NEW YORK — Aaron Judge isn’t the only one who is going to get paid this winter.
Cory Youmans, the fan who caught Judge’s record-breaking 62nd home run ball, has decided to sell the piece of baseball history via an auction house, according to an ESPN report.
Youmans told ESPN he made the decision “after weeks of a lot of deep conversations,” with his wife and lawyer. The lucky fan also has already turned down a $3 million offer for the ball that was caught at Globe Life Field on Oct. 4.
“It seems fair in the sense it gives anyone that is interested and has the means the opportunity to own it,” Youmans told ESPN. “As a fan, I’m curious to see what it’s worth, who buys it and what they do with it.”
Youmans was seated in left field on the night Judge passed Roger Maris’ American League record that was set in 1961. On a 1-1 count in the first inning against righty Jesus Tinoco, Judge drove an 88-mph slider 391 feet to the left-field seats.
Youmans said he has never caught a ball at a game in his life, but he put his glove to good use and will likely receive a hefty payday for his efforts.
“I have this fear of ending up on SportsCenter Not Top 10,” Youmans said. “So my initial feeling was pure relief that I wasn’t the guy that dropped No. 62 or ended up wearing my beer.”
Youmans, who was offered tickets to attend the now legendary game, spoke with Yankees security on that night but did not strike a deal that would get the ball in Judge’s possession. The slugger said on the October night that “It’d be great to get it back, but that’s a souvenir for a fan,” and that he “got every right to it.”
On Nov. 29, the ball will be sold at the Goldin Auctions house, located in Runnemede, N.J.
“We’ve already had an offer for $3 million,” Dave Baron, Youmans’ lawyer, told ESPN. “Talking to the auction people, they don’t really commit to a number, but they said it just could be significantly higher based on New York, the New York fan base and how crazy it could get at an auction.”
Mark McGwire’s then-record 70th home run ball in 1998 is the most expensive baseball ever sold, which went for $3.05 million to comic book artist Todd McFarlane.
David Kohler, president of California based auction house SCP Auctions, said in September that Judge’s clean history adds to the value of his home runs.
Roger Maris Jr., who was present during Judge’s home run chase, felt that the Yankee slugger should be respected as the true home run champ due to Barry Bonds and McGwire being linked to steroid use.
