In the penultimate game of the 2022 regular season, Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run of the season to set the AL single season record for HRs surpassing Roger Maris who had held the record with 61 home runs for 61 years.
Judge, 30, hit the homer in Globe Life Park off Texas Rangers pitcher Jesus Tinoco in the first inning of the second game of a doubleheader (which, as of this writing, they are losing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning). Although Judge would have undoubtedly preferred to do this in front of Yankees fans, I'm also sure he would prefer to win a World Series ring in the Bronx.
Of course, Maris' record has been surpassed in the NL by Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds with Bonds owning the single season MLB HR record when he hit 73 HR in 2001. Of course, these records are generally looked down upon because of the trio's use of performance enhancing drugs. As such, although Maris continued to hold the AL record, Judge's run at Maris was looked upon with far less fanfare.
Still, Judge is a virtual lock to win his first AL MVP as he has a chance to win the Triple Crown. Judge entered tonight leading the AL in both HR and RBI (130) with a .311 batting average - four points behind Minnesota Twins infielder Luis Arraez.
Judge will be a free agent after the 2022 season. But for the moment he has entered Yankees lore and perhaps captured baseball immortality.
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