Roger Maris Jr. meets with Aaron Judge after Judge hits home run No. 61. Sep 28, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) shakes hands with Roger E. Maris Jr. at the end of the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
MLBBy Matt Clapp on

New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge crushed his 61st home run of the season during Wednesday night’s game 8-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

With 61 homers, Judge ties former Yankees star Roger Maris for the single-season American League record. Maris hit 61 homers in 1961, and that stood as the all-time major-league record until Mark McGwire hit 70 homers in 1998 (Sammy Sosa also hit 66 homers that season). In 2001, Barry Bonds set the new MLB record with 73 homers.

However, McGwire and Bonds used performance-enhancing drugs (Sosa has consistently denied using PEDs, but The New York Times reported in 2009 that he tested positive in 2003). So, many baseball fans have put an asterisk next to those records and have still viewed Maris as the true single-season home run king, at least until Judge’s remarkable 2022 season came along.

Maris’ son, Roger Maris Jr., was in attendance at Rogers Centre to witness Judge hit No. 61. He congratulated Judge after the game.

Then Maris spoke with the media, and he was asked what his opinion would be on who deserves to be the home run champion if Judge reaches No. 62.

Maris said, “[Judge] should be revered for being the actual single-season home run champ. That’s really who he is if he hits 62. I think that’s what needs to happen. I think baseball needs to look at the records, and I think baseball should do something.”

“I think it means a lot, not just for me. I think it means a lot for a lot of people. That, [Judge is] clean, he’s a Yankee, he plays the game the right way,” Maris added.

Maris was asked if he views the McGwire and Bonds home run records as illegitimate: “I do. I think most people do.”

This is a debate that will go on for a long, long time among baseball fans- or at least until somebody — viewed as “clean” — hits 74 home runs.

Judge has seven games remaining in the regular season — the Yankees will be in the postseason after already winning the AL East — to try to reach home run No. 62 and beyond.

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.

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