Aaron Judge’s latest accomplishment just pushed his name even deeper into baseball’s pantheon. By winning his third MVP award, he becomes only the 13th player in Major League Baseball history to pull that off.
His dominance over the past several years has not only put him among all-time legends, but also sparked heated debates about where he fits in the sport’s hierarchy of hitters. Let’s take a closer look at why Judge’s achievement matters and how rare his peer group really is.
A Rarefied MVP Club
Judge’s third MVP puts him shoulder to shoulder with baseball icons who’ve defined entire eras—think Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, or more recently, Mike Trout. Every other three-time MVP winner is either in the Hall of Fame, a lock for induction, or kept out only because of PED controversies.
That’s rare air, and Judge has entered it without any off-field baggage muddying his legacy. It’s honestly hard not to be impressed.
The Challenge of Sustained Greatness
Winning a single MVP takes something special in a league packed with talent. Winning three? That means you’ve stayed at the top through shifting challenges, new competitors, and all the unpredictability baseball throws at you.
Judge’s run isn’t just about talent. It’s about durability, adaptability, and being the guy pitchers fear, year after year.
Three MVPs in Four Years
But it’s not just the total—it’s the pace. Judge joins only Shohei Ohtani and Barry Bonds as players who’ve claimed three MVPs in a four-year stretch.
That kind of sustained excellence? It’s almost unheard of in today’s MLB, where the competition just keeps getting tougher and strategies change constantly.
The MVP That Got Away
Some analysts still argue Judge should already have four MVPs. Back in 2017, his numbers stacked up against Jose Altuve and, in some categories, actually surpassed them. But voters handed the award to Altuve instead.
Judge’s stats that year rivaled what he put up in his actual MVP campaigns. That one stings a bit, doesn’t it?
The Numbers Behind the Greatness
In his MVP seasons—2022, 2024, and 2025—Judge put up monster numbers:
- 50+ home runs
- OPS above 1.100
- OPS+ of 200 or more
Those stats put him in the same conversation as Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Barry Bonds. These are the legends who set standards everyone else still chases.
Beating Elite Competition
Judge didn’t rack up these awards in a vacuum. His main rivals—Shohei Ohtani in 2022, Bobby Witt Jr. in 2024, and Cal Raleigh in 2025—each had spectacular seasons.
But even with their best efforts, Judge’s production stood out. He just kept outpacing everyone else.
A Historic 2025 Season
The 2025 season stands out. Not only did Judge hit 53 home runs, but he also won the batting title.
No one has pulled off that combo since Mickey Mantle in 1956. It’s rare because raw power and consistent hitting don’t usually go hand in hand.
Joins Another Exclusive List
Judge now has four seasons with 50 or more home runs, joining Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire. He’s also logged multiple seasons with a 200+ OPS+—again, right up there with Ruth, Bonds, and Williams.
Those are the names that dominate every debate about the best hitters ever.
Legacy and Future Outlook
After three decades covering the game, I’m convinced Aaron Judge’s peak marks one of the sport’s most remarkable runs. His mix of power, on-base skill, and poise in big moments has put him firmly among the greats.
If he keeps up even a fraction of this production for a few more years, there won’t be much left to argue about when it comes to his Hall of Fame case.
Why This Matters Beyond Baseball
Judge’s current run isn’t just about stats. It’s about an athlete who’s become an era-defining force, kind of like Michael Jordan for basketball or Wayne Gretzky for hockey.
These are the players who lift the game itself, becoming woven into the sport’s identity while they’re at the top.
When historians look back at the 2020s, they’ll see Aaron Judge as more than just another MVP. He’s the guy who set the standard—powerful, precise, totally dominant.
Here is the source article for this story: Contextualizing the dominance of Aaron Judge’s peak
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