I cannot think of a writer who is better suited to chronicle one of the biggest sports stories in recent memory than longtime MLB.com beat reporter Bryan Hoch.

Hoch promised New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge that 62 would not be just about his pursuit of 62 home runs, but a season-long saga of the Yankees organization and the teammates who helped make this incredible achievement possible. Judge is all about team first and personal statistics second, which makes reading this book such a delight. Judge is almost too good to be true in an age when selfishness seems to rule the sports world. He is a true role model who you cannot help but like and root for, even if you are not a Yankees fan.

"[This engaging book] does not leave you wanting anything, providing a front-row seat to one of the greatest single-season achievements and years in the history of Major League Baseball."

The foreword is written by Roger Maris Jr. In 1961, his father surpassed the single-season home run record of fellow Yankee and beloved Hall of Famer Babe Ruth. Throughout 62, we are taken back to that magical season and the difficult time that Maris had chasing down a baseball legend when so many people wanted him to fail. It is worth noting that Maris Jr. recognizes Judge’s 62 as the true record. Baseball fans understand that Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa all surpassed this number, but did so under the cloud of performance-enhancing drugs. Judge’s clean pursuit is indeed a spectacle to be in awe of and appreciate.

Hoch has put together a game-by-game recounting of the Yankees 2022 season with specific reference to the games in which Judge hit a home run. He clearly shows how the support of the entire team helped Judge shoulder some of the weight involved in breaking the record as they were trying to put themselves in the best position possible for a deep playoff run. We also see Judge through the eyes of his family and prior coaches and teammates as he was groomed for athletic success early on.

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Judge had turned down a $213.5 million extension just prior to the start of the regular season and insisted that he would not be involved in any salary negotiations until the season ended. Many people respected the fact that he bet on himself to have an outstanding year and get what he knew he was truly worth.

Even though most baseball fans expected Judge to break the record, it became an intense race to the finish. He only regretted not being able to do it in front of his home crowd. Home run #62 came on October 4th in Texas against Rangers pitcher Jesus Tinoco. Now, with all this drama behind him, Judge could focus on doing all he could to help his team win a championship.

Although the Yankees did not get to the World Series, Judge nearly won the Triple Crown, coming in second in batting average and first in home runs and RBIs. He went into the offseason as a free agent and re-signed with the Yankees at a well-deserved rate for a player of his caliber. He also was named the team’s 16th captain.

As a lifelong Yankees fan, I could talk about Judge and his home run record forever. But I believe that readers would benefit more by picking up this engaging book. It does not leave you wanting anything, providing a front-row seat to one of the greatest single-season achievements and years in the history of Major League Baseball.