Entertainment Sports Aaron Judge Smashes History with His 62nd Home Run to Set AL Single-Season Record Judge hit the historic home run Tuesday night, breaking Roger Maris' 61-year-old record By Natasha Dye Natasha Dye Natasha Dye is a writer-reporter for PEOPLE covering sports. Her previous work appears in The New York Post and Popstar! Magazine. People Editorial Guidelines Published on October 4, 2022 08:50PM EDT It's official! With his 62nd home run in the books tonight, Aaron Judge has surpassed Roger Maris' record for home runs in an American League single season. Judge, 30, broke the record with a one-run homer smashed into the left field seats at the Texas Rangers' Globe Life Field. It was just the third pitch he had faced Tuesday night, in the top of the first inning. It came nearly a week after Judge had hit his record-tying 61st home run of the season against the Blue Jays. His mother, Patty, was in the stands to witness history.. Maris, the Yankees slugger who died in 1985, coincidentally broke the home run record 61 years ago in 1961. Yankees' Aaron Judge Talks Playing Catch With His Dad as a Kid: 'He's Still the Hero in My Eyes' Judge tied Maris' record last Wednesday while Maris' son, Roger Maris Jr., was in the stands. Maris Jr. was sitting next to Judge's mother Patty, and cameras captured the two embracing after the athlete's history-making hit. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Since then, fans have been watching Judge's every swing to see if he could reach the milestone. Six days later, Judge gave baseball fans what they were hoping for. Aaron Judge Hits 61st Home Run to Tie Roger Maris' Record and Gifts Historic Ball to His Mother Mike Stobe/Getty "It's an incredible honor and there's a lot of emotions," he told the Yes Network after his 61st homer. "It took me a little longer than I wanted to but ... it's something pretty special."