It was 61 years ago that Roger Maris hit home run No. 61 in a season, breaking Babe Ruth’s record.
The radio call came from the legendary Phil Rizzuto: “Hit deep to right, this could be it!” (Punctuated, of course, by a “HOLY COW!”)
Fast-forward 61 years later, and it was Michael Kay on the mic for the YES Network when Aaron Judge hit his 61st: “Drilled deep to left field, this could be it! See ya!”
Think he remembered Rizzuto’s call? I’m guessing yes.
Everyone else noticed that was the case too and posted about it on Twitter Thursday night as Judge matched history:
Here's Kay's call
61 years since 61.
Aaron Judge has written his name alongside Roger Maris in baseball's record books. pic.twitter.com/1V4Gums34C
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 29, 2022
The call behind the home run. #AaronJudge pic.twitter.com/Cqt3Ab0Oai
— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2022
The comparisons
A fitting ode by @RealMichaelKay to Phil Rizzuto on the call of Aaron Judge's 61st home run pic.twitter.com/oOGIBjUisw
— NY Yankees Throwbacks (@yankeethrowback) September 29, 2022
“This could be it!”
Kay 🤝 Rizzuto pic.twitter.com/5g2ostEG4g
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 29, 2022
This is pretty cool. @RealMichaelKay dropped a “This could be it” on Aaron Judge’s 61st home run, paying tribute to Phil Rizzuto’s call on Roger Maris’ 61st. https://t.co/v2XBw4G8M5
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) September 29, 2022
Nice job by @RealMichaelKay giving a nod to Phil Rizzuto’s 1961 call of Maris’ 61st. “This could be it!” https://t.co/4tGkqUglXW
— Neil Best (@sportswatch) September 29, 2022
Best moment: YES Network Michael Kay homage to Roger Maris in a special way, repeating Phil Rizzuto’s “This could be it!” phrase from Rizzuto’s call on WPIX back on Oct 1, 1961. Kay came through with a HR call that sounded as genuine as it was spontaneoushttps://t.co/LKh1XJ2Ahm
— Rudy Martzke (@FakeRudyMartzke) September 29, 2022
Both Phil Rizzuto and Michael Kay, almost 60 years to the day, used, "It could be it," ion their 61st home run calls.
— Jed Weisberger (@Zalman888) September 29, 2022
