flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

Always the Yankees?

It's been 61 years since Maris set the record at 61 homers. And according to Statcast out of his 59 home runs only 2 would only be home runs at Yankee Stadium. The guy hits monster shots.

When he won the Home Run Derby at the All Star game his rookie year he hit several over 500 feet.

jessandcheryl

I mean, just how much money do you really need. To think a few more dollars, that really don't mean anything after a certain amount, is the best move instead of having loyalty for your team, is the right move. I don't think he has any integrity about the whole matter. I don't care how many home runs he hits after this!

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

I think he's entitled to as much as any other top notch player. I can't imagine anyone saying "even though you'll give me $35,000,000 I only want $2,000,000 because salaries are just too darn high) I am a big Yankee's fan. That being said I think it's ridiculous what athletes receive. RIDICULOUS! $20 to $30 million year and more in some cases. I think it would be interesting and astounding to see the total net salaries of ALL professional athletes.

fantom Loc: Colorado

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

A bird in the hand . . . actually, 21.5 million birds in the hand.

Tom DePuy Loc: Waxhaw, N.C.

How much does the average professional athlete make per year?
The average professional athlete will earn at least 36 times more than the typical U.S. household, though it could be as much as 113. To make at least $2.1 million a year (like the average pro athlete) while earning the average hourly wage for someone making $57,617 a year, you’d have to work 1,458 hours a week—equivalent to nearly 61 days.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

Tonight the Yankees entered the bottom of the 9th inning trailing the Pirates 8-4. Aaron Judge led off the inning with a 430 shot to left field for his 60th home run of the year. However, that still left the Yankees behind by three runs.

No problem, four batters later Giancarlo Stanton, who had struck out three times hit a laser shot into the left field stands for a walk off grand slam. Yankees win 9-8.

As for Judge's 60th...in 1961 when Maris hit 61 to move ahead of Babe Ruth there was an asterisk after his record for a number of years. This was because Ruth hit his 60 in a 154 game season while Maris beat him in a 162 game season.

There will be no asterisk for Judge. He caught Ruth in the 147th game of the season. He has 15 more games to hit 2 to beat Maris and set a new Yankee and American League record.

Yeah, you guessed it, I'm a lifelong Yankee fan.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

Aaron Judge tied Babe Ruth at 60 home runs a little over a week ago. Since then he had gone 6 games without hitting a home run, after averaging a home run every 2.5 games for the entire season. A lot of that had to do with pitchers being afraid to throw him strikes and managers deciding to intentionally walk him. Last night he walked 4 times in 5 official at bats.

Well, the wait is over...tonight he hit number 61 to tie Roger Maris for the Yankee and American League record. It wasn't like his normal majestic towering home runs. This one was a line drive that left his bat at over 117 mph and hit the wall behind the Blue Jay's bullpen, bouncing back to the bullpen coach, making it easy to get the ball back for Judge.

Overshadowed by Judge's accomplishment was another tie of a Yankee record during the game. Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole recorded his 248th strikeout of the year tying the Yankee record by Ron Guidry in 1978.

Cole will most likely eclipse Guidry in his final start of the season and Judge has 7 games left to go for number 62.

Judge is a shoe-in for AL MVP this year, but is also leading the league in batting average, home runs and RBIs giving him a shot at being the first Yankee since Mickey Mantle in 1956 to win the Triple Crown.