Yankees Judge on pace to beat Maris – but should anyone care?

Yankees fans, here’s a question to ask yourself.  Aaron Judge is on pace to beat the record set in 1961 by Roger Maris for the most home runs hit by a Yankee in a season. Does it even matter a half-century later?

Yankees right fielder, Roger Maris, drew lots of attention when he, along with teammate Mickey Mantle,  mounted an assault on the venerable Babe Ruth‘s record of 60 home runs in a season in 1961.

History tells us, of course, that Maris made the grade and that Mantle went by the wayside, finishing the season with 54 home runs amid a rash of injuries that sidelined him even for most of the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.

And by now, We’ve all the heard the stories about Maris feeling the mounting stress that caused a good portion of his hair to, literally, fall off his head. And we know how the old-time New York newspaper media, because back then that’s all there was, ganged up on Maris for having the gall even to get close to the immortal Ruth.

But in 2017, if Aaron Judge were to mount a serious challenge to the record now set by Maris, would the reaction of the media be the same?

I’d bet the house that the media would try to make it the same. But, would it be the same, or just a feeble attempt to manufacture an ongoing story? I’m voting for the latter and, at the same time, am hoping that any attempts by the media or the marketing geniuses with the Yankees fail miserably in any bid to hype Judge more than he is already. Let him be.

Side by side, here’s the numbers

Aaron Judge hit his 22nd and league-leading home run of the season on June 12, a blast that traveled 438 feet to beat the Angels. Roger Maris hit his 21st and 22nd home run of the 1961 season off Jim Perry and Gary Bell on June 14.

More from Yanks Go Yard

• Yankees swipe intriguing minor-league FA lefty flamethrower from Braves
• What does Carlos Rodón’s new jersey number mean for Domingo Germán?
• 3 lefty relievers Yankees can still sign without breaking the bank
• Red Sox living in different financial ‘galaxy’ than Yankees Killer Rafael Devers
• Yankees slice surprising fan favorite off roster to make room for Tommy Kahnle

From there, Maris went on a tear and would reach 27 home runs by the end of June. Meaning, of course, that Judge would need to hit another five home runs to match Maris by June 30, which is a good stretch removed from today on the Yankees schedule.

Which is also to say that Judge, having played 61 games to date, is on pace to hit 59 home runs this season. While Maris, who hit his 22nd in his 57th game, was on pace to break Ruth’s record with 61 by the end of his season in 1961.

Does anyone really care, though?

Judge chasing Maris is not the same thing as Maris chasing Ruth in the House That Ruth Built. And Roger Maris, for all that he was, could never replace Ruth as an iconic player in the annals of Yankees history.

And the astonishment in Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto‘s voice in this video when Maris drilled a 2-0 pitch from Tracy Stallard in game 162 says it all. “Holy cow, he did it!”

As if no one could believe that Maris would one day hit forty-one home runs, much less sixty-one. And that’s the other thing. Few would be surprised if Aaron Judge hit 60, 70, or even 80 home runs in a single season because his upside is so high at this stage of his career.

At least there’s one thing we won’t have to worry about though if Judge does conquer the sixty-one mark. And that’s any squabbles about the 162 game season versus the 154 game season that Ruth had to deal with.

And you’ll recall that bloodied asterisk that Commissioner Ford Frick placed next to Maris’s name in the record books because it took him those extra eight games to beat Ruth. Funny thing about what we worried about in those days.

Let it be. No comparisons, please.

How about if we just sit back and let the magic of Aaron Judge play out, not only this season but for the remainder of the long career ahead of him.

He doesn’t need the pressure, and we don’t need the manufactured hype from those in the media who always seem ready to latch on to a non-story until they can make it one.

And besides, Roger Maris has three World Championship rings, including the one the Yankees won in 1961 when they beat the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.

Aaron Judge has yet to win his first title. This could be the year. But in any event, how about, at least for now, measuring the success of each player by those titles, and not by the number of home runs.

Derek Jeter claimed five titles during his illustrious career, and that is the reason he gained status as an iconic Yankee and a winner.

Aaron Judge, no matter how many home runs he hits or doesn’t hit, as well as the rest of the Baby Bombers who are either here or on their way, would do well to strive for titles instead of individual trophies for their mantlepiece at home.

The Yankees Twenty-Five Most Memorable Home Runs

In the Yankees storied history, twenty-five of their home runs stand out as moments in time never to be forgotten and always treasured by baseball fans.

Aaron Judge already appears to have the mindset to do that. If only we stay out of his way and, at the same time let Roger Maris rest in peace.