Aaron Judge is someone who walks in the footsteps of the New York Yankees immortals—Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and more in the regular season. His home run records and his power just place him among the greats and it perfectly embodies what it takes to wear the pinstripes. Much like Derek Jeter aka Mr. November, who earned the name for his clutch hits in the playoffs—Judge was expected to deliver.

However, while Jeter made huge leaps at crucial moments, Judge did the opposite. He has always struggled to play under pressure. And the numbers, well, that’s almost like an optical illusion because the same bat that crushes records in the regular season dies down in October. In fact, Aaron Judge himself admitted that he was guilty of not delivering when needed before the series with the Kansas City Royals started. “If we don’t win it all, I feel like it’s my fault.” Unfortunately, Game 2  followed a similar script, with Judge unable to deliver when he was needed the most. 

October woes continue for Aaron Judge 

The New York Yankees’ last game with the Kansas City Royals wasn’t over the top. They had lapses and Judge, well, he didn’t perform, yet the rest of the players saved the day. But in Game 2, the Yanks didn’t have the same luck and suffered a 4-2 loss to the Royals. Judge went 1-for-3 with an infield but struck out in an important moment. His eight-inning hit did nothing to change the game’s projection. And Judge wasn’t at all thrilled with it!

Judge postseason struggles are no secret. Judge holds the second-highest strikeout rate in postseason history among the players with at least 200 appearances on the plate standing at 33.4%. This statistic is crazy to believe, as he is a force during the regular season. In the ALDS series, Judge is 1-for-7 with four strikeouts. The number is right below Maldonado’s 34.2 and right above Bellinger’s 32.6. 

Reflecting on his performance, Aaron Judge said as per the NY Post, “If I’m not hitting 1.000, I’m not feeling good. You’d kind of like to get it done in the first inning, but I haven’t been able to come through, so we’ll do it next time.” Judge is feeling the postseason pressures and knows that he is expected to come through. He needs to become the man leading the team and find his swing when it matters the most–which is NOW. 

Does Aaron Judge need a championship to be a Yankees Legend?

Aaron Judge is 32 and has already etched his name into the New York Yankees lore. He is a six-time All-Star team captain and the man who broke the AL home run record. He is surely on the way to Cooperstown. His standout performances whether his rookie year in 2017 with 52 homers or his 2024 regular season — Judge’s legacy is solid. Surely his name will one day be beside the other Yankee legend in Monument Park. But truly, is all this enough to be a legend? Look at Derek Jeter—he made the Yankees win five championships—a true legend! 

Aaron Judge himself seems to think that winning is what matters. Juan Soto, who recently joined the team this year, has seen his captain’s hunger for a championship up close. “He always talks about [winning a championship]. He always, from the first day that I got here, he’s always talked about how he wants to win a championship, how he wants us to win a championship, how he wants to win a championship for the Yankees and be part of the history,” said Soto. Clearly, the pinstripes come with a unique pressure and even after having historic seasons–without a ring in the end, it all feels incomplete.

The former Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that Aaron Judge is a champion. But Girardi added, “But I think, personally, it would mean a lot to him, the work that he’s put in and the work that his teammates – because there’s nothing like being a champion. There’s a bond that’s created for life.” Judge has been heroic this season, and October can make or break his legend status. 

The moment is tense for the New York Yankees. Judge isn’t alone and there are more players like Juan Soto, but the team needs their leader to step up. Do you think he can change the narrative? Let us know!