The Design: The Major League Baseball single season home run record is one of the most revered in sports and has had a long and complicated history from the time Babe Ruth cracked home run number 60 on September 30, 1927. The Sultan of Swat hit 54 in 1920 and 59 in ’21, but 60 was an unfathomable number, even for Ruth. Consider that his high-water mark the previous five seasons was 47 and that aside from Lou Gehrig, nobody in the American League hit more than 18 home runs in 1927. That magic number 60 was challenged by Jimmie Foxx in 1932 and Hank Greenberg in 1938, but even those two icons fell short. Between 1938 and 1960, Mickey Mantle was the only American Leaguer to reach 50 home runs, ending the 1956 season with 52 as part of his Triple Crown. Then came the historic 1961 season and the mad dash in chase of The Babe’s record. Yankee teammates Mantle and Roger Maris traded clouts all summer long and when an abscess slowed Mantle down in September, it left Maris with the only real chance to catch Ruth. Earlier in the season, Commissioner Ford Frick decreed that in order to be recognized as the single season home run champion, someone would have to break Ruth’s record in 154 games, which was the schedule length in 1927. Expansion added an extra nine games to the schedule and Maris needed all 162 plus one makeup game to pass Ruth, hitting number 61 on the final day of the season against Tracy Stallard. It took until 1991 when Commissioner Fay Vincent declared Maris the true and rightful single season home run champion.
Between 1998-2001 there were six 60 home run seasons, all of which came with the stigma of being steroid-enhanced. By 2022, it had been 61 years since Maris hit 61 in 1961, so it an appropriate time for another Yankee to chase the ghosts of Ruth and Maris. Aaron Judge had unlimited power and played in the right stadium during the right era to beat Maris, but had only played 150 games in a season once before the age of 30. Judge stayed healthy in 2022 and with 42 home runs going into August, 62 was a real possibility. Like Maris, Judge belted his 62nd home run in his final game of the season. In American League history, there have only been three 60 home run seasons. They were accomplished by Babe Ruth, Roger Maris and Aaron Judge, three legends who all broke the iconic record playing for the most successful franchise in major American sports, the New York Yankees. Big Fly Gear honors them with our “Three Kings” shirt.
* You won't want to take off this unisex tee, featuring a uniquely soft triblend fabrication, modern fit, crew neck and short sleeves. The Unisex sizing works for all walks of life.
* Unisex Sizing (true to size)
* Tri-blend materials: 50% polyester, 25% Airlume combed & ring-spun cotton & 25% rayon.
* Designed & printed in the U.S.A.
