New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has made history in MLB by breaking Roger Maris’ 61-year American League record for most single-season home runs.
Judge blasted a lead-off first-inning home run into left field in the Yankees’ game against the Texas Rangers.
The home run was Judge’s 62nd of the 2022 season, taking him past Maris’ mark of 61 from 1961.
Judge had equaled Maris’ record in last Wednesday’s victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
He had failed to register another homer in his past 23 plate appearances before blasting Rangers pitcher Jesus Tinoco.
The home run comes in the second game of Tuesday’s double header against the Rangers.
It is also the Yankees’ penultimate regular season game, meaning Judge is unlikely to make further inroads to the all-time record held by Barry Bonds with 73 in 2001.
Mark McGwire (70 in 1999 and 65 in 1999) and Sammy Sosa (66 in 1998, 64 in 2001, 63 in 1999) are the other two players to have more home runs in a single season than Judge.
Bonds, McGwire and Sosa all reached those marks during the so-called ‘steroid era’, making many observers believe Judge’s feat makes him ‘the home run king’.
“He’s the MVP of the league, and were talking about a historic record,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before the game.
Prior to Maris’ 61 homer season, the record was held by Babe Ruth with 60 in 1927.
