Yankees judge scored 62nd home run, surpassing Maris' American League record. CBC Sports

Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run of the season on Tuesday night, breaking Roger Maris’ American League record and setting baseball’s “clean” standard by some fans.

The 30-year-old Yankees slugger moved from the second game of a New York Day-Night doubleheader to a 1-1 slider from Texas right-hander Jesus Tinoco into the first pair of seats in left field.

Sixty-two! Baseball History! @TheJudge44 The American League’s home run is king! pic.twitter.com/QKrcuOvZMU

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The Maris 61 had previously been passed six times for the Yankees in 1961, but all were tainted by the stench of steroids. Mark McGwire scored 70 for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1998 and 65 the following year. Barry Bonds hit an MLB-record 73 for the San Francisco Giants in 2001, and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs had 66, 65 and 63 during the four seasons beginning in 1998.

McGuire admitted to using banned steroids, while Bonds and Sosa denied intentionally using performance-enhancing drugs. Major League Baseball began trials with penalties for PED in 2004, and some fans – perhaps many – still regard Maris as the holder of the valid record.

A Ruthian figure with a smile the size of his body, the 6-foot-7 judge has rocked the major leagues with a series of deep drives, listening to the sepia tone movie reels of his famous pinstriped predecessors.

“He should be honored to be the de facto single-season home run champion,” Roger Maris Jr. said Wednesday night. “I think baseball needs to look at records and I think baseball needs to do something.”

Judge had only homed once in the last 13 games, and that was when he hit No. 61 last Wednesday in Toronto. The doubleheader nightcap in Texas was his 55th game since August 5.

After one of five at-bats in the first game on Tuesday, Judge was hit 3 for 17 with five walks off the pitch as Babe Ruth scored 60 home runs in 1927, 34 for the major leagues. stood as record. years. Maris made his 61st shot at the Old Yankee Stadium on October 1, 1961, off a ball from Boston’s Tracy Stallard.

Judge has a chance to become the first AL Triple Crown winner since Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera in 2012. He leads the AL with 131 RBIs and begins the day with Minnesota’s Luis Erez, who was hitting .315.

A home run in his first bat brought him back to .311, where he had started the day before, before dropping a point in the opener.

The judge’s achievement will cause endless debate.

“To me, the holder of the record for home runs in a season is Roger Maris,” writer George Will said earlier this month. “There’s no sign of doubt that we’re seeing better baseball with better chemistry in Judge’s case. He’s clear. He’s not doing anything that forces other players to put their health at risk. “

look | Judge added Maris’ record:

Yankees judge adds to Maris’ American League record with 61st homer in win over Blue Jasso

Aaron Judge tied Roger Maris’ American League record with 61 home runs in a season, and the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8–3.

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