Sixty-two.

On a one-one count in the top of the first inning against Jesus Tinoco, Aaron Judge became the first man in baseball history to hit sixty-two home runs in one season legitimately. 

No, he doesn’t have the record. Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa slathered that PED stain on baseball. But last night, Aaron Judge proved it could be done without science. 

A game that would otherwise be meaningless as the Rangers stumble toward the end of another embarrassing baseball season became one to remember forever.

It was a game in which Adolis Garcia became the first Ranger to collect one hundred RBIs in a season since Nomar Mazara did it in 2017. 

It was a game the Rangers came from behind to win 3-2 to snap a seven-game losing streak.

It was a game where Yankees pitcher Garrit Cole became the all-time single-season strikeout leader for the Yankees with his 257th strike out.

Nobody cared about those things. Because it was the game Aaron Judge proved the impossible could be done. 

Aaron Judge passed Roger Maris as the legitimate home run champion. I threw my arms in in delight. I danced around like a little kid. It brought me so much joy. It was what baseball is all about.

It’s just a number. But it’s a glorious number. A magical number. An honest number.

Sixty-two.

*****