The estimates on the value of Aaron Judge’s 62nd record-breaking home run range from hundreds of thousands of dollars to millions. The actual price paid, of course, will depend on how badly a collector wants it.
But the fan who caught the ball probably won’t need it to pay his bills.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports: “The man who caught the historic Aaron Judge baseball, Corey Youmans, doesn’t exactly need the money. He is a vice president at Fisher Investments, which manages $197 billion worldwide. It may be the price of Judge’s next contract.”
Judge hit the record home run on Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, breaking Roger Maris’ American League record and setting what some fans consider baseball’s “clean” standard. Judge, 30, drove a 1-1 slider from right-hander Jesús Tinoco into the first row of seats in left field when leading off the second game of a day-night doubleheader.
Youman caught the ball Section 31 and was immediately taken with security to have the ball authenticated.
Asked what he was going to do with the ball, Youman said, “That’s a good question! I haven’t thought about it!”
Asked if he was going to keep the ball or give it back to Judge, Youman, wearing a Texas Rangers cap, said, “I don’t know.”
Asked after the 3-2 loss if he’d gotten the ball, Judge said, “not yet.”
“I don’t know where it’s at. It’d be great to get it back,” he said.
Judge also praised the fan for making a “great catch” and said the man had every right to keep the prized souvenir.
Judge had homered only once in the past 13 games, and that was when he hit No. 61 last Wednesday in Toronto. The doubleheader nightcap in Texas was his 55th game in row played since Aug. 5.
Judge was 3 for 17 with five walks and a hit by pitch since moving past the 60 home runs Babe Ruth hit in 1927, which had stood as the major league record for 34 years. Maris hit his 61st off Boston’s Tracy Stallard at old Yankee Stadium on Oct. 1, 1961.
“He should be revered for being the actual single-season home run champ,” Roger Maris Jr. said Wednesday night after his father’s mark was matched by Judge. “I think baseball needs to look at the records and I think baseball should do something.”