It is said that records are made to be broken, but sometimes things happen that challenge the concept of what actually constitutes a record.

Is it something written in a book, or can it be something many consider a record even if it is not made official?

The official record for home runs in a single season, for example, is 73, set by Barry Bonds in 2001. But some old-schoolers still consider Roger Maris’ former record of 61 in 1961 the modern-day standard for home run hitters.

The way things are shaping up, the debate soon will begin to heat up. With a major league-leading 44 homers after Saturday’s loss at the New York Mets, Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is on pace to tie Maris’ old record, which since has been surpassed by Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and, of course, Bonds during the steroids era.

Bonds’ 73 is still listed in the official record book, and there are no asterisks involved. But is it really a record if no one trusts that the person actually set it without the help of modern chemistry?

“The record is the record,” Stanton told the (South Florida) Sun Sentinel. “But, personally, I do (think 61 is the record). … You grow up watching ‘(The) Sandlot.’ You grow up watching those films of Babe Ruth and (Mickey) Mantle and these guys and 61 has always been that printed number as a kid.”

As Stanton gets closer to the mark in September, you will start hearing more arguments. No one is likely to break Bonds’ mark, but 61 is 61, and if fans in opposing parks start cheering for Stanton to pass it, you will know the official record is irrelevant.

New York Yankees rookie Aaron Judge, meanwhile, broke a record this week, though it was one of those obscure ones that pop up only when someone is close to beating it. By striking out in 33 consecutive games, Judge broke the record for a nonpitcher set by Adam Dunn for the 2012 Chicago White Sox. On Saturday, Judge broke former pitcher Bill Stoneman’s all-time record of 35 straight games with a strikeout for the Montreal Expos in 1971.

Judge may be a candidate for the American League’s MVP and a shoo-in for AL rookie of the year, but he still had to answer questions about breaking the dubious marks.

“Was I aware (of it)?” Judge said afterward with a grin. “I was told before the game that I tied the record. I think you just informed me that I broke the record, so thank you. There’s nothing I can really say.”

Yet another unknown record was on the line this week when Cincinnati Reds slugger Joey Votto extended his streak of reaching base safely twice or more to 20 consecutive games. He was on the verge of snapping Ted Williams’ all-time record of 21 until the Cubs allowed him to reach only once Wednesday night.

“That’s crazy,” Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Votto’s streak.

During that streak Votto hit .435 and tied a career high with a 17-game hitting streak. Teams have tried everything to stop him, including Maddon’s four-man outfield alignment.

“No matter the infield setup, no matter the alignment of the infield or outfield, I do the exact same thing,” Votto said. “It’s when I get caught up in what’s going on defensively when I get myself into trouble, (like) changing my approach.”

The next individual record that may be challenged?

How about Mark Reynolds’ single-season mark of 223 strikeouts? It was set in 2009 and nearly tied by Dunn, who had 222 in 2012 before “resting” for the finale. The Minnesota Twins’ Miguel Sano has 170 strikeouts, with Judge close behind at 169 after Saturday’s games.

Sano currently has 467 strikeouts in 307 games in his first three seasons. In comparison, Yankees great Joe DiMaggio struck out 369 times in 1,736 games over his 13-year career.

The record everyone will be paying attention to in late September is the single-season wins mark of 116, set by the 1906 Cubs and tied by the 2001 Seattle Mariners (neither of whom went on to win the World Series). With an 85-34 record entering the weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers were on pace to tie the mark.

But because they are running away with the National League West, it would seem likely they would rest some regulars down the stretch, which could lessen their chances of winning. As of now, the Dodgers insist they are not really thinking about getting to 116, but they are obviously enjoying the chase.

“You never get tired of winning, and shaking hands,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Those days that we don’t win, we don’t know what to do with ourselves.”