Sep 20, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Video shows wild fight over Aaron Judge 60th home run baseball

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/21/22

New York Yankees All-Star slugger Aaron Judge equaled the mark reached by club legend Babe Ruth during the 1927 season when he crushed his 60th home run of the campaign during what became a thrilling 9-8 comeback win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Unsurprisingly, dozens of individuals in the outfield stands jumped into action -- figuratively and literally -- in attempts to get their hands on the latest piece of Judge-related baseball history:

Here’s the dog pile of people fighting for it pic.twitter.com/C2y8zWf4Rx
— Steve (@HonnyWags) September 21, 2022

As Bryan Hoch noted for the MLB website, 20-year-old City College of New York student Michael Kessler ultimately obtained the souvenir. We'll never know what Kessler would've gotten for the ball on the memorabilia market, as he eventually returned it to Judge in exchange for a meet-and-greet with the four-time All-Star selection, four autographed baseballs, and a signed game bat.

"Judge means so much to the organization, especially this year," Kessler said of a decision that probably cost him at least thousands upon thousands of dollars. "He’s just unbelievable. Just the way he is, he deserved to have the ball back. I have no second thoughts."

Kessler also spoke with Brian Lewis of the New York Post about the mad dash for the baseball.

"It bounced off someone’s hand. I reached and grabbed it and just bear-hugged it," he explained. "I just smothered it. It got off to the side. It was a mad pile."

Judge famously rejected a seven-year, $213.5 million extension from the Yankees before the start of the season, and the 30-year-old who bet on himself this past spring remains set to hit free agency and cash in following the campaign.

Kessler claimed he delivered a specific message to Judge during their conversation.

"Try anything to come back next year," Kessler said. "You’re the heart and soul of this ballclub."

Judge will attempt to at least tie the all-time American League single-season home run record of 61 set by Yankees icon Roger Maris in 1961 when the Bronx Bombers host the Pirates on Wednesday night.

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