New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Fan returns Aaron Judge's 60th HR ball to Yankees slugger

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 9/21/22

Many people who score a piece of sports memorabilia at an actual game would probably be tempted to keep it.

That wasn't the case for Yankees fan Michael Kessler, who caught Aaron Judge's 60th home-run ball on Tuesday night and then -- drumroll, please -- returned it to Judge.

"He deserves to have the ball back, " Kessler told the media afterward.

Spoke with Michael Kessler, the 20-year-old who caught Aaron Judge's 60th HR ball, then traded it to 99 for autographs and photos:

“Judge means so much to the organization. He’s just unbelievable. Just the way he is, he deserved to have the ball back. I have no second thoughts.”
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) September 21, 2022

According to the New York Post, the 20-year-old fan and some of his friends got tickets to Tuesday's Yankees game at the last minute. After a mad scramble to secure the home-run ball, Kessler was reportedly quickly approached by Yankees Stadium security staff -- at which point he decided he wanted to return the ball to Judge.

20-year-old Michael Kessler decided to come to tonight’s Yankees game at the last minute.

He caught Aaron Judge’s historic 60th HR ball.

It's estimated to be worth $50,000-$500,000, per @ActionNetworkHQ.

pic.twitter.com/drSKGhlO8a
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 21, 2022

In exchange for the ball, Kessler received other signed pieces of game memorabilia and had his picture taken with Judge.

The return for Aaron Judge's 60th HR ball?

Signed Judge baseballs and a signed Judge bat pic.twitter.com/C75ltFn0mg
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) September 21, 2022

Class act move by these dudes giving Aaron Judge his 60th HR ball and getting some cool stuff in return

Zack Hample would never do such a thing pic.twitter.com/oa8ABcSsuG
— 4 Train Savages (@FourSavages) September 21, 2022

Judge hit the 430-foot homer in the ninth inning of Tuesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The hit set off a rally as New York came from behind to beat the visitors 9-8.

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