Yankees’ Judge hits 61st home run in Toronto, ties Maris for all-time AL record

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hit his 61st home run against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, tying Roger Maris for the American League single-season record.

61 years since 61.

Aaron Judge has written his name alongside Roger Maris in baseball's record books. pic.twitter.com/1V4Gums34C

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 29, 2022

The historic home run was hit off Blue Jays reliever Tim Mayza in the top of the seventh inning at Rogers Centre.

Much was made about what would happen if a fan caught Judge’s 61st home run ball but, luckily for him and the organization, it landed in Toronto’s bullpen.

Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano said after the game it was a collective effort from Toronto relievers to retrieve Judge’s home run ball and return it to the Yankees.

New York reliever Zack Britton, who knows the visitors’ bullpen area well from his time with the Baltimore Orioles, came over to the Jays’ bullpen to get the ball from Romano.

Maris, the former Yankees outfielder, hit 61 home runs across 161 games across the 1961 season. Judge accomplished the feat in game 151 and is the favourite for AL MVP.

Maris died in 1985. He was 51 years old.

Judge moved past the 60 home runs Babe Ruth hit in 1927, which had stood as the major league mark until Maris broke it in 1961. All three stars reached those huge numbers playing for the Yankees.

Hugs for history. #AaronJudge pic.twitter.com/wZvU47fSM4

— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2022

Barry Bonds holds the big league record of 73 for the San Francisco Giants in 2001. Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1998 and 65 the following year, and Bonds topped him. 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 the holder of the “clean” record.

Judge has eight games, including the rest of Wednesday’s in Toronto, to set the AL record for most home runs in a season.

Judge hit six homers during the month of April, 12 in May and 11 in June.

He earned his fourth All-Star selection and entered the break with 33 homers. He had 13 homers in July and dropped to nine in August when injuries left him less protected in the batting order, and pitchers walked him 25 times.

Judge is also in the running for the Triple Crown, a rare feat where a player leads the league in homers, RBIs and batting average.

Judge and the Yankees clinched the AL East division in Toronto on Tuesday.

Blue Jays’ playoff plans put on hold

Despite the loss to the Yankees, the Blue Jays  magic number is now one thanks to Boston beating Baltimore 3-1.

Their clinch could come as early as Thursday afternoon, if the Red Sox can complete a three-game sweep of the Orioles on a Blue Jays off day. Otherwise, the celebrations will have to wait until Friday when Boston arrives for a three-game series.

“We would probably like to have a little bit more spur of the moment excitement, but as long as we make it, that’s all that matters,” said shortstop Bo Bichette, whose RBI single fueled a rally that raised the possibility of champagne party Wednesday.

“Hopefully we get to celebrate it with the fans. That’ll be cool.”

With files from Shi Davidi of Sportsnet and The Associated Press