.
"The most important thing's trying to get a win, especially when you can finish off a series sweep right there, so not getting that kind of stings," Judge said, referencing the Yankees (76-61) squandering a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning against the White Sox (49-88) and snapping New York's win streak at seven games. "But you get a chance to tie one of the greatest — if not the greatest — Yankee in homers is pretty special.
"The way Yogi played the game, what he meant to the pinstripes — you knew how much it meant, being a New York Yankee, to him. I feel the same way. I'm honored to wear this jersey. So, it's pretty cool to be on that list with him."
Judge trails Joe DiMaggio (361), Lou Gehrig (493), Mickey Mantle (536) and Babe Ruth (659).
"It's the company he belongs in," Boone said. "When he came into the dugout, I yelled 'Yogi' out to him. He's certainly earned his way into those rarified-air names with the career he's put together so far."
ALL RISE!
Aaron Judge ties Yogi Berra for the fifth most home runs in Yankee history đź‘Ź pic.twitter.com/ZpxHQwhwPN
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The Yankees selected Judge with the 2013 MLB Draft's No. 32 overall pick in the first round. His MLB debut was Aug. 13, 2016, and spent time around veterans who told him of Berra's firsthand influence.
"Didn't get to see him too much — he was definitely around, over at big-league camp — but he was a special individual," Judge said. "A lot of the veteran guys talked highly of him, as far as some of their favorite memories coming to spring training, was having the chance to talk to him during camp, just hear some of his stories, hear them say he just always had a smile on his face, was fun to be around.
"So, I didn't get to have a lot of time with him, but he's one of the greatest Yankees, one of the greatest players to play this game. So, it was pretty cool."
Berra died Sept. 22, 2015. He was 90.
His decorated career as a player with the Yankees (1946-63) and Mets (1965) saw him total 18 All-Star selections, 10 World Series rings, three American League MVPs. The Yankees retired his No. 8, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame's 1972 class.
"He was a fantastic baseball player," Judge said. "Ten World Series, that's pretty impressive — that's what we're all chasing. Like I said, to be on a list with him, tie him — I think our statures are a little different, but it's pretty cool."
Judge, 33, is carving his own path.
"He's as good as we've seen in this generation," Boone said of Judge, who is a seven-time All-Star, two-time MVP and the AL's single-season home run record holder, among other accolades.
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