Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run of the season Tuesday night, breaking Roger Maris’ American League record and setting what some fans consider baseball’s ‘clean’ standard.
The 30-year-old Yankees slugger drove a 1-1 slider from Texas right-hander Jesús Tinoco into the first row of seats in left field when leading off the second game of New York’s day-night doubleheader.
After No. 99 took a smooth, mighty swing, he had a wide smile on his face as he rounded the bases and his Yankees teammates streamed out of the dugout to celebrate with him. They stayed away from home plate, letting Judge step on it before sharing hugs and high-fives.
However, Judge’s teammates weren’t the only ones congratulating the new record-holder, with many celebrities and high-profile figures honoring the six-foot-seven inches, 282-pounds outfielder on Twitter.
‘Congratulations to Aaron Judge and his family on Aaron’s historic home run number 62! It has definitely been a baseball season to remember,’ tweeted Roger Maris Jr, the son of Yankees legend Roger Maris, who was the previous record holder with 61 home runs until Judge tied it last week against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Roger Maris Jr, the son of Yankees legend Roger Maris, who was the previous record holder with 61 home runs until Aaron Judge tied it last week against the Toronto Blue Jays, tweeted the Yankees’ No. 99 after overtaking his father’s record
Judge gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris
President Joe Biden and Mayor Eric Adams congratulated Judge on Twitter shortly after he set a new MLB record for the most home runs in a single season (62 in 161 games)
THE MOMENT ALL OF NEW YORK’S BEEN WAITING FOR: Judge hits his 62nd home run to break the American League home run record in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field
Maris Jr was in the stands along with Judge’s mom for the occasion.
‘You are all class and someone who should be revered. For the MAJORITY of the fans, we can now celebrate a new CLEAN HOME RUN KING!!,’ Maris Jr further wrote on social media.
‘Congrats @TheJudge44 on home run 62,’ President Joe Biden shared on Twitter. ‘History made, more history to make.’
‘Number 62! Congratulations to @TheJudge44 – keep making history for New York City,’ NYC Mayor Eric Adams posted along with a picture of No. 99.
‘We’re sparkling in @Yankees pinstripes for 62 seconds to celebrate @TheJudge44’s 62nd home run,’ the Empire State Building’s social media account declared on Twitter, soon after the Maris’ record was broken in Texas.
‘Congratulations @TheJudge44 on number 62! Thanks for giving baseball fans everywhere a thrilling season, and sending my best for October,’ 42nd US President Bill Clinton shared in a tweet ahead of the postseason, starting Friday.
‘What a thrill to see Aaron Judge make history…Congratulations!!! 6️⃣2️⃣,’ Paul O’Neill, who won three World Series with the Yankees between 1993 and 2021 before retiring and becoming a YES Network broadcast, tweeted.
‘Congrats @TheJudge44,’ shared Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl LIV champion Patrick Mahomes wrote on Twitter.
The Empire State Building was lightened up in Yankees blue and white pinstripes for 62 seconds in honor of Judge’s historical achievement on Tuesday evening
Athletes across all American sports, including several Yankees legends, and NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes congratulated Judge for the new MLB milestone on Twitter as soon as he scored
‘Congratulations Aaron Judge — the real all-time single season home run champ!,’ popular ESPN host Max Kellerman wrote in a tweet.
‘Hard not to root for Aaron Judge … has done everything in 2022 with class and dignity… he’s just what baseball and the @Yankees need,’ former Cubs, Blue Jays and Brewers pitcher Dan Plesac said.
‘Congrats on #62 … not suppose to root for teams or players BUT I’ve been rooting for him and that I’m not afraid to admit. #AllRise .62⚾️,’ he added.
‘Shout out Aaron Judge,’ the New York Knicks’ Twitter account shared online after the team’s preseason, 116-97 win over the Detroit Pistons.
‘ALL RISE – Congratulations on making history, @TheJudge44,’ the Brooklyn Nets tweeted along with a video of point guard Kyrie Irving describing the Yankees No. 99 as ‘special’.
‘Congrats @TheJudge44 on 62! Postseason next!!!, Derek Jeter, who played his entire 20-year MLB career with the Yankees, wrote.
Other influential figures and sport teams in the NYC area also praised the Yankees slugger as tributes keep pouring in on Twitter
Judge’s mother and father were in the stands to see Judge end a five-game homerless streak, including Game 1 of the doubleheader when he was 1 for 5 with a single.
Maris’ 61 for the Yankees in 1961 had been exceeded six times previously, but all were tainted by the stench of steroids. Mark McGwire hit 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 the Chicago Cubs’ Sammy Sosa had 66, 65 and 63 during a four-season span starting in 1998.
McGwire admitted using banned steroids, while Bonds and Sosa denied knowingly using performing-enhancing drugs. Major League Baseball started testing with penalties for PEDs in 2004, and some fans — perhaps many — until now have considered Maris as holder of the legitimate record.
Roger Maris Jr. and Patty Judge applaud from the crowd as Judge celebrates with manager Aaron Boone after hitting his 61st home run of the season in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 28, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. That’s when Judge tied Roger Maris for the American League record before Tuesday night’s achievement
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk