After a long baseball season full of many twists and turns, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has finally broken the record that has lasted for an astounding 61 years in the American League, Roger Maris’ single season home run record. Maris hit his 61st home run on October 1st, 1961. Just to give some context as to how long ago that was, John F. Kennedy was president, The Beatles were still an unknown band in the United States, and Rod Laver won the first of his four Wimbledon titles. This record put Roger Maris into the history books forever, beating out the legendary Babe Ruth’s number of 60. 

Maris’ record would stand until 1998 when Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals surpassed the elusive number of 61 home runs, propelling him into sports history which, at the time, was the greatest number of home runs ever hit by a player in a single season. Since 1998, the only 3 players ever to hit more home runs than Maris in a single season have been Mark McGwire (70 in 1998), Sammy Sosa (66 in 1998), and Barry Bonds (73 in 2001). Until October 4th 2022, when Aaron Judge hit the million dollar ball to finally get to 62 against the Texas Rangers. 

All three of those players (Bonds, McGwire and Sosa) broke the Major League and National League record during what people called the “steroid era” of baseball, so there will always be debate as to whether these records were achieved fairly. Meanwhile, in the American League, Maris’ record stood for an impressive 61 years. The last player in the American League to come close to this record was Alex Rodrigez who hit 57 back in 2002. 

Aaron Judge has been having an MVP-level season. Before he hit number 62, he was batting a .311 average and had an unreal 130 RBI’s. Once he hit 61, Judge went through a dry spell for a couple of weeks where he did not get a homer. So after he hit the record breaking home run, the entire team came out to congratulate him at home plate. Judge also received a large standing ovation in Arlington, Texas for breaking the record, even from an opposing crowd. He was then taken out of the game by Yankee manager Aaron Boone in the 2nd inning to give him the rest of the night off after 55 straight starts, just before the Yankees begin their playoff run later this month.  

Now, there are two big questions: First, will the fan who caught the historic home run ball play hardball with the MLB who would clearly want to get it back? And second, what does the future hold for Aaron Judge? The right fielder's contract is up at the end of the season, and The Yankees have yet to sign him to an extension. This has led to many rumors as to where Judge might be going after the end of the season. Some speculate that he will take his talents to a different team with the Giants, Red Sox and cross town rival Mets being some of the teams that are said to be in the race for Judge’s signature. However, most assume he will return to the Yankees and become the next Captain of the team.

He was already having an MVP-worthy season, and now that he has broken the record, It’s hard to believe that the Bronx Bombers will not take out the checkbook and do everything in their power to keep him in their famous pinstripes. Whatever the case might be, though, Aaron Judge has officially put himself into the history books. Now he and his Yankee teammates have their sights set on another elusive record, winning the team its 28th World Series ring….