American League MVP debate: Judge vs. Raleigh

The race for American League MVP has stirred up controversy and some heated debate this year. It might end up being the closest race we’ve had since just 20 points separated Mike Trout and Alex Bregman in 2019.

One side is saying All Rise for the Judge because, well, he’s been Aaron Judge again. Judge finished the year hitting .331 with 53 home runs, his fourth 50+ home run season, to put him right back in the MVP contention in what would be his third. He joins Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire as the only players with four seasons with at least 50 homers.

On the other side, you have a historic season for the Big Dumper. Cal Raleigh finished with 60 home runs, the most all-time for a Mariner, surpassing Hall of Fame member Ken Griffey Jr., and the most all-time for a catcher. He came up just two shy of Judge’s American League record of 62.

So who should win this race? Both were crucial to their teams’ success, and when they struggled, so did the team.

Will it be Judge getting his second in a row and third overall, or will we have a first-time winner in Raleigh? My answer is Judge.

Let’s be clear, this is no knock on Raleigh. If either of these players were in the National League, these would probably be the two MVPs this year. Unfortunately for them, they have run into each other.

As previously mentioned, Raleigh broke the catcher home run record this year with 60. He also had an OPS of .948, the best mark by a catcher since Buster Posey in 2012, at .957. Oh yeah, Posey won the NL MVP that year, by the way.

He’s also one of the best defensive players at maybe the most important defensive position. He’s coming off a season in which he won the Platinum Glove, and he was great behind the dish again this year.

His problem is, Judge also had a historic year, again. He won his first career batting title and became just the third player in MLB history to hit 50+ home runs while winning a batting title, joining Jimmie Foxx and Mickey Mantle.

His 53 home runs are also the most ever by a player in a batting title-winning season. He also became just the second player ever to have consecutive seasons with at least a .300 average, 50 home runs, and 100 walks. The other, Ruth.

He also led the league in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS, each by a significant margin. Raleigh ended up fourth in OPS at .948 in the majors this year. Judge finished with an OPS of 1.144.

That’s a difference of .196. For context, the difference in OPS between Raleigh and Willam Contreras is .194. Contreras finished 77th in the league in OPS this year.

So while Raleigh has had a sensational year at the plate to go with elite defense, Judge has made his own history, and the difference is just too big to award Raleigh the MVP.

Jacob Rudy is a third-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jar7371@psu.edu.