‘Chase Closed’

Aaron Judge is the new American League home run king

By Eddie Hughes (’05)

For 61 years, Roger Maris held the all-time American League single-season record of 61 home runs. Now, that record belongs to Aaron Judge, the Fresno State alumnus and New York Yankees superstar who hit his 62nd home run on Oct. 4, the day before the regular season ended.

It came in the top of the first inning, with Judge hitting in the leadoff spot at Globe Life Field against Texas Rangers pitcher Jesus Tinoco. After looking at a ball and a strike, Judge hit the third pitch of the game 391 feet into the left field seats. The Yankees’ dugout emptied with players and coaches jumping around like Little Leaguers and celebrating with the new home run king as he crossed home plate.

Judge’s parents, Wayne and Patty — both Fresno State alumni themselves, and retired teachers — were in the stands behind home plate celebrating the culmination of a historical home run chase.

As the official Major League Baseball Twitter account so aptly worded it: “CHASE CLOSED!”

“I never tried to focus on the number, I never tried to focus on doing it. I just go out there and play my game and if I’m good enough and God-willing, it’ll happen,” says Judge in the postgame press conference. “I think having that type of faith helped me out through this whole process.”

On his way to history, Judge surpassed Babe Ruth’s 1927 total of 60 home runs and Maris’ 1961 total of 61.

Though Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa have each finished with higher home run totals in a season, those marks are scarred by questions of performing-enhancing substances. Some, such as Roger Maris, Jr., are considering Judge’s record to be the purest.

“Aaron Judge is the new CLEAN HOME RUN KING!!” Maris Jr. tweeted on Oct. 4.

The former Bulldog had an all-around season for the ages, earning the American League MVP award. He was the league leader in home runs, RBI (131), walks (111), extra base hits (90), runs scored (133) and a slew of advanced metrics, and was second in batting average (.311).

Judge is the second Fresno State alumnus in Major League Baseball to win a league MVP award — Terry Pendleton was named National League MVP for the Atlanta Braves in 1991.

Originally from Linden, Judge starred for the Bulldogs from 2011-13. He earned first-team all-conference honors all three seasons, and was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in 2011. In 2012, he won the TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby in Omaha. After his junior season, he was drafted in the first round (32nd overall) by the Yankees.

Known for his infectious smile and stature (6-foot-7), Judge made his Major League debut in 2016, hitting

a home run in his first at-bat. He went on to break the all-time rookie record — previously held by Mark McGwire — with 52 home runs in 2017, his first full season in the bigs.

Top Photo: Fresno State alumnus Aaron Judge hits his 62nd home run of the season, breaking Roger Maris’ 61-year-old American League record.