For 61 years, Roger Maris' home run record had stood: 61 home runs, set by the New York Yankee in 1961, untouched as the most homers hit in one season by any American League player. 

Now, all these years later, with a 62nd decisive shot off of Aaron Judge's bat, a new record has taken its place. 

Judge, the 30-year-old standout outfielder for the New York Yankees, hit his 62nd home run of the season during a Tuesday night game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.

Fans in the stands erupted in cheers and his teammates gathered at home plate to meet him, offering hugs one after another. 

"It's a big relief," Judge said of making history, adding, "...it's been a fun ride so far."

For decades, the elder Yankee's mark stood alone as baseball's overall single-season home run record. Contemporaries like Willie Mays and Hank Aaron couldn't touch it. Nor could many of the stars that followed: not Mike Schmidt, not Reggie Jackson, not Ken Griffey Jr.

Judge has been an impressive slugger since his first major league at-bat, when he hit a home run on just his fourth pitch as a Yankee. In his first full season, he set the MLB record for most homers by a rookie with 49 dingers. 

Injuries had kept him from reaching that potential — until now. 

In his seventh season, the 30-year-old has shattered his previous bests. In addition to his 62 home runs, Judge has 131 RBIs — best in the American League — and his batting average is a formidable .311

Aaron Judge's new $360 million contract agreement with the Yankees will pay him an average of $40 million per season for the next nine years. It's the richest deal in Yankees history and the highest salary ever for a position player.