University of Kwazulu-Natal

Cal Raleigh Aaron Judge Battle For Al Mvp Is As Compelling As It Msn

Bonisiwe Shabane
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cal raleigh aaron judge battle for al mvp is as compelling as it msn

Aaron Judge might have won this season’s American League MVP award — but his competition was within arm’s reach. Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Judge beat out Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh by just four first-place votes, the closest MVP race in any league since 2019, when Angels outfielder Mike Trout won over Astros third baseman Alex Bregman by... Before that, the next closest AL MVP race came when Justin Morneau of the Twins bested Derek Jeter in 2006, with the first baseman getting 15 first-place votes to Jeter’s 12. Raleigh had one of the best offensive seasons for a catcher in recent history, hitting a MLB-leading 60 home runs, along with 125 RBIs and a .948 OPS. Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh had historic seasons, but only one could win the AL MVP.

Steph Chambers / Getty Images By Tyler Kepner, Chandler Rome, Britt Ghiroli and Zack Meisel Plenty has changed about baseball. Little has changed about how voters are supposed to determine the league’s Most Valuable Player. From the official guidance given by the BBWAA: There is no clear-cut definition of what Most Valuable means.

It is up to the individual voter to decide who was the Most Valuable Player in each league to his team. The MVP need not come from a division winner or other playoff qualifier. The rules of the voting remain the same as they were written on the first ballot in 1931: Unlike in the National League, where Shohei Ohtani was unanimously voted as the league MVP, the result of the American League MVP award was always going to be more heavily disputed. There were two very worthy finalists in Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh, both of whom enjoyed fantastic seasons. In the end, Judge won.

It’s hard to argue that he wasn’t deserving, even if there’s a laundry list of reasons Raleigh was also deserving. The decision from the Baseball Writers Association of America to select Judge was a narrow one. The Yankees outfielder took home 17 of the 30 first-place votes, with Raleigh claiming the other 13. Neither player received a single vote below second place. Judge had 13 second-place votes, and Raleigh had 17. Judge won by 20 points, 355–335, in what was an incredibly close race.

Judge’s second straight AL MVP win led to plenty of discussion on social media among MLB fans. There were mixed feelings about the result, with some supportive of the decision to name Judge MVP, due to his prolific hitting numbers, while others were upset, feeling that Raleigh was robbed after a... Cal Raleigh finished as runner-up for the 2025 AL MVP Award#Mariners fans, we should forever cherish being able to watch one of the all-time seasons in franchise history in real time. 📸: @lindseywasson /AP Photo #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/Nzi1OvdtlH Cal Raleigh deserved the MVP award, in my opinion. I really hate that Judge won it.

Catchers are chronically undervalued in today’s economy. The 2025 American League MVP race was flat-out wild. Two extraordinary but totally different players — Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh — went head-to-head and gave us one of the most intense MVP debates in recent memory. What does “most valuable” even mean? Is it about record-breaking offense, or does it include the grind of defense, leadership, and playing tough positions? This year, baseball writers couldn’t agree, and honestly, that made the whole thing way more interesting.

When it was all said and done, Aaron Judge took home the award. He racked up 17 first-place votes and finished with 355 points. Cal Raleigh had a strong showing too, pulling in 13 first-place votes. He came up just short, but the tight vote really says a lot about how split everyone felt. Most years, there’s one guy with the gaudy stats who runs away with it. Not in 2025.

Plenty has changed about baseball. Little has changed about how voters are supposed to determine the league’s Most Valuable Player. From the official guidance given by the BBWAA: There is no clear-cut definition of what Most Valuable means. It is up to the individual voter to decide who was the Most Valuable Player in each league to his team. The MVP need not come from a division winner or other playoff qualifier.

The rules of the voting remain the same as they were written on the first ballot in 1931: 1. Actual value of a player to his team, that is, strength of offense and defense. 3. General character, disposition, loyalty and effort. November 14, 2025, 2:23am EST 116 • By Swati Bhatia

The 2025 MLB awards season came to an exciting finish on Thursday night with the announcement of the American League and National League MVP winners. While last year’s AL MVP race was a one-sided affair with Aaron Judge winning unanimously, this year’s contest was far closer. In the end, the New York Yankees captain edged out Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh to secure his second straight MVP honor, taking home 17 first-place votes compared to Raleigh’s 13. Aaron Judge is MVP again!It’s back-to-back AL MVPs for The Captain! pic.twitter.com/HzqA96V6Ni Both players delivered incredible seasons that will be remembered for years to come.

Aaron Judge continued his dominance at the plate, while Raleigh made history with a record-breaking hitting. Raleigh crushed 60 home runs, setting both a Mariners record and a new single-season record for an MLB catcher. He also drove in 125 RBIs while anchoring Seattle’s pitching staff and helping the team stay in the playoff hunt until the final week. Aaron Judge, meanwhile, hit .331 with 53 homers, 114 RBIs, and a 1.144 OPS, putting together another monster campaign despite missing seven games due to an elbow injury in late July. The 2025 MLB MVP race has reached its thrilling conclusion, with Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh delivering historic performances that redefine offensive excellence. Judge’s .331 batting average and 53 homers showcase unmatched consistency, while Raleigh’s record-shattering 60 HRs as a catcher rewrites baseball lore.

With the November 14th announcement looming, voters face an impossible choice between traditional all-around dominance and unprecedented power from behind the plate. This clash of eras—Judge’s classic five-tool brilliance versus Raleigh’s revolutionary season—will shape MVP debates for generations. The 2025 American League MVP race presents baseball’s most fascinating dilemma in decades. Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, the reigning MVP, delivered another masterclass with a .331 batting average, 53 home runs, and 114 RBIs. Meanwhile, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh rewrote history books by becoming the first catcher ever to smash 60 homers in a season while driving in 125 runs. This clash between traditional excellence (Judge) and unprecedented positional production (Raleigh) has divided analysts and fans alike.

Judge’s season represents the gold standard of consistent dominance. His 1.112 OPS led the American League, and he became the first Yankee since Don Mattingly in 1984 to win a batting title. Defensively, Statcast credits Judge with saving 7 runs in right field. Raleigh, while posting a lower .247 average, achieved something no catcher in MLB’s 150+ year history has accomplished – combining elite power with everyday durability behind the plate. Only seven players in MLB history have ever hit 60+ home runs in a season, and none while playing the physically demanding catcher position. Raleigh also set the single-season home run record for switch-hitters, previously held by Mickey Mantle (52 in 1961).

Meanwhile, Judge’s 37 intentional walks set an AL record, demonstrating how pitchers consistently avoided him in crucial situations.

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