Marly RiveraESPN Writer Shut up Marly Rivera is a writer for ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN.com.
NEW YORK — Only five players had hit 60 games in a season in major league history — that is, until New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge joined that exclusive club with a solo homer against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night. Shut up
Marly Rivera is a writer for ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN.com.
Judge fielded a bunt from right-hander Wil Crowe leading off the final frame and drove it 430 feet into the left-field bleachers. He received a rare curtain call, forced by his teammates. “I really didn’t want to do it,” he said. The All-Star is now on a home run streak to tie Roger Maris’ AL single-season home run record of 61, set in 1961, which also stood as the major league mark for 37 years . 2 Related With his 60th home run, the 6-foot-7 Judge also tied Babe Ruth (1927) for eighth on the single-season home run list as the Yankees rallied in the ninth inning for a 9-8 victory. He came from a pitcher whose great, great uncle, Hall of Famer Red Ruffing, was Ruth’s Yankees teammate in the 1930s. “He did what he had to do with it,” Crowe said, “3-1 count, I’m not going to put him in. I felt like I wanted to go after him. I started, he turned in. put a good swing on a bad pitch.” Roger Maris Jr. and Kevin Maris, sons of the former player, were both on hand. Specially marked balls were used each time Judge walked to the plate. Fans in the outer seats stood and many grumbled with each foul. “I have to believe it’s right up there with some of the best, very short list seasons of all-time, what he does,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said earlier of Judge’s late-night pursuit of his history baseball. “Our focus is obviously on winning, and what’s at stake for us as a team. But within that, to watch what he’s doing, you definitely realize what a special season you’re witnessing.” There have now been nine 60-home run seasons in MLB history, accomplished by six different players. Judge joined Hall of Famers Ruth and Maris, as well as Barry Bonds (2001), Mark McGwire (1999, 1998) and Sammy Sosa (2001, 1999, 1998). Judge’s 59 home runs were already the most by a right-hander in AL history. Judge had already joined Ruth (four) and Mickey Mantle (two) as only the third member of the storied Yankees franchise to have multiple 50 HR seasons while wearing pinstripes. But Maris’ home run record isn’t the only historical mark Judge is chasing. Judge’s batting average entering Tuesday was .316, one point off Minnesota Twins first baseman Luis Arraez’s AL lead. Judge, who is a lock to lead the league in homers and RBIs (127), has a chance to become the 11th player to win the Triple Crown since RBIs became official in 1920. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
