22 Down

NYT Daily • September 8, 2025

Slugger Judge

Answer:

AARON

Hint:

This Hall of Famer broke Babe Ruth's home run record and shares his first name with a biblical figure known for his beard.

Explanation:

Slugger Judge" is a playful nickname hinting at a famous baseball player known for his powerful hitting. The word "Judge" here doesn’t refer to an official but instead nods to Hank Aaron, whose last name sounds like "airin’" (as in "aarin’"), phonetically close to "Aaron." He was a legendary "slugger" (home run hitter) for the Braves, making the clue a clever mix of his skill and a homophone twist on his name.

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