Posted on 09/28/2022 8:19:43 PM PDT by bitt
TORONTO — When Aaron Judge hit his 60th homer of the season on Sept. 20 to tie Babe Ruth’s magic number, it seemed Judge would match Roger Maris’ No. 61 at any minute.
Instead, it took eight more games, and two countries, along with Judge enduring his second-longest home run drought of the year- before the slugger finally tied the American League and franchise record on Wednesday night.
Judge’s historic smash in Toronto came against the Blue Jays’ Tim Mayza on a 3-2 pitch in the top of the seventh inning.
The two-run shot put the Yankees in front, 5-3, the game-winning runs in an 8-3 win.
“It’s an incredible honor,” Judge said on the YES broadcast after the game. “There’s a lot of emotions. It took me a little longer than I wanted to.”
Judge accomplished the feat with his mother, Patty, in attendance and sitting next to Roger Maris, Jr. The two embraced in the stands as Judge rounded the bases.
“I’m nothing without my family,” the slugger said. “They mean the world to me. They’re the reason that I’m here.”
Next up will be topping Maris’ record, which many consider to be the legitimate single-season home run record due to Barry Bonds’ PED ties.
The last player to hit as many home runs as Judge had before Wednesday night was his current teammate, Giancarlo Stanton, who had 59 during his National League MVP season of 2017 with the Marlins.
And while Stanton came up just shy of 60, nothing has slowed down Judge in 2022.
It was a season that began with Judge turning down the Yankees’ seven-year, $213.5 million extension on Opening Day, as the outfielder bet on himself and decided to head toward free agency.
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I guess it must be a big deal for the American League.
It has been broken 3 times already in the National League.
Mark McGwire-70-1998
Sammy Sosa-66-1998
Barry Bonds-73-2001
Quote: “ I guess it must be a big deal for the American League.
It has been broken 3 times already in the National League.”
They cheated. They admitted to cheating or were caught. They were frauds, MLB knew it and used them to restore the game to popularity. Then, MLB was shocked to find out gambling was happening at the casino as they abandoned the players.
No one outside of the vicarious man-children in New York City could care.
Now they can run out to get a shirt to wear with another man's name on it so other Wannabees also wearing shirts with another man's name on it will accept them.
Not to diminish his accomplishment, but how many fewer games did they play back when Ruth hit 60 and Maris hit 61 in a “season?”
Versus now?
Yep, compare to the hype over Pujols’ 700, yes there was some. But I guarantee they wouldn’t interrupt SEC Football to show his at bats.
It was fun at the time. I guess the ends justify the means.
But now I think they are all juiced.
No one cares now. Judge might be a clean player. Who knows? But no one cares.
Probably. So that’s why fans are lukewarm about it. Judge might be juiced. Maybe not. But no one trusts MLB.
Babe Ruth hit his 60 homers in a 154 game season. I think Roger Maris 60th came after the 154th game in a 162 game season. Judge might be the second to hit 60 in 154 games or less. They’ve played 155 games as of today, so it looks like his 60th was in 154 games. Not sure at the 61st.
No one cares? As evidenced by the fact that Bonds, Sosa and McWire have been excluded from the Hall of Fame? Yah, people care.
They cheated, people may not know or follow baseball, but they know those players because they cheated.
I remember Barry Bonds on the 1991 Pirates. He was clearly the best player on the field in the NL Championship. Reminded me of Ricky Henderson, but a much better hitter, especially situational. Would have easily made the HOF, just being who he was.
10 years later, his head blew up like a tick, and his arms and chest were something out of the incredible Hulk.
If Aaron Judge played anywhere but New York, this wouldn’t even be a major story in MLB.
Because a triple crown is overhyped?
Because 61 home runs is overhyped.
Jerry Seinfeld was partially right about cheering for the laundry. There is also cheering for the statistic and for a chance to brag to others “I was there!” as though spectating matters.
Because the Yankees suck.
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