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Judge clobbered a first-inning offering from Texas right-hander
Jesus Tinoco over the left field wall to etch his name into the
history books and give the Yankees an early lead at Globe Life
Field in Arlington.
Judge watched intently after he sent the 1-1 breaking ball
soaring toward the outfield at 164 km per hour, the crowd
standing in anticipation.
The ball arrived 391 feet (119 meters) later into the glove of a
lucky fan who cleanly snatched what will be a highly sought
after collectors item, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
"For me, I've never tried to focus on a number," Judge said
after the game, which the Yankees lost 3-2.
"If I'm good enough, God willing, it will happen. Having that
type of faith got me through this whole process."
The popular 30-year-old's team mates streamed out of the dugout
and embraced him one-by-one after he crossed home plate to
finally break the tie with Maris after failing to do so in the
past five games, including one played earlier on Tuesday.
The outfielder was removed from the game in the bottom of the
second inning as the AL East champions now look toward the
playoffs.
Asked what he will remember most about the home run chase that
captivated a nation, Judge said it was the passion of the fans.
"It's the constant support," he said.
"Seeing Yankee Stadium on their feet for every single at-bat,
booing pitchers for throwing balls, I got a base hit the other
night and I was being booed for a single.
"It's the little moments like that you look back on."
The overall Major League Baseball (MLB) home run record belongs
to Barry Bonds, with 73 homers hit for the National League's San
Francisco Giants in 2001. Bonds is among many of MLB's great
sluggers tainted by doping accusations during the so-called
"Steroid Era".
Judge, a California native who grew up rooting for the Giants
and Bonds, has said he considers 73 to be the record.
But Roger Maris Jr., the son of the late Roger Maris, said
Judge's accomplishment is different.
"Congratulations to Aaron Judge and his family on Aaron’s
historic home run number 62!" Maris Jr. tweeted.
"It has definitely been a baseball season to remember. 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!!"
Bonds, who never failed a drugs test, admitted in 2011 that he
had used steroids but said his trainer led him to believe he was
taking flaxseed oil and arthritis cream. He also holds the
career home run record with 762.
The Yankees play their final game of the regular season on
Wednesday.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles and Frank Pingue in
Toronto; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman/Christian
Schmollinger/Peter Rutherford)
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