I saw that and knew that was wrong. '98 was the year Maris was passed for the first time, not '95. The day after McGwire hit 62 I got my driver's license and set out on the road in my '89 Buick LeSabre with a sony discman plugged into the lighter. Good times.
Apparently, Roger Maris' son feels the same way, saying that if Judge hits #62, he (Maris) would view him (Judge) as the single-season HR record-holder.
I know, officially, according to MLB, it's Bonds. But I would share Maris, Jr.'s view.
How about a band box asterisk? Ignoring all the other opaque efforts to benefit hitters over the past decade, new Yankee stadium has little league dimensions. What did outfields look like in 1927 and 1961?
I'm no fan of the Yankees, but plenty of Judge's home runs are monster shots. And the cheap home runs in Yankee Stadium are in the right field seats. As a righty, Judge hits most of his to left.
Judge is a very good ballplayer. He is certainly not a one-dimensional power hitter, nor is he just getting cheap homeruns.
I'm just not willing to say that any of these are not legit. Ruth had to hit in cavernous fields, even on the road, but was the pitching the same? Bonds was an incredible ball player, before drugs, after drugs. Anyone can frame an argument to minimize any one of these achievements.
I know, officially, according to MLB, it's Bonds. But I would share Maris, Jr.'s view.
I'm just not willing to say that any of these are not legit. Ruth had to hit in cavernous fields, even on the road, but was the pitching the same? Bonds was an incredible ball player, before drugs, after drugs. Anyone can frame an argument to minimize any one of these achievements.