How much could the ball from Aaron Judge’s No. 62 home run be worth?
The big Yankee slugger gave his record-tying 61st home run ball to his mother, but if he manages to hit number 62, that could equate to quite a payday
This is the season for that old fan favorite, home run balls. But the big difference in the last decade is that America’s religion, capitalism, has caught up with America’s past time, baseball. No longer simple souvenirs that they once were, fans are keenly aware of how much these bits of baseball memorabilia can sell for. Particularly when they are historically significant.
Unlike Albert Pujols, who has shown little interest in having his historic 700th home run ball returned to him, Aaron Judge and the Yankees have managed to get home runs 60 and 61 back in their hands, but should Judge break the American League single season home run record with a 62nd blast, Ken Goldin, executive chairman of Goldin Auctions would advise the lucky fan who catches it not to give in to calls to give it up.
“There never is a reason to do a deal, even with the Yankees, on the spot,” says Goldin. “Use common sense. The Yankees are worth $8 billion. Judge is going to sign, likely, a $400 million contract. If the ball means that much to them, they can buy it like anybody else.
“Take my money, put seven figures in your bank account and in the off-season meet Judge. Get an autograph, or photograph, spend an evening with him. Don’t be foolish. The Yankees are not a nonprofit organization. They are not a charity. I’m trying to give people an alternative opportunity. Some of these kids are in college and guess what? Five or ten years from now when they’re married with kids, they’re going to wish they had money in their bank account.”
That’s right, you read that correctly. Seven figures. Goldin reckons that Judge’s 62nd home run ball could sell for $1.25 million. David Kohler, president and founder of SCP Auctions agrees with that estimate, particularly now that balls 60 and 61 are out of circulation, having been kept by Judge and his mother respectively.
Whether or not you are a Yankee fan, catching home run number 62 could change your life with a payday that seems unreal. The market in sports memorabilia is on fire at the moment, with the industry growing by leaps and bounds, particularly since the advent of the internet in the mid to late 1990′s.
One thing that helps the sales price of these items is the person it is attached to. “Aaron Judge is beloved,” says Kohler. “He’s a New York Yankee obviously, one of the most historic franchises in baseball. And Roger Maris and Babe Ruth, people know them. And Judge has no dark clouds with steroids like you saw with Bonds and Mark McGwire. He checks all the boxes.”
Should the Yankees bring home the World Series title this year, this record-setting ball from Judge could see its value skyrocket. Yet another reason to not be hasty. If you should catch this hit, get it authenticated, then put it in your pocket and make your decisions in the cold light of day. It could be a big one.