All rise for the new American League single season home run king!
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge broke Roger Maris’ record last night by launching his 62nd home run of the 2022 season off of Texas Rangers pitcher Jesus Tinoco in the first inning of last night’s game (the second of a double header). He wasn’t a moment too soon either; after last night’s 3-2 loss, only one game remains in the regular season.
Maris’ record stood for 61 years before this swing by Judge vaulted him to the position of undisputed - and steroid-free - AL home run leader.
Aaron Judge makes history with his 62nd home run! 🔥pic.twitter.com/ANRh40mVY7
— OutKick (@Outkick) October 5, 2022
Should that be the last dinger of Judge’s season, it will be the seventh-highest single season total of all time.
Fans and teammates alike in Globe Life Park were elated to witness history, and Judge was thrilled to finally accomplish the feat that the sports world had been anxiously waiting for him to achieve.
"It's a big relief. I think that everyone can sit back down in their seats and watch the ballgame, you know? No, but it's been a fun ride so far," Judge said after the game. "Getting a chance to do this, with the team we've got, the guys surrounding me, the constant support from my family who’s been with me through this whole thing...it's been a great honor."
Superstars across the sports landscape rushed to social media to congratulate Judge, including Maris’ son, Roger Maris Jr., who was rightfully pleased that a player broke his father’s record without help from PEDs (Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, and Mark McGuire are the only men to have hit more than Judge, and all of them used steroids).
Congratulations to Aaron Judge and his family on Aaron’s historic home run number 62! It has definitely been a baseball season to remember. You are all class and someone who should be revered. For the MAJORITY of the fans, we can now celebrate a new CLEAN HOME RUN KING!!
— Roger Maris Jr (@RogerMarisJr) October 5, 2022
Fans will obviously debate whether or not Judge, Bonds, Sosa, or McGuire should earn the title of all-time home run king, since that’s what fans do. But we can all agree that what we witnessed last night was a seminal moment in baseball history.
