61*

I was 9 years old in 1961 when the M&M Boys (Maris & Mantle) chased down the Great Bambino's (Babe Ruth) home run record of 60 homers in a season. There was no ESPN nor internet in those days that would instantaneously provide statistical updates on a moments notice. I had to wait until the afternoon's newspaper, Rochester Times-Union, was delivered to see the results from the previous days ball scores. I made a habit to fall asleep listening to Mel Allen calling Yankees games on the radio. I can remember the sports page had a chart showing where Maris and Mantle stood versus the Babe on a per game basis. As the season neared the end, Mantle suffered from numerous nagging injuries, leaving Roger as the lone pursuer. Only saw delayed broadcast of Maris breaking Ruth's record but as a true blue Yankee fan I was thrilled.

Coming forward 61 years (just a coincidence it being 61 years later and 61 homers once again), I am again enthralled by Aaron Judge's pursuit of Roger Maris's record 61 American league home run record. Sure, Barry Bonds holds the record at 73 and Sammy Sosa cranked out 66 long balls in 1998 but that was the steroid era and while many baseball historians acknowledge Bonds accomplishment, there are many others believing the clean record belongs at least for now to Roger Maris.

For me, it's been a frustrating Yankee year. Other than Judge, they haven't forced me into non-stop TV hawking. I don't ever think I've been more distant in any year. But Judge is a complete other story. He turned down a massive Yankee contract before the start of the year, instead betting on himself. The pressure to succeed would be immense, in NYC no less where each at bat is critically analyzed. His resilience has been off the charts. He has put together a statistical year that will rank with the all-time greats. A Triple Crown is with reach. Only the great Mickey Mantle has a Yankee Triple Crown.

Watching the game the other night with my wife when he tied the Babe at 60 was exhilarating in it had me thinking back to being 9 years old again and wishing I had the ability to have watched Roger break the record. When bat hit ball, we both jumped out of our chairs knowing the ball would travel deep into the left field bleachers. It was a sense of more Yankee pride. My grandmother made me a Yankee fan and its times like these that I thank her for doing so.

There are more games to be played and Judge will have every opportunity to further write his history. So, for me it's back to where I always belonged. Watching Yankee games and screaming at the TV.

But this time I have the resources to watch Judge break a 61 year old record. It only took 61 years but so what.  

 

If you have been a fan of baseball as long as I have, this picture has unfortunately become an all too familiar scene. STRIKE 3, YOUR OUT. Today's players are far too concerned with jacking homers with little regard for  batting average. There was an Nike ad campaign years ago centered around Greg Maddox and Tom Glavine with the saying "Chicks Dig the Long Ball" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLECMCargd8). So, the chicks changed the game?

Where have all the contact hitters gone? Is there no room for the single hitters. Imagine no Ichiro or Wage Boggs. How about gap hitters. A double would be nice now and then. Throw in a Triple every other week or two so I can remember the good old days.

Launch angle and exit velocity are all the rage in today's game. I remember hearing Don Mattingly say if you execute a proper swing plane, the ball will indeed leave the ballpark. I truly believe we are teaching young players the wrong batting fundamentals. Putting bat on ball and putting said ball in play has taken a back seat to attempting to put said ball over said outfield fence. Boring!! 

I went to the Diamondback game the other night and I was thrilled with what I saw what Diamondback hitters do, they basically hit the ball, singles, doubles a triple and a home run. It was the full hitters gambit. Not only did they hit, they ran the bases. They are a young athletic team full of youthful exuberance. They are not a team build on old age and bulk.

My favorite player of all-time was Mickey Mantle. I adored how far he could hit a baseball. But, he also was a Triple Crown winner and in his youth was the reputed fastest from home to first.

I know not every player can be a Superstar but what we can expect players fully versed in all aspects of the game. For now, I'm back on the D-Back bandwagon with there youth movement. Sometimes you don't have to win World Series to entertain.