Topps RIPPED Making of a Legend | Aaron Judge

The Story and Cards of the Yankees Superstar

Today, Aaron Judge may just be the biggest star in The Hobby. On the cusp of his second AL MVP award, the 32-year old slugger is the latest in a long line of league-defining superstars to play for the sport’s flagship franchise, the New York Yankees. A larger-than-life, home-run-hitting giant, Judge has led the AL in home runs in three of the last eight seasons (and all three of the seasons in which he has appeared in at least 150 games).

This year, Judge has led his Yankees back to the playoffs, looking for his first-ever World Series appearance. While Judge and the Yankees continue to battle with the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS, let’s look at the story and career of the unquestioned star of the American League.

2024 Topps Baseball Update Series PAW Patrol Rubble & Crew #PP-2 Aaron Judge

Judge Breaks the Big Apple

Aaron Judge was drafted with the 32nd pick of the first round in the 2013 MLB Draft. He would get injured in practice and be forced to miss the entirety of his first year in professional baseball. By 2016, Judge’s power had shown sufficient refinement, and he was called up in August of that year. He launched a home run in his very first at-bat, and then became the second Yankee player ever to homer in his first two games.

2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick Autographs #BCA-AJ Aaron Judge Red Refractor Auto /5

Injury brought a premature end to his 2016 call up, but Judge broke camp the following season as the team’s starting Right Fielder. In his debut year, Judge put together one of the greatest rookie campaigns in MLB history. Such was the enormity of his early success, “The Judge’s Chambers” a cheering section in Yankee Stadium, was set up by late May. Judge won Rookie of the Month in both April and May, hitting 17 home runs combined.

2017 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs #CRA-AJ Aaron Judge Red Refractor RC Auto /5

His prolific power was literally unprecedented. Judge’s exit velocity of 121.1 MPH on June 17 was the fastest ever recorded. Just a rookie, he led all AL players in All-Star voting that year. He won the Home Run Derby in style. By the end of the season, Judge had walloped a then-rookie record 52 home runs. The bright lights of the Big Apple had not intimidated Judge in the slightest – rather, he looked made for Manhattan.

2017 Topps Dynasty #AA2 Aaron Judge All-Star Patch Auto /10

2022 MLB TOPPS NOW® #1012 Aaron Judge

Judge Chases Down A Ghost

Judge struggled with injuries in the next three seasons of his career, but still displayed unbelievable power when he was in the lineup. He hit 27 home runs in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons, despite playing only 102 and 112 games, respectively. In 2021, Judge managed to play 148 games, registering a then-career high .287 batting average to go along with 39 home runs. Finally back in the groove, Judge was merely offering up a teasing appetizer, for the delectable main course that would be a historic 2022 campaign.

After failing to negotiate a long-term contract extension, a motivated Judge dominated the MLB throughout the regular season. One for theatrics, on July 28, Judge hit his third walk-off home run, tying Mickey Mantle for the most by a Yankee in a single season. By the end of August he had gone over 50 home runs, becoming only the 10th player in MLB history to do so twice, in what was functionally only his third full season.

Judge’s September would be a march to history, as the Yankee sensation chased down legend Roger Maris, hitting 10 home runs in the month to tie Maris at 61 home runs. On October 4, Judge went yard one last time, setting a new American League record in the process. His first MVP award soon followed, along with a record contract.

2022 Topps Home Run Challenge #HRCW-6 Aaron Judge /181

2024 TOPPS NOW® #776 Aaron Judge

Back On Top of the American League

Injuries hampered Judge again in 2023, although he still went for 37 home runs despite missing 56 games. This season, Judge started slowly, after dealing with more injuries throughout Spring Training. Three home runs in the last week of April was a sign of the greatness to come.

May and June were two of the most spectacular offensive months ever seen, and they came from the same player, right on top of each other. A combined 25 home runs in only 185 at-bats, along with 64 RBI in only 55 games. In both months, Judge’s gargantuan OPS was over 1.377. Judge won AL Player of the Month three times in a four month span. He had become, simply, inevitable. By the end of the year, Judge had amassed 58 home runs and a career-high 144 RBI, while leading the Yankees to the best record in the American League.

2024 TOPPS NOW #757 Aaron Judge

The Final Hurdle

For all his incredible numbers and awards, Aaron Judge has yet to have the sort of postseason we have come to expect, to hope for. But, after his three-run homer in Game 2 of the ALCS helped the Yankees to a 2-0 series lead, Judge is so close to his first World Series.

2024 Topps Baseball Update Series Mystical #MYS-4 Aaron Judge

An All-Time World Series Classic Awaits

That Judge may finally get to the Series this year feels like the work of a Hollywood screenwriter. With the Mets facing off against the Dodgers in the NLCS, winning the AL would mean Judge’s World Series bow would either come in a Subway Series or in a battle against MLB’s other superhuman superstar, the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani. Does a Hollywood ending await The Bronx Bomber?

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More Topps & Aaron Judge

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• Does Aaron Judge Now Rule the Modern Hobby?
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