Aaron Judge vs. Jose Altuve height: How iconic 2017 photo created a viral meme for MLB's tallest, shortest players

Dan Treacy

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Aaron Judge vs. Jose Altuve height: How iconic 2017 photo created a viral meme for MLB's tallest, shortest players image

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The Yankees and Astros have met several times in the postseason over the last decade or so.

While the Yankees are the more historically dominant franchise, it's been all Houston of late. The Astros eliminated the Yankees from the postseason in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022.  

Aaron Judge and Jose Altuve have both been pillars of their respective ballclubs and remain at the center of attention.

Judge and Altuve share a lot of similarities, too. 

They've both been with the same team for the entirety of their careers. Judge won his first MVP award in 2022 after a record-breaking 62-home run season. Altuve beat out Judge for the MVP in 2017. They're both All-Stars, and they're both Silver Slugger Award winners. 

MORE: Most home runs in a single MLB season

But, there is one thing they are very, very different from one another.

Their height. 

In 2017, this photo went viral, instantly becoming an internet meme.

Aaron Judge, Jose Altuve
(Getty Images)

The Sporting News takes a look at the height differences between the two players, MLB players' average height and a look back at the internet calamity that still applies today.

How tall is Aaron Judge?

Aaron Judge is listed at 6-foot-7, putting him among baseball's tallest active players. He is the tallest player to ever hit 50 home runs in a season, first doing so as a rookie in 2017.

Judge is not the tallest active player in the sport. That designation belongs to Giants reliever Sean Hjelle, who is listed at 6-foot-11.

Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober stands at 6-foot-9, and several players check in at 6-foot-8. 

MORE: Oldest MLB players to ever compete in a game  

Jose Altuve and Aroldis Chapman
(Getty Images)

How tall is Jose Altuve?

Jose Altuve stands at just 5-foot-6, making him one of the shortest players in MLB history.  

The title of shortest player in baseball history is disputed, but it doesn't belong to Altuve. While it's understandable to rule out 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel, who had one official plate appearance as a publicity stunt in 1951, four players between 1904-1953 are listed as 5-foot-3.

Considering record-keeping of height was inexact at the time (and often still is), it isn't known which of those players was actually the shortest. 

Only one player shorter than Altuve has hit a home run in the postseason. 5-foot-5 Freddie Patek homered in the 1978 ALCS and still holds that title. While that home run was the only one in Patek's postseason career, Altuve is second all-time in postseason home runs with 23.

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Despite his stature, Altuve has become one of baseball's most accomplished players. The 32-year-old is an eight-time all-star, 2017 and 2022 World Series champion and former AL MVP. 

Astros 2022 All-Star Game uniforms
(Getty Images)

What is the average height of MLB players?

According to Baseball-Reference, the average height of major-league players has hovered near 6-feet, 1-inch - or 73 inches — over the past decade. Judge comes in six inches taller than average, while Altuve in seven inches shorter than average.

73 inches marked a new high for the league in 2016, and that figure has stayed mostly steady since that point.

Aaron Judge, Jose Altuve
(Getty Images)

Aaron Judge and Jose Altuve side by side

Aaron Judge has a 13-inch height advantage over Jose Altuve, and every bit of it is clear when the two are standing next to each other. 

Judge and Altuve first faced off during Judge's rookie season in 2017, but it wasn't until their second series of the season that a photo of Judge standing next to Altuve at second base went viral.

By that point in the season, it was becoming clear that the American League MVP race could come down to Judge and Altuve, and cameras focused in on the duo anytime Judge ended up at second base.

MORE: How many World Series have the Astros won? History of Houston's Fall Classic appearances

Despite the massive height difference, Altuve would beat out Judge for the MVP award in 2017. More photos went viral when the two faced off in the ALCS, a series that ended in a Game 7 win for the Astros and set Houston on a path to a championship. 

Aaron Judge, Jose Altuve
(Getty Images)

Aaron Judge and Jose Altuve memes

The internet had fun with photos of Judge and Altuve in 2017, and a couple more ALCS matchups between the Yankees and Astros have only created more meme opportunities. 

If nothing else, the reality that both Altuve and Judge can play at an MVP level with such a gigantic height difference speaks to the uniqueness of baseball. 

MORE: What pitchers are in the 3,000 strikeout club?

Dan Treacy

Dan Treacy is a content producer for Sporting News, joining in 2022 after graduating from Boston University. He founded @allsportsnews on Instagram in 2012 and has written for Lineups and Yardbarker.