Oct 18, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the second inning in game five of the ALDS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Cleveland Guardians at New York Yankees
Well, it’s official. Aaron Judge’s record-setting 62nd home run ball has hit the auction block.
Judge, fresh off arguably the best season in MLB history, broke Roger Maris’ 62-year-old American League record on October 4, 2022. Cory Youmans was the man in the right place at the right time at Globe Life Field in Arlington. The businessman from Texas has kept the home run ball in a safety deposit box since.
Ken Goldin, the auctioneer in charge of selling the ball on behalf of Youmans, the lucky spectator, thinks the ball will sell for more than $3 million.
“The ball has the potential to become the highest-priced baseball ever sold,” Goldin said in a telephone interview. “Three million plus would be my estimate. Home run balls have a unique place in the collectible industry for a few reasons,” said Goldin. “Unlike bats or jerseys which players and teams technically own, a home run ball is the immediate property of whatever fan catches it. In this case, this particular ball was basically a winning Powerball ticket.”
Goldin has been selected to handle the sale of some of the most valuable and significant collectible items ever.
The current record was set with the auction of the ball from Mark McGwire’s 70th home run in the 1998 season, which went for $3.05 million in 2009.
A link to images of the Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run ball can be found here.
