All Rise for 62

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Even non-baseball fans are aware of what Aaron Judge is doing. 

Well tonight, at 8:08pm on October, 4, 2022, Judge hit home run number 62 to pass Roger Maris and set the single season Yankees and American League home run record. 

Sixty-one years after Maris hit 61, Judge hits 62. 

It was almost a week between Judge hitting number 61 and number 62. But in the end, he got it done. You could see the pressure getting to him and the frustration mounting. 

The YES Network cameras even showed Judge slamming his helmet against the bat rack in Game one of Tuesday's doubleheader. 

Classy by Boone to let Judge take the field and then take him out to get the standing ovation from the fans in Texas and his teammates that he deserves. 

There has been much debate over the Major League home run record. 62 is now the "clean" record, but the overall record is Barry Bonds with 73. 

In fact, there are six seasons in which a single player has hit more than 62 home runs. Those were by Bonds, Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa. 

Look, we all know those others were not clean, however, that is still the Major League record. 

I am not saying what any of them, and others, have done, is right. It's still what that Major League Baseball says is the record. 

What Judge has done this season is incredible. It's not just the home runs, even though those are super impressive. 

He is currently (and will likely finish) second in the American League in batting average. He also leads the AL in runs batted in and is just behind Pete Alonso of the Mets for the RBI lead in all of baseball, as of Tuesday night. 

You add in the fact that he is a solid defender and has a terrifc arm, that just adds to his accomplishments. He has also shown the ability to play both right field and center field and make the back-and forth transition with ease. That's not easy for someone 6-7. 

He has also managed to stay healthy, which has allowed him to accomplish this feat. 

For me, this is the most impressive season I have ever seen. 

Yes, I was alive for Bonds, McGuire and Sosa but I was way too young to know what was going on or pay attention. It is must watch television when Judge comes up to the plate, especially as he got closer to number 60, then 61 and now 62. 

The other debate is Judge vs Shohei Ohtani for MVP. Some people say that because Ohtani pitches and hits and is having a very impressive season, he should be the MVP. 

However, Judge is having a historic season that we may never see again. 

Plus, it depends how you define MVP. Where would the Yankees be without Judge? Probably not winning the American League East. The Angels would still be a below .500 team with or without Ohtani. 

Ohtani is very special in his own right, as a dual-threat, but Judge is the most valuable. 

This is one of the moments where you will remember where you were were and who you were watching win. Sitting on my couch with my dad to my left. When Judge hit it, I raised my left arm and pumped my fist. 

No scream. 

No "Let's Go"!

Shocking calm. 

Excited, but calm. 

The home run chase has overshadowed what the Yankees were doing as a team and everything else that was going on, on the field. 

Hopefully, now that it's over, Judge can relax and help the Yankees make a postseason run and maybe even bring home championship number 28.