Aaron Judge 62nd Home Run Ball Sets Record, $1.5 Million at Auction

Goldin is proud to present one of the most historically significant baseballs to ever hit the auction block. With his one swing of the bat on Oct. 4, 2022, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Aaron Judge captured the long-held 61-year American League single-season record for home runs previously held by former New York Yankee Roger Maris. The famous duel with teammate Mickey Mantle in 1961 captured the baseball world’s attention as Maris and Mantle both pursued Babe Ruth’s home run mark of 60 set in 1927. On the last day of that season, Maris passed Ruth with his monumental 61st home run at Yankee Stadium. This offered baseball is the very ball hit by Judge for his American League record 62nd home run.

For Judge, the chase was very similar to that experienced by his predecessor. Like Maris, the baseball world was focused on Judge and his pursuit of a long-standing single-season American League record. The Yankees were in first place and Judge was hitting home runs at a record pace, with his 60th home run coming on Sept. 20 at home against Pittsburgh and his tying 61st long ball hit on Sept. 28 in Toronto. This set the stage for the dramatic chase for American League immortality. The quest continued to the last regular season series, and in similar fashion to Maris in 1961, Judge finally connected on the record-setting “Home Run No. 62” in what was his final regular season game of the 2022 season.

Even though the Yankees had already clinched the division, Judge was not going to be rested for the playoffs, especially with potential history at stake. In front of a sold-out crowd for a scheduled doubleheader against the Texas Rangers, which witnessed Maris’ son, Roger Maris Jr., and Judge’s mom sitting together in the first row, Judge was held homerless for the first game, only adding to the tension. Fortunately for the 38,832 fans in attendance, Judge wasted little time in his first at-bat in Game 2. Facing Rangers pitcher Jesus Tinoco in the top of the first inning, Judge took the first two pitches for a ball and a strike. The next pitch … history. A “Judge-ian” blast to left field landed in the stands, a single blow breaking the iconic record at long last. Longtime Yankee broadcaster Michael Kay on the YES Network called his home run, “High fly ball, deep to left, there it goes, sailing into history! He’s done it! He has done it! 62! Aaron Judge is the American League single-season home run leader. The AL King. Case closed.”

Judge was greeted at home plate by all of his Yankee teammates. A continuous standing ovation from the capacity crowd at Globe Life Field commenced as the celebration began. The ball itself landed in the hands of Cory Youmans, the lucky fan who was in the right place at the right time, sitting in the left field seats at Globe Life Field. Youmans, who quite literally caught history, was then immediately escorted out of the stadium by security so the ball could be further authenticated by Major League Baseball through its MLB Authenticated program. Youmans held on to the ball since that fateful day until striking an agreement to consign it with Goldin.

This Official Major League Robert D. Manfred Jr. stamped ball displays excellent use, with rubdown markings and other abrasions, typical of a game-used baseball. However, the most significant markings include the “C” and “13” that were added in black marker on the panel with the Rangers “50” logo stamp. This was done by Major League Baseball in preparation for Judge’s pursuit of 62 home runs. This marking identifies the exact ball hit by Judge for home run No. 62. The ball has additionally been stamped by an MLB Authenticated hologram (YP188527–ZCS Authentication Code) following the home run and comes with a letter of provenance from Cory Youmans.

Milestone baseballs like Judge’s 62nd home run ball continue to generate excitement and value to the hobby. To put this ball into historical comparison, Mark McGwire’s 70th home run baseball sold for $3 million in 1998. A true piece of baseball history, worthy of display at Cooperstown.

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Please note that Youmans will be providing a Letter of Provenance to verify he caught this piece of history. The LOP will be pictured with this lot when it is received in our office; the document will be shipped to the winning bidder.