The Yankees and Astros have been on a collision course for the better part of the last decade, meeting in the postseason four times in eight years.
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, and 2019. After winning 106 games in the regular season, the Astros are aiming for history to repeat itself.
As New York and Houston come together for their third ALCS matchup since 2017, Aaron Judge and Jose Altuve, both pillars of their respective ballclubs, 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, although that could change this offseason for the Yankees slugger.
Judge is projected to win his first MVP award after a record-breaking 62-home run season. Altuve beat out Judge for the MVP in 2017.
They're both All-Stars, Judge a four-timer, while Altuve has appeared eight times. They're both Silver Slugger Award winners.
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.
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-feet, 7-inches, putting him among baseball's tallest active players. He is the tallest player to ever hit 50 home runs in a season, doing so as a rookie in 2017 and again this year.
Judge is not the tallest active player in the sport. That designation belongs to Giants reliever Sean Hjelle, who spent time on the major-league roster this season and is listed at 6-feet, 11-inches.
Rays starter Tyler Glasnow and Cubs reliever Brad Wieck also stand taller than Judge at 6-feet, 8-inches. Earlier in his career, Judge was outranked by 6-foot, 8-inch teammate Dellin Betances.
MORE: Aaron Judge explains why he kissed Yankees logo after HR
Judge is, however, the league's tallest position player alongside Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz. While both Judge and Cruz are 6-feet, 7-inches, Judge is listed as 62 pounds heavier than Cruz.
How tall is Jose Altuve?
Jose Altuve stands at just 5-feet, 6-inches, making him one of the shortest players in MLB history. Altuve and Oakland's Tony Kemp, his former teammate, are the two shortest active players in baseball.
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-inch Eddie Gaedel, who had one official plate appearance as a publicity stunt in 1951, four players between 1904-1953 are listed as 5-feet, 3-inches.
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-inch 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.
Despite his stature, Altuve has become one of baseball's most accomplished players. The 32-year-old is an eight-time all-star, 2017 World Series champion, and former AL MVP. In an era of declining contact, Altuve has a career .307 batting average and is quickly approaching 2,000 career hits.
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 and Jose Altuve side by side
Judge has a 13-inch height advantage over 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 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.
Judge: "Felt a raindrop. I think it's raining."
— TPS (@TotalProSports) July 2, 2017
Altuve: "I don't feel anything."
Judge: "It's still falling. Should reach you any minute." pic.twitter.com/fAmG17vnsH
Another pic of Jose Altuve and Aaron Judge ... pic.twitter.com/bNyXmz05dT
— Steven R. Walker (@Steve_R_Walker) July 3, 2017
Awesome moment. #Yankees Aaron Judge spends time with local Little Leaguer before game vs #Astros pic.twitter.com/a1tc12JgxW
— Francis in Glendale (@TFPWillEat) July 2, 2017
A pitch at Jose Altuve's face is still a strike for Aaron Judge. (📸: @_dadler) pic.twitter.com/BE0AD1M6Vb
— Ben Harris (@byBenHarris) July 2, 2017
Home runs this season:
— LebronJamesHarden™️ (@LBJamesHarden) July 22, 2021
Aaron Judge: 21
Jose Altuve: 22 pic.twitter.com/bABi7HXSUY
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.
