Updated Oct 4, 2022 - Sports

Yankees' Aaron Judge sets new American League home run record

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run of the season on Tuesday, breaking Roger Maris' American League record set in 1961.

Driving the news: Judge hit his record-setting homer during his first at-bat in the second game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers.

Of note: He's still in the hunt for the Triple Crown — when a hitter leads his league in batting average, home runs and RBIs in the same season — but trailed the Minnesota Twins' Luis Arráez heading into Tuesday.

Flashback: Judge tied Maris' record last week to help the Yankees clinch the AL East against the Toronto Blue Jays in a 5-2 win.

By the numbers: Only five other players — Maris, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Babe Ruth — have hit 60 or more home runs in a single season.

  • But McGwire has admitted to steroid use while Bonds and Sosa have denied allegations that they used performance-enhancing drugs.

What's next: The postseason. The Yankees have a bye in the first round of the playoffs, with the Houston Astros claiming the top seed in the American League.

  • The Yankees haven't won a championship since 2009.

What they're saying: President Biden tweeted his congratulations to Judge:

President Biden sends a congratulatory tweet to Aaron Judge on his record.
Go deeper