Son of Roger Maris offers advice to Yankees' Aaron Judge

New York Yankees All-Star Aaron Judge and legend Roger Maris will forever be linked with each other. Maris' son has offered some advice to Judge ahead of this season. 

"Dad realized he was never gonna do what he did in 1961 again," Roger Maris Jr. told Dan Martin of the New York Post. "That year was an anomaly. I think Aaron realizes that, too. It’s not that he’s not capable of doing it, but you have to understand it was an amazing year and you can’t go to the park expecting to hit home runs." 

Maris set a new American League single-season record of 61 home runs in 1961 that lasted until Judge blasted 62 homers last year. Martin noted that Maris' pay increased from $32,000 to $70,000 coming off back-to-back American League Most Valuable Player campaigns. To compare, Judge put pen to paper on a nine-year, $360 million deal to remain with the Yankees in December as the reigning AL MVP. 

Maris notched 33 home runs and 100 RBI during the '62 season. One wonders if fans would take similar production from Judge this year considering he is earning a massive fortune, flirted with leaving the Bronx Bombers in free agency and is now the 16th captain in club history. 

"Dad always wanted to be the best teammate he could be to help the team win," Maris Jr. continued. "He felt his athleticism and his focus would take care of his performance and everything else would come. It was more about making winning plays. He knew if he did well, the team probably would, too, and that takes pressure off you. For Judge, it’s the same thing." 

Before Judge re-signed with the Yankees, starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. made it known that the four-time All-Star selection was essentially already "our captain." That reality could help Judge prepare for a season destined to be unlike any he's previously experienced for multiple reasons.