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Mary RiveraESPN writer
The American League has a new single-season home run leader.
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge hit his 62nd homer of the season Tuesday against the Texas Rangers, breaking the AL record he shared with Roger Maris.
Judge didn’t hit a home run in the Yankees’ final regular-season homestand last Wednesday after putting Tim Mayza’s sinker into the Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen to tie Maris. Play — It’s a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. Back on the road, Judge went 2-for-9 in two singles in Tuesday’s doubles first game against the Rangers, bringing Texas pitcher Jesus Tinoco to the first inning. Game 1. 62.
remember where you were #aaronjudge made history. 6️⃣2️⃣ #AllRise pic.twitter.com/w4kbDJf5ZC
– Major League Baseball (@MLB) October 5, 2022
The Yankees gathered at the plate to meet Judge after the home run and removed his helmet as he walked back to the dugout to greet the fans. He got another standing ovation when he got to the bottom of the innings.
The ball was caught by Dallas’ Corey Youmans, who was sitting in the 31st area. When asked what he would do with the ball, he was taken safely to certify it, Youmans replied: “Good question. I don’t” I didn’t think about it. “
Judge was later removed from the game and Rangers went on to win 3-2. The Yankees won Game 1 of the doubles 5-4.
The record home run came three days after Maris’ 61st home run over the legendary Babe Ruth’s 61st anniversary.
“[It is an] It’s an honor to have the opportunity to be associated with Maris,” Judge said Wednesday, forever associated with the Yankees legend, becoming the only player in franchise history to hit 61 home runs. “I can’t even describe it. it. It’s an honor to know what Maris did in this game. The chance to tie Roger Maris is something you could only dream of. “
Only Barry Bonds (73), Mark McGwell (70, 65) and Sammy Sousa (66, 64, 63) are on MLB’s single-season homer list. ) ahead of the judge. But while Judge has the AL record, Maris’ son, Roger Maris Jr., said this week that he thinks Judge should be recognized as the true “king of home runs.”
Maris’ record held MLB’s all-time record until McGill surpassed it with 70 in 1998. Bonds surpassed McGwell in 2001, baseball’s official single-season record for 73 home runs. But little Maris undercuts the achievements of the two sluggers who achieved their feats in the so-called era of steroids.
“He played the right way,” said Marris Jr. Talked about the judge earlier this week. “And I think it gives people the opportunity to see a guy who should be respected for hitting 62 home runs, not just a guy who hits in the American League, but a real single-season home run Playing a championship. That’s who he is. Now at 62, I think that’s what needs to happen.”
Judge, who grew up about a half-hour east of San Francisco and is a Giants fan, said he believes Bonds’ 73 home runs are a legitimate single-season mark.
New York manager Aaron Boone said he felt honored to sit on the front row of baseball history.
“The history of the game is one of its calling cards,” Boone said. “The number 61. I’ve known that number all my life. I think one of the things that makes our sport more special than any other is its history. We do it well. It’s always been ‘a year and a season,’ We are at a magical moment in history, and it has to do with a number. This is very concise. “
The Yankees will enter the playoffs with the No. 1 overall pick. The No. 2 seed in the American League. They will finish the regular season in Texas on Wednesday.