Yankees' Aaron Judge given special Hall of Fame proclamation by ESPN

Jul 26, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts after a home run hit by shortstop Anthony Volpe (not seen) against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Aaron Judge is a "lock" for the Hall of Fame, ESPN's David Schoenfield wrote on Monday.

You won't find any arguments about that involving the New York Yankees' superstar, but that's not all Schoenfield wrote.

He went on to wonder whether Judge can become an "inner-circle" Hall of Famer.

Obviously that's not a specifically defined term, but it's one of those know it when you see it kind of things.

Babe Ruth, for example -- inner circle. Tim Raines? Not so much.

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Judge has a chance.

"The question at this point isn't whether Judge is a Hall of Famer but if he can climb into the inner circle of Hall of Famers," Schoenfield writes. "Because he started late -- he was 25 as a rookie -- and then had some injuries early in his career, it will be difficult for Judge's career counting stats to measure up to some of those legends. He's accumulating value at a high rate, however, and is one of just 23 position players with at least four 8-WAR seasons. If he can compile two more such seasons -- and he has produced seasons of 10.8, 10.8 and 9.7 since 2022 -- then he would be one of just 15 position players with six 8-WAR seasons and just the sixth to do it whose career started after World War II. That sounds like inner circle."

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Judge actually has a fascinating case as the greatest right-handed hitter of all time, at least on an efficiency level. That could always decline as he ages, but it's hard to know just how much his game will fall off over time.

All that's really clear is that Judge is an immense talent, and that there's never really been another player in baseball like the 6-foot-7 superstar.

Cooperstown will call whenever Judge decides to hang up his spikes.

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