November 11th, 2022

“There it goes, soaring into history!”

The ardent, joyful voice of Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay signalled the historic moment: Aaron Judge had just hit his 62nd home run of the season, breaking the previous American League record of 61 home runs in 1961. However, this figure still is drawfed by the single-season record of 73 by Barry Bonds of the National League in 2001.

So what, exactly, makes Judge’s record so important? Firstly, his record comes in an era where offensive firepower is down league-wide – pitchers have access to more technology that allows them to “tunnel” pitches and make it almost impossible to identify a thrown pitch without simply guessing. The league batting average this year was the lowest it’s been the last 50 years. Strikeouts are more prevalent than ever. And yet Judge broke the record.

The second point of contention is the black cloud that hangs over the three sluggers that have higher single-season total than Judge – that of assistance due to performance-enhancing drugs. All three of those hitters, including the aforementioned Bonds, have been tied to using these drugs during their career to gain more muscle through increase testosterone levels. As such, there is a valid argument to be made that Judge is the “true” champion, hitting the most home runs in a season of any player with an “untainted” resume.

Lastly, Judge is a very marketable player for Major League Baseball. His broad smile, impressive arm strength and power, easy rapport with fans, and simply his gargantuan size of 6’7”, makes him a poster boy for what a superstar should look like. Setting this record has made him perhaps the most famous player in the game in a sport where stars are still in relative obscurity. For example, in 2018, the NBA and MLB organized a survey to determine the recognition fo their sports’ respective faces across the US. The results were dramatic: over 70% of Americans recognized LeBron James, and a mere 20-30% recognized Mike Trout, MLB’s best. With this monumental accomplishment by Judge usurping fabled records that have seemed unbreakable for decades, perhaps he, in fact, is the fresh new attraction MLB needs.

Categories: Sports