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Aaron Judge Breaks Mantle's Record With More History to Come

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated Jul 11, 2025 12:13 PM ET

Aaron Judge has been incredible for the New York Yankees, not just this season, but throughout his career. What he did earlier this week continues to elevate him among MLB legends.

Judge set a Yankees franchise record by passing Mickey Mantle for the most intentional walks in a single season. He picked up his Major League Baseball-leading 24th intentional walk of the year, surpassing Mantle's mark of 23 set back in 1957.

MLB Network's Sarah Langs highlighted the milestone on social media, noting it was achieved in early July. With so much of the season still ahead, Judge has plenty of chances to raise the mark even higher.

Most intentional walks in a season, Yankees since IBB officially tracked (1955):

2025 Aaron Judge: 24
1957 Mickey Mantle: 23

It’s July.
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 9, 2025

It's worth mentioning that intentional walks weren't officially recorded before 1955, so it's unclear how often legends like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig or Joe DiMaggio were intentionally passed in their prime.

Even so, Judge’s dominance this season is undeniable. His career-best batting average of .356 has made him a nightmare for pitchers, leading many managers to intentionally walk him rather than risk giving up extra-base hits or home runs. It’s a testament to how well Judge has eliminated holes in his swing and refined his approach at the plate.

Heading into a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs, Judge has 34 home runs and 78 RBIs. The Yankees sit in second place in the American League, two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays.

In the recent three-game series against the Seattle Mariners, Judge went 3-for-12 with a double and a home run — and of course an intentional walk. He’ll also take part in the MLB All-Star Game next week, marking his seventh appearance.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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