New York, NY — In a display of power that has become his trademark, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees has once again captured the baseball world’s attention. Over the weekend, Judge hammered his 50th and 51st home runs of the season, marking the third time in his career that he has achieved the 50-home run milestone. His previous 50-home run seasons were in 2017 and 2022.
With this latest feat, Judge joins an elite group of Major League Baseball (MLB) sluggers including Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Alex Rodriguez. Each of these players has also hit 50 or more home runs in three or more seasons, with Sosa achieving this in four seasons and the others in three.
In the past week alone, Judge has slammed seven home runs, reviving the Yankees’ offensive firepower as they look to dominate in the American League (AL). Despite their strong performance, securing four wins in their last five games, the Yankees still trail in the overall MLB standings and are ranked second in the latest power rankings, preceded by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In college football, the season opened with a shock as Georgia Tech defeated the Florida State Seminoles 24-21 in a thrilling match in Dublin. Georgia Tech’s victory was underscored by a last-second 44-yard field goal by Aidan Birr, snapping a 15-game losing streak against top-10 teams. This was a significant upset for Florida State, the 10th-ranked and reigning Atlantic Coast Conference champions, particularly poignant as it occurred in their first game of the season.
Georgia Tech displayed a robust game, amassing 190 rushing yards and maintaining a solid defense that didn’t allow a single sack. Their performance was emblematic of a disciplined and opportunistic team, qualities that have characterized their play since the beginning of last year.
Meanwhile, the NFL pre-season has wrapped up, with teams making final adjustments before the regular season. The Dallas Cowboys received unfortunate news as All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland suffered a stress fracture in his foot and will be sidelined for six to eight weeks following surgery. This setback occurs as the Cowboys were poised to field one of the strongest defensive back duos in the league with Bland and Trevon Diggs.
The quarterback situations for both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots are also under scrutiny. The Steelers are close to announcing their starting quarterback as both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields showed potential in their final pre-season games. The Patriots face uncertainty as Jacoby Brissett, their potential starting quarterback, sustained a shoulder injury, opening the door for Drake Maye, who impressed during his appearance.
In a more somber note, the Baltimore Ravens mourn the loss of their offensive line coach, Joe D’Alessandris, who died at 70 after a brief battle with an acute illness. D’Alessandris, who had been with the Ravens since 2017, was revered not just for his coaching prowess but also for his character and dedication to his players.
As the sports world gears up for more action, fans have a plethora of events to look forward to, including the US Open and various MLB and NBA games scheduled throughout the week. These events promise to bring exciting developments as teams and players look to establish their dominance early in the season.