Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has recently broken the American League home run record. A record set by fellow Yankee Roger Maris in 1961. The record 62nd home run was hit by Judge in a game on October 4 against the Texas Rangers.

Judge’s race for the record was highly publicized and had everyone turning off their favorite sports teams to watch Judge take the plate. 

Stations such as ESPN cut away from their schedules programming to show glimpses of Judge’s at-bats while he was chasing 62 home runs. I actually appreciated this bonus coverage; however, many people were outraged. Sports fans online criticized ESPN for showing Judge’s appearances instead of the scheduled college football game. Is your regular season college football game more important than a 51-year record? I do understand how some fans would be outraged, but witnessing history is far better than watching 2nd and 7 of Missouri and Auburn.

NFL Redzone host Scott Hanson, whose program would air during a Yankees game, assured fans that NFL Network would not cut away from their NFL action by Tweeting, “Will NOT cut away from the [football] to show chicken pitchers throw 4 balls nowhere near the plate.”

Hanson was not buying the hype with his satirical comment; yet, Judge’s record is very impressive, but many people try to discredit the record or play it down, including himself. Judge stated that “seventy-three is the record,” as Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs in 2001 to carry the MLB single-season record; Judge’s American League record is only 7th all-time behind Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa. This trio of sluggers holds the top six spots for most home runs in a single season. 

Although, there have been questions about the legitimacy of the top six home run seasons.

All three players above Judge have been linked to illegal steroid usage and have yet to be inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame. If these controversies have prevented these players from not being inducted into the Hall of Fame, the records these players hold should be discredited. On the books, Judge is 7th, however, when you take out the players who essentially cheated, he’s first. 

Aaron Judge has broken a record that has stood for 51 years, and he should be celebrated for his hitting. The questions surrounding the impressiveness of the record will continue, with likely no answers to be given in the near future, but to me, Judge has taken the home run crown.