October 4, 2022. It was a Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. Most of the baseball world was glued to a meaningless late-season game between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers. Why? Because Aaron Judge was stuck.
He had been sitting on 61 home runs for what felt like an eternity. He had tied Roger Maris’ legendary 1961 American League record in Toronto nearly a week earlier, but that final, elusive blast just wouldn't come. The pressure was suffocating. Every at-bat felt like a playoff game. Every pitch was a national event.
Then came the first inning of the nightcap of a doubleheader.
The Moment the Record Broke
Jesus Tinoco was on the mound for the Rangers. He wasn't exactly a household name. He was a right-handed reliever making only his second career start. On a 1-1 count, Tinoco threw an 88-mph slider. It didn't slide enough.
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Judge stayed back and absolutely scorched it. The ball left the bat at 102 mph and traveled 391 feet into the left-field seats at Globe Life Field.
Aaron Judge 62nd home run was finally a reality.
The stadium, despite being filled with Rangers fans, erupted. You could see the relief on Judge’s face as he rounded the bases. He wasn't just breaking a record; he was ending a circus. His teammates were waiting at home plate like they’d just won the World Series.
The Auction Drama Nobody Expected
Most people think the story ends when the ball lands. It doesn't. Not when there's millions of dollars on the line.
The ball was caught by a guy named Cory Youmans. He was just a fan in Section 31, Row 1, Seat 3. He actually caught it in a glove he brought from home. Talk about being prepared.
Initially, the rumors were wild. People were saying the ball was worth $3 million or even $5 million. Youmans reportedly turned down a private offer of $3 million because he wanted the process to be "fair and transparent."
Honestly? That’s a bold move.
In December 2022, the ball went to auction at Goldin. It ended up selling for $1.5 million. While that’s a massive amount of money for a piece of leather and string, it was actually half of what he was offered privately. The buyer was only identified as "Joe," a collector from the Midwest.
Why the 62 Number is Contentious
Here is where the "expert" debate gets messy. If you look at the MLB record books, 62 isn't the all-time record. That belongs to Barry Bonds, who hit 73 in 2001. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa also have seasons with more than 62.
But for a huge portion of the baseball world—and specifically Roger Maris Jr.—Judge is the "clean" home run king.
Maris Jr. was incredibly vocal throughout the chase. He traveled with the Yankees for over a week, watching Judge from the stands. After No. 62 landed, he basically told reporters that MLB needs to recognize two different records. He views the PED-era numbers as illegitimate.
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"He’s clean, he’s a Yankee, he plays the game the right way... he should be revered for being the actual single-season home run champ." — Roger Maris Jr.
It's a polarizing take. Some fans think a record is a record, regardless of the era. Others feel that Judge’s 62 is more impressive because it happened in an era of elite pitching and high-velocity fastballs without the "assistance" of the late 90s.
The Statistical Context
To understand the magnitude of the Aaron Judge 62nd home run, you have to look at the gap between him and everyone else that year.
Judge didn't just lead the league; he lapped it. Kyle Schwarber finished second in the majors that year with 46 home runs. Judge beat him by 16. That is a gargantuan margin. In 1961, when Maris hit 61, his teammate Mickey Mantle hit 54.
Judge was carrying the entire Yankee offense on his back while the rest of the lineup was struggling or injured.
What Actually Happened to the Ball?
After the catch, Youmans was whisked away by security. The Yankees obviously wanted the ball back for Judge. Usually, these things involve a trade: some signed bats, a few jerseys, maybe a meet-and-greet.
Judge was surprisingly cool about it. He told the media after the game that it was a "souvenir for a fan" and that Youmans had every right to keep it. He didn't pressure him.
Eventually, Youmans decided to sell. He felt that an open auction was the best way for the market to decide what history was worth. Even though he "lost" $1.5 million by turning down the private offer, he maintained that the transparency was worth it.
Key Takeaways from the 62 Chase
If you’re a collector or a hardcore fan, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding this piece of history:
- Historical Significance: This isn't just an AL record; it’s a milestone that redefined how we view the "modern" home run record.
- Investment Value: While the ball sold for $1.5 million, its value is tied heavily to Judge’s career trajectory. If he hits 700 career homers, that ball is a gold mine.
- The Pitcher's Legacy: Jesus Tinoco will forever be the answer to a trivia question. He actually handled the moment with a lot of class, saying he was just trying to compete.
- The Venue: Globe Life Field now has a plaque where the ball landed. It’s become a pilgrimage site for Yankee fans in Texas.
The Aaron Judge 62nd home run wasn't just a stat. It was a month-long cultural event that brought the spotlight back to the purity of the long ball. Whether you think it's the "real" record or just the AL record, you can't deny the sheer physical feat of a 6'7" giant chasing down a ghost from 1961.
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If you want to track where this record stands in the future, keep an eye on the current pace of young sluggers. But honestly, seeing someone hit 60+ without a cloud of suspicion over their head is something we might not see again for another 60 years.
To truly appreciate the feat, you should look into the Statcast data from that 2022 season, which shows that Judge would have hit even more homers if he played in a park like Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. His "expected" home run total was actually higher than 62 in several other MLB stadiums.