The man who caught the baseball linked with Aaron Judge setting a new American League single-season record of 62 home runs is about to cash in.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that Cory Youmans, a 35-year-old from Dallas, has decided to put Judge’s record-setting 62nd home run baseball up for auction via the Goldin Auctions house. Youmans retrieved the historic piece of memorabilia when Judge went deep at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, on Oct. 4.
Early estimates said Judge’s last home-run baseball of the season could sell for at least $2 million assuming he broke the AL record once held by Yankees legend Roger Maris. Youmans confirmed he declined a $3 million offer and chose to auction the ball “after weeks of a lot of deep conversations” with his wife, sports reporter Bri Amaranthus, and his attorney.
“It seems fair in the sense it gives anyone that is interested and has the means the opportunity to own it,” Youmans explained about the life-altering decision. Dave Baron, Youmans’ lawyer, said the auction house thinks the baseball could sell for “significantly higher” than $3 million “based on New York, the New York fan base and how crazy it could get at an auction.”
Goldin says the auction will start Nov. 29. It’s unknown if Judge will be attached to the Yankees by that date, as the Linden, California, native is currently a free agent and has been linked in numerous reports and rumors with a return to the Bronx Bombers but also with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.
According to Passan, the baseball Mark McGwire blasted for his 70th home run in 1998 remains the most expensive ever sold at auction and ultimately went for $3.05 million. Meanwhile, Youmans said some of the money that he earns from the upcoming auction could go to Judge’s All Rise Foundation.
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