Aaron Judge Smashes History with His 62nd Home Run to Set AL Single-Season Record
It's official! With his 62nd home run in the books tonight, Aaron Judge has surpassed Roger Maris' record for home runs in an American League single season.
Judge, 30, broke the record with a one-run homer smashed into the left field seats at the Texas Rangers' Globe Life Field.
It was just the third pitch he had faced Tuesday night, in the top of the first inning. It came nearly a week after Judge had hit his record-tying 61st home run of the season against the Blue Jays. His mother, Patty, was in the stands to witness history..
Maris, the Yankees slugger who died in 1985, coincidentally broke the home run record 61 years ago in 1961.
Remember where you were when #AaronJudge made history. 6️⃣2️⃣ #AllRise pic.twitter.com/w4kbDJf5ZC
— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2022
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Judge tied Maris' record last Wednesday while Maris' son, Roger Maris Jr., was in the stands. Maris Jr. was sitting next to Judge's mother Patty, and cameras captured the two embracing after the athlete's history-making hit.
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Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty
Since then, fans have been watching Judge's every swing to see if he could reach the milestone. Six days later, Judge gave baseball fans what they were hoping for.
RELATED: Aaron Judge Hits 61st Home Run to Tie Roger Maris' Record and Gifts Historic Ball to His Mother
Mike Stobe/Getty
"It's an incredible honor and there's a lot of emotions," he told the Yes Network after his 61st homer. "It took me a little longer than I wanted to but ... it's something pretty special."