CNN –
New York Yankees shortstop Aaron Judge broke Roger Maris’ AL single-season home run record, hitting his 62nd blast of the year in a game Tuesday against the Texas Rangers.
Judge connected for the record home run off Rangers starting pitcher Jesus Tinoco in the first inning of the second game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas.
The Yankees’ leadoff hitter threw the third pitch of his first at-bat against Tinoco into the left-field seats. A fan was seen jumping or falling over the near left field wall, disappearing behind the fence.
“I had a good feeling right off the bat,” Judge told reporters in a postgame press conference. “I didn’t know where I was going to land or what I was going to hit.”
Judge said it was a huge relief to finally land the record-setting blow.
“It’s been a fun ride so far, you know, having the opportunity to do this,” he added. “The team we have, the guys around me and the constant support of my family who have been with me throughout this process. It has been a great honor.”
He said he never tried to focus on trying to hit a record home run. He just wanted to play his game.
“If I’m good enough and God willing, it will happen,” he said.
A fan who caught the historic ball was escorted from the seating section by security, according to match reporters.
The fan told CNN affiliate WFAA that he still hadn’t figured out what he was going to do with the ball.
The judge said he would like to have the ball, but he understands if the fan keeps it or sells it. Some observers think the ball is now worth millions of dollars.
“We’ll see what happens with that. It would be great to get him back,” Judge said. “But this is a memory for a fan. They made a great catch out there and they have every right to it.”
Yankees players came out of the dugout to cheer their teammate when he hit the home run.
Judge, 30, had tied Maris last Wednesday with a line homer in the top of the seventh inning off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Tim Mayza.
Judge struck out in the second inning Tuesday and in the bottom half of the inning, Yankees manager Aaron Boone pulled him from the game amid cheers from the crowd at Globe Life Field.
Maris hit 61 home runs 61 years ago in 1961, breaking Babe Ruth’s record of 60 set in 1927.
Judge thanked the Maris family, some of whom attended previous games when Judge was trying to tie the mark.
“It’s a difficult situation (for them). Your dad’s legacy, you want to keep that going, but having the opportunity to meet his family, they’re wonderful people,” he said. “And to have the opportunity to have my name next to someone as great as Roger Maris, Babe Ruth and those guys is amazing.”
Barry Bonds set the major league record with 73 home runs in 2001.
The other two players to hit more home runs than Judge in a season are Mark McGwire (twice) and Sammy Sosa (three times).
It’s unclear whether Judge will play in the final game of the regular season on Wednesday, but he has an outside shot at winning the AL triple crown (leading the circuit in batting average, runs batted in and home runs).
Judge is first in home runs and RBIs, but trails Minnesota Twins star Luis Arráez in batting average.
He said he wants to play but it’s up to Boone, who has to get his team ready for the playoffs.
Home run records aren’t new to Judge. He also holds the American League rookie record with 52 in 2017. Although that was the major league mark at the time, Pete Alonso of the New York Mets hit 53 as a rookie in 2019.