Cory Youmans just happened to be in the right place at the right time when he caught Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run ball. He was sitting in the front row of section 31 in left field at Globe Life Field on Oct. 4 when Judge led off the second game of a doubleheader between the Yankees and Rangers and connected.
At the time, he was offered $3 million for the ball, but he thought he would make so much for it, so he turned it down. That was a big mistake.
Youmans saw the ball sell for $1.5 million over the weekend at an auction. Despite people thinking he has egg on his face, Youmans is not bitter about how things turned out.
“Congratulations to Joe! Given the historical significance of #62, it was important to me that the selling process was fair, accessible, and transparent,” Youmans said Sunday in a statement.
“As this chapter comes to an end and I reflect on catching home run ball #62, I’ll always remember the kindness of the fans around me on that exciting night in Arlington,” Youmans said. “It was the epitome of how sports brings humans together, and I’ll cherish that memory forever.”
The highest price paid at auction for a baseball is $3 million. It was for one hit by Mark McGwire in 1998. Judge’s 62nd home run ball is now the second-highest price ever paid for a baseball at public auction.
After completing one of the greatest seasons and winning the AL MVP, Judge agreed to a nine-year, $360 million contract with the Yankees.
Judge said in a conference call before the auction that he was not going to bid on the ball.
“He caught the ball, he’s the one that made the play out there in left field, so it’s his right to do what he wants with it,” Judge said of Youmans. “Hopefully he’s making the right decision for him and his family.”
Roger Maris, a former Yankee, set the old record of 61 in 1961.
