One of the most fascinating individual seasons in MLB history deserved a book looking in depth at Aaron Judge's magical year. The accomplishment took over NY Sports and made the Yankees more relevant than they've been since the Jeter era ended. This book provides the music to the scene of Judge's historic home runs. Anyone who follows baseball and especially the Yankees will love this book and what it goes in depth about.

In "62," Bryan Hoch takes readers on an exhilarating behind-the-scenes journey through Aaron Judge's historic 2022 season with the New York Yankees. As Judge chased Roger Maris's hallowed American League record of 61 home runs, Hoch provides an intimate and insightful look at the hulking slugger's remarkable pursuit of greatness.
With unprecedented access, Hoch vividly depicts the pressure, scrutiny, and euphoria that accompanied Judge's captivating quest. He deftly weaves in-depth analysis of Judge's prodigious talent with revealing anecdotes that humanize the humble superstar, culminating in his record-breaking 62nd home run that electrified Yankees fans.
Beyond the on-field heroics, Hoch explores the larger context surrounding Judge's monumental season. He examines how Judge's success reignited debate around hallowed baseball records tainted by the Steroids Era and how the Yankees phenomenon transcended sports to become a cultural phenomenon.
Hoch's veteran perspective as the Yankees' beat reporter for over a decade shines through. His intimate knowledge of the team and its history lends "62" an authenticity that avid baseball fans will appreciate. The book is a masterclass in sports storytelling that captures the drama and significance of Judge's iconic season.
For Yankees faithful and casual fans alike, "62" is a must-read that cements Aaron Judge's place among baseball's all-time greats. Hoch's vivid prose and unparalleled access make this the definitive account of an unforgettable year in Yankees lore.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is a must for any Yankee fan or any baseball fan! Bryan really captured the great Judge and his achievements as a New York Yankee. I really think this book was amazing and a must read. It makes us understand how amazing Aaron Judge is and why we must all rise for the Judge.

This is a very interesting book that details each of Aaron Judge's record-breaking season. I love the way it marks each home run, but also adds in details about other players and staff in the Yankee organization. This is a book for every Yankee fan, but also for fans of baseball history in general. The last and present comparative presentation is very intriguing and I'd definitely recommend this book.

I love the reporting Bryan Hoch does so much so that I follow him on social media! I am a diehard Yankees fan as well as a lover of books and this one did not disappoint. The best part is that it just doesn’t focus on Aaron Judge it goes into the history of the record and the year 1961 which is so important to the franchise. It’s a novel all Yankees fans and the team would be proud of.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of 62 by Bryan Hoch! I'll be very interested to see future iterations of Judge Biographies!

Bryan Hoch does it again. If you have yet to read his previous novels researching the New York Yankees, I would highly recommend checking it out.
"62" is many things beyond just Aaron Judge's historic season. It gives us perspectives into the 1961 season, Judge's contract negotiations, and how the Yankees as a team came together as a team to finish out a historic, if not tumultuous, season. Hoch is a king of research and does a great job pulling it all together for a book that is informative and entertaining. I discovered so many more facts about Aaron Judge and the Yankees as a whole from this book, not to mention feeling like I was actually around during the historic 1961 home run chase.
Hoch's latest is a strong addition to his previous books and well researched.

This is a VERY in depth look at Judge's 62 home run season, which was interesting but too detailed at times. Probably good for diehard baseball/Yankee fans. I can't help but like Judge, even as a Red Sox fan - I appreciated that perspective.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“62” by Bryan Hoch is a book any baseball fan will love. There is one “catch” however, this is not a baseball book. It is so much more. True, “62” details the historic athletic achievement of Aaron judge’s 2022 campaign with New York’s beloved Yankees, and it does so from a front row vantage point of the Yankee organization, teammates, adoring fans, Roger Maris Jr, Aaron’s close-knit family, and even Aaron himself. If that were all, it would be a great baseball book.

In 62, we are treated to an expertly crafted work of non-fiction which transcends the world of baseball and gives us an inside look at how adoring, adoptive parents nurtured a boy with physical talent to be a thoughtful and principled world-class human being who is not only a baseball hero, but a hero for all humankind. Bravo Aaron Judge, Bravo Patty and Wayne Judge, and finally bravo to Bryan Hoch for shining a light on this family’s depth of character.

It was maybe slightly different than I was expecting.

I thought this was going to be something of an Aaron Judge biography that dovetailed into his chase for the American League home run crown. In reality, it's something closer to a day-by-day review of the 2022 New York Yankees (a team that aside from Judge was fairly forgettable and unremarkable) with special guest star Aaron Judge.

Now, it's a <i>very</i> good version of that. Hoch clearly had access to just about everyone involved and the behind the scenes details, particularly with regard to Judge's preseason and postseason contract talks, are far and away the best part of the book. Judge's feelings on Cashman's opening day press conference were always rumored and hinted at, but they're basically confirmed in this book. The flashbacks to the 1961 season are also very well done. Its nothing terribly <i>new</i> if the reader is a baseball history and/or Yankee history buff, but even if you've heard it dozens of times everything about Mantle and Maris chasing Babe is great drama.

Judge himself also comes off fantastically well in this book, something I can't always say of even authorized biographies or autobiographies. (I'm looking at you, Joey Kramer.) If modern Major League Baseball was any good at all at marketing its own stars Judge would be one of the biggest stars in the country.

On the downside, the book really does kind of get bogged down in the daily minutiae of a Yankee season that again, is not exactly going to be fondly remembered by most of the people reading this book. It <i>reads</i> like the tale of one of baseball's great teams until the Yankees inevitably get swept out of the ALCS at the end. I wouldn't be shocked if a casual reader just assumed that the Yankees won the World Series based on the first four-fifths or so of the book until they find out that they didn't. If the book is about AaronJudge, everything between home run number 62 and the MVP announcement (which gets little more than an "as expected" aside) could have been condensed into maybe three paragraphs.. If its actually a book about the 2022 New York Yankees,....why would you write such a thing?

The good way, way outweighs the bad here, which is largely kind of nitpicky. Strong recommendation.

I'd lke to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC copy.

Are you a NY Yankees fan? Do you still get chills from Aaron Judge's magical 2022 season? Well then come along for the journey in 62 by author Bryan Hoch!

In 62, author Bryan Hoch takes the reader back to Aaron Judge's magical 2022 season where he broke the AL single-season Home Run record with 62 home runs that was previously held by Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs that stood for 61 years!

Follow along as author and Yankees beat reporter Bryan Hoch takes you behind the scenes of Aaron Judge's magical 2022 season as he took his place in the record books alongside legendary Yankee Right Fielders Babe Ruth (60 home runs) and Roger Maris (61 home runs) with his journey to hit 62 home runs, and break the AL single-season home run record. Packed with interviews about the season from Aaron and players on the Yankees team, coaches, and executives, Bryan provides a fascinating insight, and statistics that lays out Aaron's historic journey of home run dominance in the 2022 season.

As a NY Yankees fan from childhood, I loved reading 62! Author Bryan Hoch delves into baseball history of the AL single-season home run record that was held by Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, and now Aaron Judge. I really enjoyed reading about the history of Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris' 1961 chase to break Babe Ruth's record of 60 (1927) home runs that stood for 34 years. Their story was the backdrop for Aaron Judge's chase to break Maris' record 61 years later. I loved that the author provided the reader with a biography of Aaron Judge's life and baseball career, and Aaron's commentaries that was provided in the book throughout his journey in the 2022 season. I loved reading all the stories from the players and coaches interviews, and the amazing statistics that were included in the book. You can't help but get caught up in the excitement as Aaron's 2022 historical season unfolded. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the author takes the reader along for the ride for the Yankees 2022 season, which included their journey to seek a 28th championship (oh so close), along with the drama of Aaron's free agency status at the end of the season, which ultimately led thankfully to his resigning and becoming the 16th Yankee Captain. So Yankees fans, read 62, you won't be disappointed!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy of the book via NetGalley from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/07/62-by-bryan-hoch-book-review.html

If you have followed MLB Baseball at least the last couple of years you will know what this book is about. If not this is the story of Aaron Judge a MLB player for the New York Yankees and his chase to break the longstanding American League homerun record for one season set by Roger Maris. Actually Mr. Maris had set the Homerun record of 61 in 1961 breaking Babe Ruth's record for all of MLB but there have been three players since that have broke this record but many argue they were aided by steroids to get there. The story follows Aaron chase through the 2022 season to break the homerun record, the Yankees to make the playoffs and attempt to win the world series and who Aaron was going to play for in the future as he had turned down the Yankees long term offer and was betting on himself. This also gives you the backstory of the Yankee teammates he played with and analyses each homerun he its with the homerun #, the team they played, the pitcher who threw it and a few other statistics with it. Even knowing how all this turns out it is a good read with a little bit of heartbreak if you are Yankees fan. It was amazing to read the amount of stress these players faced and dealt with.

This book has a great set-up. There are forwards by both Roger Maris Jr. and Yankees manager, Aaron Boone. The writer shares enough history throughout the book to keep readers dialed in if they are not in the know, yet doesn't bore the reader who does know.. There are several little behind-the scenes gems shared throughout. The book was organized around Judge's 62 home runs in the 2022 season. Hoch starts with Judge's 1st home run of the 2022 season and then proceeds through all 62.

While I really enjoyed this book and hoped to pass it on to my son and school library, the language (mainly the f-bomb) will keep me from purchasing copies. I hope a Young Readers version is published in the near future because I think this has potential to be a popular read among middle grade and YA students, especially reluctant readers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for this ARC.

With some irony, this is being published while Judge is on the disabled list! Although it seems odd to write a book about an active player still achieving milestones, this is about a specific achievement, one that even an anti-Yankee fan can appreciate, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A must read for Yankee and baseball fans.

I'm a big fan of Bryan Hoch and his coverage of the Yankees on Twitter. This is the first of his books that I have read and I really enjoyed his writing style. I love the snippets from Judge's teammates and the man himself. The narrative was well crafted but at times felt a little repetitive, likely because I was very tuned into that Yankee season! But this was a great read that any fan of the Yankees or Aaron Judge will love.

A fascinating look at Aaron Judds amazing year chasing the home run record Getting to read about Aaron Judds personal year on to his breaking the record and then on to his contract fight.A perfect read for baseball fans.#netgalley #atriabooks

62 is Hoch's forthcoming book (2023) celebrating Aaron Judge's 2022 season where he not only flirted with hitting 62 home runs, eclipsing the longstanding American League records of Ruth and Maris, but did it. Hoch uses these three names to draw historical parallels, considering all were Yankee outfielders and did it in different eras. There are brief asides throughout the discussion of the 2022 season with glimpses of Maris' 1961 season, giving proper historical perspective. The 2022 season ended up being a disappointment to Yankee fans, with the team jetting ahead to an incredible start in the first half and hitting a wall at the all-star break with nothing working out from the trade for Montas to the slump across the lineup, that is, the slump that did not include Judge.

The story (and at first it is hard to imagine that Judge is worthy of a story yet as his career is still in its prime and we don't know where he ends up on the all-time lists) offers insight into who Judge is and how he handled his historic season as well as the turmoil of the contract negotiations up until he finally agreed to return to his only major league team.