Aaron Judge blasted his 62nd home run of the season, breaking the American League record and putting himself in elite company. Fewer than a handful of players in MLB history have hit 60 in a season, and Judge now stands alone at the top of the AL. The pitch came in low, not a sharp slider, and Judge sent it into the stands. One fan made the grab despite a scramble in the bleachers. Another fan tried to jump down for a rebound but didn’t need to—clean catch, no bobble.
The moment between Judge and his mom stood out. Her reaction was restrained at first, mirroring Judge’s own quiet awe as the ball flew. When it cleared the wall, both exhaled, smiled, and shared a quick but emotional exchange of looks. She nodded, he pointed, and they locked in from opposite sides of the stadium. Other fans went wild. One guy bolted down the aisle and boxed out a small crowd to get the ball. Nearby, a kid in a Ken Griffey Jr. jersey looked crushed he didn’t catch it.
In the dugout, chaos broke out. Rookie Oswald Peraza ducked when he heard the crowd, unsure what was happening. Donaldson jumped the railing early. Boone pumped his fist and then motioned the team to the plate. Nestor Cortes got chased down by Domingo Germán for an aggressive high five. The dugout was pure celebration. Around the stadium, some fans leapt up instantly, including one man in a Yankees polo who beat everyone to his feet. A young fan jumped so hard his hat flew off. It was an intense, joyful mix of history, family, and chaos.