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The ball from New York Yankees star Aaron Judge’s record-breaking 62nd home run of the 2022 American League season sold for $1.5 million with a buyer’s premium Saturday night. According to ESPN, the ball is the second most expensive baseball ever sold at auction.
The ball was sold through collectors market Goldin by Cory Youmans, who caught the record ball during the Yankees’ October 4 game against the Texas Rangers. While the ball eventually sold at a lucrative price, the ball’s retail price fell short of the record $3.05 million set by Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball in 1998.
Youmans, a vice president at Fisher Investments, had hoped the ball would end up with either Judge, the Yankees, or the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The ball was eventually purchased by an anonymous buyer.
“Several players have hit more home runs in a season, but in the eyes of many people, Aaron Judge is the true record holder,” Goldin CEO and founder Ken Goldin said in a statement to ESPN. “The fact that this is the second highest price ever paid for a baseball speaks to the respect fans and collectors have for Aaron.
“That’s the magic of the sport – not only did that ball change Aaron’s life, it changed the life of the fan who was in the stadium that night. We are so proud that Cory has trusted us to present this piece of history for public auction.”
Despite the fact that Judge’s historic season helped earn him a nine-year, $360 million contract extension, the Yankees slugger was reportedly not among those who made a bid for the ball that propelled his 2022 season into the record books. Before signing his contract extension, Judge told reporters in November that he had no plans to bid on the ball at auction.
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