Top 5 Yankees sluggers with single-season home run feats at age 35 & above ft. Alex Rodriguez, Babe Ruth
There's no franchise in baseball with a deeper history of success than the New York Yankees. Love them or hate them, the Bronx Bombers, sometimes known as the Evil Empire, have won the most World Series championships in baseball history. Thanks to a number of Hall of Famers and superstars, the Yanks have secured a whopping 27 titles, 16 more than the next closest team.
Although the New York Yankees haven't won a World Series since 2009, the club remains arguably the most popular in the game. In the team's history, it hasn't only been players in their athletic prime who have been helped them become a powerhouse, but also aging players who turned back the clock, if even for only a season.
In an episode of the hit baseball podcast Talkin' Yanks, the hosts dove into the home run history for the club, specifically the five different players aged 35 or older with the most single-season home runs.
Most single-season home runs by Yankees players 35 and older
#5 Joe DiMaggio (32 home runs)
Coming in fifth on this list is one of the most beloved players in New York Yankees history, Joe DiMaggio.
During the 1950 campaign (his second last season in the MLB) 'Joltin' Joe' hit 32 home runs for the club, earning the 12th All-Star selection of his illustrious career. He helped his club bring home the World Series that season, cementing himself even more as a true New York legend.
#4 Alex Rodriguez (33 home runs)
Alex Rodriguez's tenure with New York was certainly a polarizing one, to say the least. But even at the ripe age of 39, the infielder still had some life left in his bat.
In 2015, A-Rod turned back the clock, launching 33 home runs for the Bronx Bombers. It was an impressive season from the controverisal slugger, especially considering the fact that he would retire from the MLB the next year.
#3 Gary Sheffield (36 home runs)
In third place on this list is Gary Sheffield, who clobbered 36 home runs in 2004. The hard-hitting outfielder put on a show for the New York crowd, as the 35-year-old tied Alex Rodriguez for the team lead in dingers.
Thanks to Sheffield's exploits that season, he finished second in AL MVP voting, behind Vladimir Guerrero, The next season, he added 34 home runs, which put him ahead of A-Rod's 2015.
#2 Jason Giambi (37 home runs)
Following his high-profile move from the Oakland Athletics (highlighted in the film Moneyball) Jason Giambi coninuted to showcase his home run prowess with New York.
In 2006, at the age of 36, Giambi clobbering 37 home runs, placing him firmly at second place on the all-time list of Yankees single-season homers aged 35 or older .
#1 Babe Ruth (49 home runs)
Unsurprisingly, arguably the greatest Yankees player of all time, Babe Ruth tops this impressive list.
During his age 35 season in 1930, he hit a whopping 49 home runs for the club. As there were no repeats were allowed on the list, this is Ruth's only appearance even though he went on to hit 41 home runs the next season. The 'Great Bambino' is widely considered one of the greatest for a reason.