(Arlington) New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hit his 62e homer of the season, eclipsing the mark of 61 that had been held by Roger Maris since 1961, in the American League.
Posted at 8:43 p.m.
Judge therefore owns the brand seen as “clean” by some supporters.
With a one-ball count and a strike, the 30-year-old sent the slippery Rangers Jesus Tinoco a few rows beyond left field.
With his parents in the stands at Globe Life Field, Judge pulled off the feat as leadoff batter in game two of a doubleheader at Texas.
The ball was caught in Section 31 by Cory Youmans of Dallas; he left surrounded by a security guard, so that the bullet could be authenticated.
When asked what he plans to do with the ball, Youmans said, ‘Good question. I did not think about it. »
Judge was struck out in the second inning. He then went to right field late in the inning, before giving way to Oswaldo Cabrera.
Judge received a warm ovation again as he made his way back to the dugout.
New York had the last laugh 5-4 in Game 1.
The players who surpassed Maris’ total in one season have all had their careers clouded by suspicions of steroids.
In 1998 and 1999, Mark McGwire hit 70 and 65 homers with St. Louis.
Barry Bonds set the major league record with 73 in 2001, in a Giants uniform.
With the Cubs, Sammy Sosa had seasons of 66, 65 and 63 guns, starting in 1998.
McGwire admitted the use of banned products; Bonds and Sosa denied having used performance-enhancing drugs to their knowledge.
Major League Baseball began sanctioned testing in 2004.
A six-foot-seven man with a friendly face, Judge multiplied the long slaps that reminded some of the mythical figures of the Yankees, like Maris and Babe Ruth.
“We should celebrate (Judge) as the one who actually has the record,” Roger Maris Jr. said last Wednesday when Judge tied his father’s total in Toronto. I think Major League Baseball should see to it. »
Judge had only one home run in 13 games, that four-goal hit at Rogers Centre.
Judge is likely to become the first Triple Crown winner in the American since 2012 (Miguel Cabrera, with the Tigers).
He leads the circuit with 131 RBI but for the average, he must catch up with Luis Arraez of the Twins (.316 against .311).