The most beloved player in pinstripes understands what it means to be a Yankee.

The reality becomes clearer to Aaron Judge each year, with the team now 10 years removed from its most recent World Series title, marking the third-longest title drought ever for the 27-time champions.

“Any year you’re not the last man standing, the season is a fail,” Judge said Thursday. “It doesn’t matter how many games you win in the postseason. You can win every single game in the regular season, but if you lose in the postseason, it doesn’t matter.”

As Judge prepared for his third postseason — beginning Friday against the Twins in Game 1 of the ALDS — the face of the franchise reflected on the past two Octobers, which opened with similar optimism. His brilliant rookie season ended one win short of the World Series. Last year ended with a front-row seat to a Red Sox celebration.

“Each year it left a bad taste in my mouth, especially Game 7 in Houston, Game 4 here at home [against Boston], losing on our home turf to our AL East rivals,” Judge said. “But a lot of guys, that keeps us hungry. That’s kind of how I always saw it was we’re getting closer and getting to learn.

“My biggest motivator and biggest lessons I’ve learned is always from failure.”

Since going 1-for-20 in his first playoff series (2017 ALDS), Judge has lived up to his reputation, hitting three homers in the ALCS against the Astros, and batting .375 with a pair of home runs against the Red Sox last year.

“First year is like a practice test, where you go through the motions your first time into it. [In 2017] I could sit up here and say I wasn’t nervous, but I was nervous, excited,” said Judge, who was limited to 102 games due to an oblique strain this season. “I think after you get a couple games in, get that feeling of what postseason is about, you settle down a little bit.”

The best time of year is back.

“You’re lining up for the national anthem, and you look out in the stands, and you can’t even hear the last half of the anthem because the fans start getting crazy and loud,” Judge said. “You feel like you’re floating out there when you’re warming up and stretching. I honestly don’t even know how to describe it. It’s just electric. The stadium comes alive when those fans fill it up. Man, I feel like some of the ghosts from Yankees past are here with us whenever that stadium gets rocking. That’s why I can’t wait for the game.”