Aaron Judge hits 62nd home run, passing Roger Maris for most in a season by American League player
By: Ryan Morik (Fox News)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The MLB record books have been rewritten.
Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run of the season Tuesday night against Texas Rangers pitcher Jesus Tinoco, surpassing Roger Maris for the most home runs in a single season by an American League player.
Judge becomes the fourth player to hit at least 62 home runs in a season. The other three — Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa — have all been linked to performance-enhancing drugs.
Their alleged steroid use has cast doubt on whether their totals are legitimate. So many consider Judge the true single-season record holder.
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
One of those many is Roger Maris Jr.
"He's clean, he's a Yankee, he plays the game the right way," Maris said last Wednesday after Judge tied his father. "I think it gives people a chance to look at somebody who should be revered for hitting 62 home runs and not just as a guy who did it in the American League.
"He should be revered for being the actual single-season home run champ. That's really who he is if he hits 62, and I think that's what needs to happen. I think baseball needs to look at the records, and I think baseball should do something."
Judge disagrees, saying Bonds' " 73 (from 2001) is the record. " But he still acknowledged getting to 61 was packed with pressure.
"You try not to think about it, but it creeps into your head," Judge said, adding there was "definitely some relief" after breaking a seven-game homerless streak.
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge hits a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Sixty-one has also become a magical number in Yankees and baseball lore. Maris hit his 61st homer in 1961 in his 161st game, and Judge broke the record 61 years later in the Yankees' 161st game of the season.
Another numerical note: Judge wears the number 99. Maris wore 9.
In the bottom half of the first, Gerrit Cole also made Yankees history, striking out his 249th batter of the year. That surpassed Ron Guidry's previous franchise record of 248 set in 1978.
The 30-year-old is slated to become a free agent this offseason after he turned down an eight-year, $230.5 million offer from the Yankees before the season. All he's done since declining that offer is have one of the best offensive seasons the game has ever seen and become the front-runner for the AL MVP Award.
Entering Tuesday's doubleheader, he was leading the majors in homers, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, total bases, OPS+ and runs scored. His 130 RBI and 111 walks also led the AL, while his .311 batting average was second in the AL.
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) approaches home plate as the teammates come out to congratulate him after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, in the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Judge bet on himself, and he is certainly going to cash out.
Tags
Who is online
370 visitors
The Home Run king is once again, a NY Yankee.
ARLINGTON -- Dallas resident Cory Youmans had a front-row seat to history -- literally.
Sitting in left field -- Section 31, Row 1, Seat 3 -- at Globe Life Field on Tuesday night, Youmans was the lucky Rangers fan who caught Yankees slugger Aaron Judge 's 62nd home run ball that broke Roger Maris’ all-time AL home run record.
But will Youmans give that ball to Judge like the Blue Jays gave the 61st to him?
Maybe for a price..
As you say, the world has changed
Since last week? Youmans could be considered a saint and a hero to his family, his kids, a lot of REAL baseball fans, the NY Yankees and Judge himself if that price would be nothing more than photos of himself with Judge, and an autographed photo. But as you say, I'm sure he could sell it for a lot of money, and money makes the world go round.
There was a time when money wouldn't have entered the mind of a Baseball fan.
Okay Vic, I'm a baseball fan and an honest man, but if this were the case.....
I just might give in to temptation.
Me too!
Monumental feat, even in an era when home runs are a common occurrence in baseball games.
I still think Babe Ruth is the home run king though, although he no longer holds home run records.
On the whole, no other player can touch this.
There were 21 major league players that hit at least 30 home runs this year. Judge's .311 batting average is second in that group, just a few points behind Paul Goldscmidt's .317
His 131 RBI's is tied for the most in that group of 21, with Pete Alonso.
Judge's 177 hits are second in that group only behind Goldscmidt again with 178.
https://www.covers.com/sport/baseball/mlb/statistics/players/homeruns/2022#:~:text=MLB%20Stats%20-%20Player%20Home%20Runs%20Leader%202022,%20%20.275%20%2038%20more%20rows%20
Aaron Judge had a great great season, although I think some commentators are going a little overboard when they call it one of the greatest seasons of all time. Statistically there have been many many seasons players have had throughout baseball history that are as good as Judge this year.
For example, Judge's 131 RBI's this year ties him for 194th place on the single season RBI list.
The .311 batting average is excellent for this era of low batting averages, but I'm not sure its even in the top 1000 of all time best single season batting averages.
Home runs ? He's got that one.
Meh. I’m underwhelmed. Maybe it’s because we went through all this 24 years ago and it was a more exciting two-man race. Maybe it’s because he’s a Yankee and I’m a Dodger fan. Because . . . No offense to anyone, but fuck a Yankee.
I’m not going to say he’s a bad player, but I don’t see him as some legendary talent. He’s a perfectly good player, and he’s having his best year ever. Good for him.
First, is he some great hitter? Yeah, he hit 62 home runs, but he also struck out 175 times this year. Sorry, but I think that kinda sucks. I know that in recent times, the stat guys think Ks are less important, but I’m a fan of making contact. If we’re going to get excited about a guy being a “great hitter,” I think he needs to not strike out close to 200 times in a season.
He also gets to play on a consistently strong team, which helps the individual a lot.
Perhaps most importantly, Aaron Judge is a fucking beast. He’s 6’7” and weighs almost 300 pounds. That matters. It’s not talent, alone. It’s also that the finger of God made him huge. He could pop up and the ball would still go over the wall. I’m just not that impressed when a huge dude hits a baseball a long way. It’s also not wildly different - from a fan’s perspective - than taking a guy who is 6’2” (e.g., Barry Bonds) and feeding him steroids. You look at a guy like this and think “of course he hits home runs . . . Yawn.”
Contrast that with guys like Mickey Mantle, who was 5’11” or Willie Mays, who was 5’10”, and crushed consistently for years. It’s easier for me to look at those guys and see great ball players.