Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has been otherworldly this season, blasting home run after home run in pursuit of Roger Maris’ single-season record of 61 big flies that has stood for 61 years. After tying Babe Ruth with his 60th bomb against the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday night, all will rise in the outfield bleachers at Yankee Stadium tonight to see if the Judge sends 61 into the stands.
SCP Auctions President David Kohler believes #61 would sell at auction for $250,000 or more, with the value of the record-breaking #62 being even more. Kohler said that 62 would bring $500,000 and up, with Judge’s final home run of the campaign being worth upwards of $1 million. That monumental final homer of the season will serve as the new American League record.
Outfield bleacher ticket prices at Yankee Stadium for this weekend’s rivalry series against the Boston Red Sox have continued to climb, with some of the seats reaching nearly $1,000 apiece. The storied history of the Yankees, and the fact that Judge has been pursuing the longstanding record set by former Yankee Maris, has only added to the lore of the pursuit. The Yankees continue to be the most collected team in the sports memorabilia industry to this day.
SCP Auctions has been in business since 1979 and is no stranger to selling milestone home run balls. Barry Bonds’ record 756th home run ball to pass Hank Aaron for first on the all-time list went for $752,467 in 2007, while 762 brought $362,000 and 755 sold for $186,750. Just last year, SCP sold Bonds’ 500th blast for $303,277. The auction house sold Alex Rodriguez’s 600th ball for $97,710. Earlier this year, Jorge Soler’s moonshot in the Atlanta Braves’ 2021 World Series clinching game brought $70,745 via the firm. “In today’s thriving sports memorabilia market, these home run baseballs will reach high levels of prices realized as passionate collectors worldwide go after them,” Kohler said.
