First of all, I hate Yankee haters. I do care how many Judge hits and I was happy to see him break the record (I was at the Blue Jays game where he tied the record). Not sure how you can say Maris is still the true HR king - last I checked Maris hit 61 in 163 games - a great season and something that stood for 61 years. But it's time we stop yelling at traffic lights and move on. :)

I agree with the Yankee hating. It’s a valid position that keeps me going, simply because there are far too many Yankee fans out there, and they’ve achieved way more success than anyone else in the game. I’ll admit to being jealous when they succeed, coupled with a solid dose of schadenfreude whenever they struggle. They’re due for a nice 100-year drought, although I won’t live long enough to see it.

I don’t understand the notion that Maris is still the king. That just seems silly all around. Any way you slice it, Maris is no longer on top. He was the man for a long time, but his reign is officially over, whether since 1998 or 2022, take your pick. And if you want to argue that Maris was never the man because it took more than 154 games to top 60, then there’s that angle as well.

I do think there’s room to debate how big of a deal it is for Judge to hit 62, particularly since he didn’t get to 61 before game 155. For me, I’m not seeing the attraction to making it a big deal. It’s a nice deal, and I certainly appreciate his accomplishments, but that’s about it. But if it gets your heart beating fast and gives you a jolt of endorphins, then who am I to tell you that you’re silly for getting excessively worked up about something that doesn’t seem that important to me, particularly since I’m sure that many of the sporting accomplishments that get me excited are probably largely ignored by most everyone else.

Read again. It’s all about pressure. PS. I hate Yankee fans who hate Yankee haters.

+62

Right on!! -- Brian Powell

I for one am sure not ignoring it! SIXTY-TWO HOME RUNS is freaking awesome! Aaron Judge is clean as a whistle, a very nice guy, very close to his parents, and a lot of etcetras. Come on, he broke THE major league record that had stood for 61 years.

I know all the guys that have yelped til they're hoarse that Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa hit more, and Bonds has the official MLB record, and so on, ad nauseum.

But they cheated. They took PEDS til they exploded in size and strength. Their numbers exploded, and many collectors are still all "ga-ga" over those numbers. Maybe MLB says those contemptible characters have the legitimate records, but the people who vote to enshrine the right people in the Baseball Hall of Fame have for years steadfastly refused to put those cheaters in.

One of them, Mark McGwire, finally confessed that he had juiced up with PEDS.

It's a shame this board is mired with so many skeptics and cynics towards the achievements of Aaron Judge. There's even debate over whether Ohtani or Judge should win the AL MVP. Aaron Judge should be the unanimous choice as AL MVP. I take the term valuable as valuable, not best player. Aaron wasn't the only Yankee that contributed to their 99 wins, but I say without Judge they would have crumbled in mediocrity. That's just my opinion, sure; regardless, I know I'm right probably just as much as Judge's naysayers or poison pens think they're actually right. So I say, and I'll say a thousand times----WHAT AARON JUDGE DID MOST ASSUREDLY IS A BIG DEAL!

HOO-RAY FOR AARON JUDGE. HE BEAT THE ODDS. HE BUSTED ROGER MARIS'S 61-EAR-OLD RECORD!!!!!:D

--- Brian Powell

CORRECTION: Broke the A.L. record.

History Lesson
 

Just for the record, Maris hit his 59th in game 154.
And he hit another ball to the warning track and another one foul as I recall (I just googled it to be sure).
There was enormous pressure on him, and it was a valiant effort.
I remember commemorating it on the top of a page in my high school history text as I was doing my homework.

You're correct, Shoeless Moe. Aaron Judge broke the A.L. home run record. I sit corrected, though I must say it is as some argued that Mr. Maris still held the MLB record of 61, while the others juiced their way past The Rajah. I'm sure the PEDS argument will never go away. Whether or not the BWAA will let down their guard and vote in Bonds, Sosa, or McGwire to the BBHOF remains to be seen, but I seriously doubt they will. So much for their sky-high record numbers.;) Have a swell weekend, bro. -- Brian Powell

Just out of curiosity, if he hits 63 for the Mets next year, will you celebrate even more?

Hey when you speak of the hitters don't forget there were plenty of pitchers using them as well Clemens, Petitte, etc.

So it was Roids vs Roids........a wash.

73 is the one and only single season HR record.

Congrats to Mr Judge on breaking the AL record.

I for one do not bgrudge Aaron Judge. My point was I do not think he or any other player could perform as well as Maris had they been put under the same pressure. My answer is no.

I will celebrate him even more when he hits 63 for Baltimore next year! Sorry he won’t sign for the Sox or Mets!!!!

Agree with Peter and Tony there was ZERO pressure on Judge this year.

That was a stupid comment by whoever said it and if anyone agreed with it.

He was playing baseball for basically 25-30-40 Million a season in his future and sure wasn't hurting going in.

Completely different times from Maris and Aaron, now that was pressure.

For the most part other than closers there really isn't pressure in baseball, until the Playoffs and World Series.

The bizarre part to me is that while Ohtani and Judge are going to make 30-40 mill a year, someone like Charlie Morton (a textbook definition of replaceable, and getting old and regressing no less) is getting 20 million next year.

I wouldn't think that Morton is worth 5% of those other two guys to a franchise, much less more than half

Are you kidding? I hate the Mets. I hope he doesn't leave the Yankees. I would imagine the Yanks will make him an offer he can't refuse. Money doesn't make you happy, anyway. Obviously, you need plenty to live in the USA, and especially in NYC. Who would want to leave his teammates and fans that adore him? It's been done, of course, usually due to greed, but in the end----the player almost always wishes he had just stayed put. That's my nickel pack's worth.;) --- Brian Powell

Well said, Tony. The pressure on Roger Maris was excruciating. I got interested in cards in 1961, at age 7. I was happy for Roger Maris. Sure, I really knew nothing about baseball history, and so on. Come next spring, all I knew was that I wanted the card of Roger Maris more than any other.

Anyways, as I got older, I came to have more and more respect and admiration for Roger Maris. I tried to get his tougher cards, and with God's help, I did. Regardless of what Aaron Judge has done, and I love and am proud of Judge, I will always love Roger Maris, too. He got the record when I was 7. I'm now 68, and the record has finally been officially broken, and it's great. Aaron Judge deserved it. I'm glad he did not have to face the CONSTANT pressure, scrutiny, and immature, petty, and outright hatred of so many people that Roger did.

I don't mind having several guys to collect, but at my age, I can only allow myself a few. For one thing, my son has absolute no interest in my baseball and hockey card collections. That's ok; I helped him with all my might in what HE was interested in----Sonic the Hedgehog, and Detective Conan Edogawa.

Well, I'm getting verbose---again. Take care, my fellow collecting warrior.:)

--- Brian Powell

All time single season home run leaders within a 162 game season:

Judge - 62 - 2022
Maris - 61 - 1961
Ruth - 60 - 1927 ( 154 games )
Ruth- 59 - 1921 ( 154 games )
Stanton - 59 - 2017

Period - end of story….

And if Judge or Stanton show up with steroid use at any time, they are off the list - that simple…..don’t think that will be the case…

Yes, the asterisk was removed. I think all of you are whining because it's the Yankees. Maris did not lengthen the season, no on did except baseball officials. I believe it is home runs in a season, no matter how many games are in a season. And it's funny, I never heard this kind of crap about Sosa and McGwire and Bonds about the length of the season as I have with Maris and Judge. If all this would get rid of steroids, things would be much better.

Maris did have a ton more pressure, but he was also doing nothing in '61 until the most feared hitter of the prior decade was protecting him in the order.

Various sides for the argument for both him and Judge. Each obviously had their amazing year, and there's no clear answer to which was "better"

Mostly I was curious if you were celebrating him as a player, or celebrating him because he happened to belong to your team. It seems relevant because this is very much an individual achievement, albeit with an assist from the ballpark. I guess now we know a bit more about why you’re celebrating this achievement.

Not that there’s anything wrong with being a fanboy of any given team. It just gives me a better idea of your motives for celebrating this player this year.

Missing several here.

What one personally thinks the record should be recognized as and what the record factually is are different things. Many seem to be using the former as the later.

ZERO chance he is not a Yankee next season.

Zero seems a little low, but maybe you know something that we don’t know?

Cheating is factual…..

We all have our opinions….. Cheers…

Honest, I don't follow baseball that much. I did get worked up when Aaron Judge hit the headlines in 2017. I noted here and there what was happening since then. I felt bad about his injuries, though I imagine the Yanks helped him deal with those with strength training, rest, but no illegal drugs.

Then 2022 comes along, and it's 2017 all over again, though this time he really seems to be carrying his team with crucial hits, fielding gems, and just anything he can do to help the team win. Without PEDS!

I thought with the acquisition of Stanton, the Yanks would have another Ruth-Gehrig or Mantle-Maris. When both are healthy...KER-BLAMOs happen. Without PEDS!

Sure, I like it that Aaron Judge is a Yankee. My all-time favorite player is Mickey Mantle, so there's some connection. Would I be so enraptured if he was killing 'em in Colorado?

Probaby not.

Shoeless Moe says there's "ZERO chance" he's not a Yankee next season. I agree because Aaron Judge is a different kind of person than some of the other "MONEYBALL" players. Yeah, for sure, his agent will demand "a Jupiter" multi-year package. He deserves that. I just don't think Aaron Judge will walk away from the Yankee organization, if the Yanks offer him the "BONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! numbers. I know it will challenge the Yankees to come up with that kind of a sky-high many-million dollar package, but if any team can do it, they can. Let's face it, without Judge, the interest in the Yankees in 2023 is virtually minuscule. At 30, his peak probably won't last too many more years. Still, nobody can take away what he achieved this year. One for the ages, or at least 61 long years. And without PEDS!

I could be very wrong. I doubt it. But I'll be the first to admit I was wrong and spare you the "I TOLD YA SO!"

In the end, I do feel Aaron is the kind of man that appreciates and remembers all those little fans of his, just like Mickey Mantle. What I mean to say is, Mantle FORCED HIMSELF to play in a lot of pain because he did not want to disappoint any kids in the stands that might be seeing him play in person for the only time in their life. Aaron Judge is like that, too. He does it without PEDS, too!

I probably sound as if I'm "way out there" to some of youse guys, but that's how my mind thinks. A romantic / sentimental view I suppose. Yup, cause I'm a mushy, sentimental slob. Aaron's not gonna see these words, and I'm sure what I say would not mean anything to him, but Aaron-----

PLEASE STAY WITH THE YANKEES!!!

And while you're at it, continue to stay away from PEDS! Your legacy will be golden!

--- Brian Powell

PS--And JimmyC, Cheers back at you, mate!!

From MLB's own website. No asterisks, no steroid notations, no notes about season length. Just homeruns in a season. End of discussion.

Judge had a GREAT season ... He's a feel-good story even if he is a Yankee and he's so big he literally dwarfs the competition.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/22513177400...p2047675.l2557

If you insist on voiding suspected PED seasons Judge set a single-season HR record (assuming Judge is "clean" -- which I think he is). I don't subscribe to that myself -- the leader is much-maligned Barry Lamar Bonds. Like it or not.

The American League record thing seems overblown, outdated, and almost quaint. Ever since inter-league play began league records became much less meaningful to me. ...It's like figuring out who holds the NBA single-season western conference record for something. (BTW I think Chamberlain wins either way for scoring
The NL vs AL distinction has dissolved further with the universal adoption of the DH.

The NL single-season record for HR used to be Hack Wilson (56 in 1930) .... I'm not even sure who holds it now if you exclude the PED suspected? Ryan Howard, Luis Gonzalez, or still Wilson ?

Giancarlo Stanton had 59 for the Marlins in 2017 and Howard had 58 for the Fleas in 2006.

I agree that the focus on Judge setting the AL and Yankees team record for home runs seemed a little odd. I'm a big Phillies fan, and I don't remember much being mentioned of him setting the NL home run record in 2006 or Stanton breaking it in 2017.

With Judge, I think it was clearly a way to give him credit for some kind of record without having the discussion of whether or not all of the PED tainted numbers are the true home run record.

You misread what I said.

I said Zero chance he is not a Yankee next season. Meaning he will be a Yankee next season.

Just to reiterate.....ZERO

my opinion that no one asked for:

There is no such thing as an AL or NL record. When Maris hit 61, was it in the records book AL record? No, it was MLB record.

Judge did nothing more than hit 62 home runs in the 2022 season.

One can say they don’t care about it or it shouldn’t matter, but to say there is no such thing is false. They’ve been recognized for many decades.

Hack Wilson was listed for many years in many published resources as the NL holder. League records have been around since before 1961.

What if I don't care AND it shouldn't matter?

Oh dear, this is serious. If we don’t care about pedantries of comparisons and baseball history, what else are we going to do?!

Good point.

Remind me - Who's the current record holder for strikeouts against righties during innings 3-7 on Friday night games in stadiums east of the Mississippi?

Come on man, are you even trying? Of course it’s Aloysius Jebbediah Mohammad Higgenbothom of the Carolina Cropdusters in the Mid South Association of Eastern Base Ball Clubs.

And that's why records exist - to be broken by guys named Aloysius.

It’s going to be heartbreaking to fans everywhere when we discover that Aloysius was using performance enhancing drugs with a concoction of lamb entrails, rat poison, and methamphetamine when breaking the record.

''Tis rumored that Aloysius was a voracious consumer of original recipe "Coca-Cola.

It was said the guy who caught the ball turned down 3M for it. It's going to a Goldin auction in the future. Personally, I probably would have taken the money!! A bird in hand and all..
.

Judge said he won’t bid on it because it is out of his price range.

It’s going to list with a $1,000,000 opening bid. Seems like a ridiculous price. I would’ve taken the $3 in a heartbeat… and bought a Wagner. Or a house.

As people say - records are made to be broken. What's statistically interesting is that a Yankee has held the AL record for HRs in a season for almost 100 years. No, I'm not a Yankee fan, in fact most of the time I'll be rooting for the other team when the Yankees (and Dodgers) are playing.

If someone was going to do it for the Yankees, I'm happy it was Judge in his walk year. It's going to be really interesting to see how the negotiations go. I'm happy it wasn't A-rod as a Yankee that passed Maris. That would have just sucked for Yankee purists. Kind of like when Maris that passed Ruth and not Mantle, but in this case, Maris was a class act, like Judge.

Heck, the person to pass Judge could be Judge himself or maybe that player hasn't been born yet.

Records are made to be broken and when they're like this record, it's fun to watch it play out.

Zero chance that ball sells for $3M, in my opinion. I'll be shocked if it eclipses $2.1, but hype has a way of infecting people, so who knows.

Greed! If he gets more than $3M, then good call. If not, then bad call. However, $3M is guaranteed right now and is a tremendous amount of money for the ball. So I'm a guy at a game, who catches Judge's #62 HR AL record ball, and I'm offered $3M for it. No brainer in my book!

Agreed! 3 million…cash…in a duffel bag…and its yours!!!

My take:
Fun watching Judge this year. Glad he had a great year BUT I've never been a fan of guys that step up with their best stat year only when they are in their free agent year with big payday on the door step. My favorite players are the ones that produce each and every year barring injury. I know he passed on a chance to sign before and took the chance but if he is still producing in the 2nd and 3rd year of his new contact in the same type manor. Then I'll eat my pessimistic words. Just seen to many guys get the big pay and never play the same again.

Could not agree more.

That said, I hope he stays with the Yankees anyhow.

It’s happening!!!!!

https://www.mlb.com/news/aaron-judge...ng-with-giants