Fan unsure what to do with Judge’s home-run ball, which could be worth $2m

As he walked through a concourse in the outfield at Globe Life Field, high-fiving with fans and surrounded by a sea of cameras, it was almost as if Cory Youmans had hit a huge home run. Instead, he hit the jackpot.

Youmans made the catch of a lifetime on Tuesday night, snagging the ball New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge launched for his American League-record 62nd homer.

The historic souvenir came sailing into the front row of section 31 in left field, a drive Judge hit to lead off the second game of a day-night doubleheader against the Texas Rangers. Youmans snared it on the fly.

Youmans, who is from Dallas, works in finance. Ken Goldin, the executive chairman of Goldin Auctions, told the New York Times he believes Judge’s home-run ball would fetch between $750,000 and $1.25m if put up for sale. However JP Cohen, the president of memorabilia site Memory Lane, has said he would pay $2m for the ball and loan it for display at Yankee Stadium.

The most expensive home-run baseball of all time went for $3m, including commission, in 1999. It was the ball that Mark McGwire hit for his then-record 70th home run in 1998.

With security personnel around him as he took the ball to be authenticated, Youmans was asked what he planned to do with the prize.

“Good question. I haven’t thought about it,” he said.

#Rangers Security whisked away a Dallas man by the name of Corey Youmans who caught Judge’s 62nd home run ball. #62 pic.twitter.com/lP7jequjIJ

After the Yankees lost 3-2, Judge said he didn’t have possession of the home-run ball.

“I don’t know where it’s at,” he said. “We’ll see what happens with that. It would be great to get it back, but that’s a souvenir for a fan. He made a great catch out there, and they’ve got every right