NEW YORK -- Roger Maris has held the American League single-season home run record since 1961. That year, he hit 61 home runs, breaking Babe Ruth¡¯s hallowed record, and earning the American League MVP Award.

Maris has been in the news lately because Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has a chance to break Maris¡¯ record. Entering Monday¡¯s action against the Angels, Judge has 49 home runs in the team¡¯s first 128 games. Through the same amount of games in ¡®61, Maris had 51 home runs.

At his current pace, Judge would finish the year with 62 homers.

¡°It¡¯s always nice to see dad brought back in the public eye a little bit for his accolades in baseball,¡± said Kevin Maris, one of Roger Maris¡¯ six kids. ¡°He accomplished a lot in the game. We couldn¡¯t be more proud in what he accomplished. Sixty-one is a unique number.¡±

Kevin Maris has nothing but praise for Judge. He called the 30-year-old slugger an outstanding ballplayer who represents the Yankees well. Kevin is also glad that it is a Yankee who is challenging his father¡¯s record.

At the same time, Kevin would like to see his father hold on to the record.

¡°But [the family] would be excited for [Judge if] he is able to achieve [the] monumental task,¡± Kevin added. ¡°It¡¯s something that is a unique record, one of the best in sports. Hitting a baseball is not easy. To accomplish that, you have done it over a season, not just one game or one at-bat.¡±

Judge, like Maris, is a right fielder who appears in center field on occasion. And fittingly, this pursuit by Judge comes 61 years after Maris faced immense pressure while he challenged an icon in Ruth.

¡°The pressure that dad had day-in and day-out -- New York had a ton of papers back in the day,¡± Kevin said. ¡°Dad would sit there for hours pinned up in his locker, just giving answers to reporters. They would ask him the same questions day-in and day-out.

¡°Back then, they didn¡¯t police it like they do now. Nowadays, they give the players about 10 minutes to unwind after the game. Dad didn¡¯t have that luxury. Questions day-in and day-out, they wear on you at some point.¡±

So how does Kevin think his dad would react to seeing Judge challenge his record if he were alive today?

¡°Dad would be excited to know the caliber of kid he is, the type of player he has been, how he represents himself on and off the field,¡± Kevin Maris said. ¡°You don¡¯t have many complete players these days. It¡¯s refreshing to see the humble side.¡±