Fan With 62nd Home Run Ball Faces Million-Dollar Decision

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who is expected to sign a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars this offseason, may have made another millionaire with one historic swing on Tuesday night.

Texas Rangers fan Cory Youmans caught Judge’s 62nd home run ball, which broke the American League single-season record set by Roger Maris in 1961.

• When asked what he planned to do with the ball shortly after catching it, Youmans replied, “That’s a good question. I haven’t thought about it.”
• Many have estimated that the ball could be worth millions.
• “It’d be great to get it back, but you know, that’s a souvenir for a fan,” Judge said after the game. “They made a great catch out there, and they’ve got every right to it.”

Judge’s 60th home run ball was caught by a fan and exchanged for four autographed balls, a signed game bat, and a meeting with Judge. His 61st landed in the Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen and was given to Judge, who gave it to his mother, Patty.

Judge’s run at the record caused a surge in ticket demand. Sales on StubHub for the Yankees’ final regular-season homestand jumped 60%, with bleacher seats more than doubling in price.

Good Judgment

Judge, 30, turned down a seven-year, $213.5 million extension offer from the Yankees prior to this season. That decision could earn him an additional $100 million, as the Yankees will have to bid against the other 29 teams to retain the services of the likely American League MVP.