37,008 showed up to watch Aaron Judge hit his 61st home run Wednesday night — but one of the fans in attendance couldn’t have been sicker to see history … ’cause he dropped the historic baseball, costing himself a small fortune!!
Judge hit the blast in the seventh inning of the Yankees’ blowout win over the Blue Jays in Toronto — officially tying the American League watermark set by Roger Maris back in 1961 — and one fan was in a perfect position to nab the ball as it crossed over the left field wall.
61 years since 61.
Aaron Judge has written his name alongside Roger Maris in baseball’s record books. pic.twitter.com/1V4Gums34C
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 29, 2022
@Yankees
He had his glove ready … and when he reached over some railing in front of him to catch it — the legendary cowhide touched his mitt’s webbing!!!
Unfortunately for the guy, it caromed off his hand and landed safely in the Jays’ bullpen … something that clearly crushed the man.
CRYING 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/KwuPuWjyhO
— Dynamics • £ (@theDYNAMICS) September 29, 2022
@theDYNAMICS
Video from the game’s broadcast in Canada showed the guy was absolutely devastated over the fumble — throwing his mitt and hat in disgust afterward.
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Aaron Judge’s Record-Setting Home Run Balls Worth Fortune At Auction
Of course, the guy had every right to be sad … the ball would have been worth a HUGE payday for the Jays fan.
David Kohler of SCP Auctions told TMZ Sports earlier this month it could sell for as much as $250,000 on the auction block!!
As for what ultimately ended up happening to the ball — Toronto bullpen coach Matt Buschmann initially grabbed it. He gave it to Jays closer Jordan Romano … who then passed it off to Yankees reliever Zack Britton, who returned it to Judge.
Judge held onto it for a while — but in a super sweet moment, he turned it over to his mother.
Here’s #AaronJudge giving the historic No. 61 HR baseball to his mom, Mrs. Patty Judge. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/pw1mVEyBHY
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) September 29, 2022
@MarlyRiveraESPN
Aaron has seven games left in the season to officially pass Maris on the all-time list — meaning the crushed Jays fan could have a shot at redemption … if he’s willing to travel to New York or Texas for the Pinstripes’ last regular-season contests of 2022.
