It has been a miraculous season for New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who continued his dominance Tuesday by recording his 60th home run of the MLB season. That helped spark a huge rally in the bottom of the ninth against the Pittsburgh Pirates, which led to a 9-8 win for the Yankees.
Judge joined some rare company with this home run, tying Yankees legend Babe Ruth for 60 home runs in a season. That is just one shy of Roger Maris for the most home runs in a season in American League history.
These milestones that Aaron Judge passed with this home run also made the actual ball extremely valuable for any fan that obtained it. And 20-year-old college student Michael Kessler was lucky enough to come away with it.
Kessler and his four friends that were ultimately at the game likely could have come away with some real money if he decided to keep the ball and sell it. But he ultimately decided that he wanted Judge to have it, only asking for some signed memorabilia and a picture with Judge and his friends in return.
Aaron Judge got the 60th HR ball back. Four fans shared a clubhouse meet and greet that includes photos with Judge. They each got signed balls, and the fan who caught the ball got a signed bat, per Yanks PR.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) September 21, 2022
The Yankees were able to get Aaron Judge’s 60th home run baseball back for him easily tonight. The fans who caught it wanted Judge to have it, got some signed stuff from Judge in return.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) September 21, 2022
Met the man himself! I live with that guy @mikess1211 judge is the nicest guy pic.twitter.com/GhBlE5uE3B
— JD (@JohnstoneJD) September 21, 2022
Kessler was interviewed following the game and said that he wanted to do “anything he could” to try and get Judge to come back to the Yankees organization next season.
“Anything to come back next year, you are the heart and soul of the ball club,” Kessler said on Judge via ESPN’s Marly Rivera. “I just wanted to give it back, he has given so much to the organization.”
https://twitter.com/MarlyRiveraESPN/status/1572418967318167553
While the money certainly would have been nice for Kessler, there are very few instances where a 20-year-old kid is able to meet their idol. And Kessler and all of his friends were able to do that, which seems to be priceless to them.
[Marly Rivera on Twitter; photo from Brad Penner/USA Today Sports]
