The night that Dallas native Cory Youmans gloved Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run of the 2022 season on October 4 at Globe Life Filed in Arlington, he said he was not sure what he would do with the record-breaking and potently money-earning ball.
The question was answered last Friday as it was announced the ball would be hitting the auction block in New York on Tuesday, November 29 at 5 p.m., the collectible auction firm Goldin reports on social media.
“We think this is going to be a record-breaking ball,” attorney David Baron told ABC News.
Mark McGwire’s record-setting 70th home run sold for over $3 million in 1999, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Judge launched Texas Rangers’ Jesus Tinoco’s 88 mph slider deep into left field and over the wall that October night and cemented himself in the record books as he broke Roger Maris’s American League home run record of 61.
Baron represents Youmans, and the two met the night the 35-year-old financial worker made the catch of his life near his seat in section 31 of the left field bleachers of the ballpark in Arlington.
At the time of the catch, Youmans said he was not sure what the ball was worth. According to The Dallas Express, he was rushed away by security and taken to Yankees personnel. The Yankees attempted to trade photos, memorabilia, and tickets, for the ball that night, but Youmans did not bite.
“It seems fair in the sense it gives anyone that is interested and has the means the opportunity to own it,” Youmans said. “As a fan, I’m curious to see what it’s worth, who buys it, and what they do with it.”
California auction house, Memory Lane, offered Youmans $2 million for the prized baseball, according to InsideHook.
“We did make an offer of $2 million and that offer is still valid,” JP Cohen, president of Memory Lane, told the Associated Press. “I feel the offer is way above fair if he is inclined to sell it.”
According to his attorney, Youmans turned down an offer of $3 million for his Judge ball.
“We actually had another offer for higher, and I was negotiating with that buyer,” he said. “They decided to participate in the auction.
Youmans said he would like to see the baseball eventually make it back to Judge or into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
“It’d be great to get it back, but that’s a souvenir for a fan,” Judge said the night of the home run. “They made a great catch out there, and they’ve got every right to it.”
