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Aaron Judge solving playoff problems could “add a new level” to the Yankees' legacy.

Aaron Judge's list of successes and encounters with history during the regular season has grown longer than a CVS receipt.

But the Yankees captain would probably crumple it up like one of those receipts and throw it in the trash in exchange for the one big thing missing from his resume: a ring.

Judge is coming off another historic season, and yet almost every time he had another performance this year, he downplayed it and talked about his desire to win a championship.

Aaron Judge and the Yankees held a practice on October 4th before the ALDS. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

Now he finally has another chance to lead the Yankees there.

“It eats at me every time we don't finish the job,” Judge said Friday night at Yankee Stadium after the team held a final practice before Game 1 of the ALDS against the Royals on Saturday.

The back page of the post for Saturday October 5th.

“I have a big responsibility for that as part of the team and if we don’t win everything I feel like it’s my fault.

The Yankees and Royals' projected lineups for Game 1.

“But we have a good group. Like I said: We have good chemistry, a good team here and we fought through a lot. So we're definitely looking forward to righting the ship and going out and doing our thing. We just have to take it one game at a time and if we take care of our business and do what we need to do, we’ll be where we want to be.”

Standing in a champagne-soaked clubhouse last week after the Yankees locked out the AL East, Judge mentioned that as a rookie in 2017 he was one win away from a World Series appearance and expected to be at the position every year to be.

But the Yankees haven't come this close since, and the wait for the franchise's 28th title is only getting longer.

As dominant as Judge has been in the regular season over the years, his October finishes left a lot to be desired.

In 44 games and six playoff runs, Judge has hit .211 with an OPS of .772, although much of that production came in his first three postseasons.

Aaron Judge swings during batting practice Oct. 4. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

Since the 2020 playoffs – a smaller sample size of 17 games – Judge has hit .143 with a .565 OPS and 25 strikeouts.

Fans also let him know what they thought.

Judge was booed during Game 2 of the 2022 ALDS — just a week after he hit his record-tying 62nd home run — as he started the postseason 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts and a walk.


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“It’s really not about putting pressure on anyone,” Judge said. “It’s the same game we’ve played all year.”

And Judge has had the same, singular goal all year long – his entire career: to win a championship.

“From day one, that was all he wanted,” said Juan Soto, who called Judge the “greatest hitter of all time.”

Aaron Judge scores for the Yankees. Jason Scenes for the NY Post

While Judge feels the responsibility for the failed days of October, Giancarlo Stanton pointed out that this does not just rest on his broad shoulders.

“He and we understand how important it is, what we have to do, how important this time is and how important it is to bring a championship to the city,” Stanton said. “As the years go by, you no longer take this time for granted. There is no guarantee for these moments and times. And since this has not been achieved over the years, this window will not remain open forever.”

Not the highlight of Judge's career either.

The 32-year-old has seven years left on his contract after this season, but this October is the only one he will have guaranteed with Soto scoring before him, and it could be his best chance yet to bring home a title.

Two years after setting the AL home run record, Judge was an even more complete hitter this season, batting .322 with 58 home runs and a 1.159 OPS in 158 games.

Although these gaudy regular-season stats regularly put him in the same discussion as Yankees legends Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, all of these players also won championships.

Aaron Judge rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the regular season. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

“I think there’s no doubt he’s one of the greatest players in the franchise,” manager Aaron Boone said. “But he plays for it [championship]. That's why he does this, not to accumulate personal accolades. He embodies that, he lives that and we are all working on that. Obviously a win would certainly take his legacy to a new level.”