Roger Maris' legendary American league home run record was recently matched by Aaron Judge, but the son of the late baseball star has asked for the MLB to take a look into the record books.
Maris set the record for home runs in a single season when he struck 61 in the 1961 season, but this was matched by Judge during the current campaign, with the New York Yankees star expected to set a new tally any game now. Judge has four more regular season games to set the pace, but Maris Jr has asked the league to change the way they label home run records.
MLB has overseen lots of change in the past, with the length on the season differing and the player testing for performance enhancing drugs has also come into play. Therefore, Maris Jr wants there to be two separate home run records.
“Baseball should consider making two separate home run records,” Maris Jr wrote on Twitter. “PED home runs and home runs. Baseball’s commissioner established separate home run records in 1961. Babe Ruth was credited as the home run king with 60. Roger Maris was credited for his 61 separately under 162 games.”
Barry Bond surpassed Maris Sr's record back in 2001, with Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa also posting higher tallies. But they were ruled illegitimate as it was during an era that use of PEDs were common, before testing was protocol.
Many fans believe that records from this era were tainted, and Maris Jr is requesting that there is now a clear differential in order to respect the efforts of those who achieve such feats legitimately. “I think it means a lot, not just for me," Maris Jr said after Judge matched the record his father posted.
"I think it means a lot for a lot of people, that he’s clean, he’s a Yankee, he plays the game the right way. I think it gives people a chance to look and somebody who should be revered for hitting 62 home runs.
"He should be revered for being the actual single-season home run champ. That’s really who he is, if he hits 62. I think that’s what needs to happen, I think baseball needs to look at the records, and I think baseball should do something.”
Judge is still awaiting his 62nd home run, and now has four chances against the Texas Rangers. He missed the chance to beat it against the Baltimore Orioles, but insisted that there are more important things to worry about.
"It would have been nice to hit it at home in front of the home fans, but at the end of the day, I've got a job to do," Judge said. "We've got to get ready for the postseason, but the season is not over yet."
