New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge edged Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh in a tight race to win his third American League Most Valuable Player award in four seasons, solidifying his place among other MLB and New York greats.

Judge and Raleigh were neck-and-neck in the race for the league’s MVP

In recent months, the debate centered on which player would win the prestigious award. Judge, the Yankees captain, had an explosive offensive season, leading the Majors in almost every category while also topping the American League in each. Meanwhile, Raleigh hit a record-breaking 60 homers this season, according to MLB.com.

On Thursday, members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America voted for the 33-year-old, who finished with 355 points and 17 of 30 first-place votes. Raleigh received the remaining 13 first-place votes and 335 points. The Cleveland Guardians’ José Ramírez finished third with 224 points.

Judge became the 13th player to win the MVP award three times, etching his place in history alongside Yankee legends Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle.

“It’s tough for me to wrap my head around it,” Judge said in a statement obtained by MLB.com. “It’s really kind of mind-blowing. I just play this game to win. I play this game for my teammates, my family, all the fans in New York. I just want to go out there and give them my best every single day.”

‘I don’t know how many we’re going to see like him’

Despite Raleigh’s impressive season, those closest to Judge, including Yankees manager Aaron Boone, general manager Brian Cashman, and hitting coach James Rowson, believed the 6-foot-7 outfielder was destined to win the AL MVP, and he did.

“I think people don’t realize, with that size and that body, the things that it takes to be ready to play every night. He’s an amazing player, and I don’t know how many we’re going to see like him,” Rowson said.

Judge won his first AL MVP in 2022 after setting a league record with 62 home runs. After a 2023 season cut short by a toe injury, he returned in 2024 with one of the greatest seasons in MLB history, hitting .322 with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs to earn his second MVP, ESPN reported.

Is New York the best city to play for?

With his latest AL MVP win, Judge said he has always focused on helping his teammates and the organization win.

“You try not to think about it during the season,” Judge told MLB Network. “I try to keep my head down through all 162, just do whatever I can in today’s game to help our team win. And you do what you can, give it your all, and then you wake up the next day and do it again.”

New York has always been held to a higher standard when it comes to sports, and for Judge, it’s both an honor and a responsibility to be the best player he can be in the city.

“It’s a lot of responsibility playing in New York, but that’s what I love,” Judge told MLB Network, per ESPN. “When I was a free agent, I came back to New York. I wanted to play in the city, play for these fans, play with these high expectations.”

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