NEW YORK — Aaron Judge made history Thursday by setting a new American League mark for intentional walks in a season, moving past a milestone held by Ted Williams for nearly 70 years. The Yankees captain earned his 36th intentional walk of 2025, breaking Williams’ AL record of 34 that dated back to 1957.
The moment came during the second inning of Thursday’s series finale against the White Sox. Chicago’s Davis Martin put Judge on first with a free pass, drawing boos from the Yankee Stadium crowd. Still, the walk cemented Judge’s name in the record books alongside one of the game’s all-time legends.
The achievement arrived as Judge continues to battle Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh in one of the tightest American League MVP races in recent memory.
Players pick Judge in unofficial poll
Beyond the numbers, a revealing detail may influence how voters lean. ESPN’s Jeff Passan shared on The Pat McAfee Show that a current MVP voter had run an informal survey with players across the league. Every player selected Judge.
“If I had a vote right now, I would go Aaron Judge and I would feel terrible about it,” Passan said, acknowledging how difficult the choice has become.
The unanimous backing from peers offers Judge an edge in the race. While official ballots come from baseball writers, the show of respect inside the game underscores his standing despite Raleigh’s historic surge.
Insider Ryan Garcia added, “When it comes to what typically wins the MVP, I believe Aaron Judge’s advantages have usually resulted in winning the MVP award. I think that’s a trend that should continue, with voters showing a preference for offense over defense. While Cal Raleigh might break Aaron Judge’s American League HR record (62), every other offensive metric favors the Yankees’ captain.”
Judge’s dominant season continues
Judge’s 2025 campaign has been another showcase of power and consistency. He became just the fourth player in MLB history with four seasons of 50 or more home runs, joining Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
He leads the AL with a .328 average and a 9.3 WAR according to Baseball Reference. His 51 homers and 133 runs scored remain the core of New York’s lineup.
Advanced numbers underline his dominance. Judge’s 202 wRC+ and 213 OPS+ have only been topped in this century by himself and Barry Bonds. Since integration, only five right-handed hitters have posted a wRC+ of 200 or better with at least 500 plate appearances. Judge owns three of those seasons.
The intentional walk record also placed him in Yankee history. He passed Mickey Mantle’s franchise mark of 23 intentional walks from 1957. With 104 career intentional passes, Judge ranks third all-time for the Yankees, trailing only Don Mattingly (136) and Mantle (126).
Even within the clubhouse, teammates believe the award case is strong. “If you really look at the numbers, I don’t think it’s close,” Giancarlo Stanton said.
Raleigh makes history of his own
On the other side of the race, Cal Raleigh has carved out a season never before seen from a catcher. He became the seventh player in MLB history — and the first catcher — to hit 60 home runs in a year when he reached the mark Wednesday night. The blast also helped the Mariners lock up their first AL West crown since 2001.
Raleigh set Seattle’s single-season record, passing Ken Griffey Jr. for most home runs by a Mariner. He also holds new marks for most homers by a switch hitter and by a catcher in a single season.
Sportsbooks currently favor Raleigh at -200 to win the award, while Judge sits at +160, reflecting the momentum from Raleigh’s unprecedented power display.
The numbers behind the debate
Judge’s advantage lies in overall production. His OPS is 175 points higher than Raleigh’s. He also leads in batting average, on-base percentage and WAR by Baseball Reference.
FanGraphs’ WAR calculation narrows the gap, with Judge leading by just 0.5 WAR. Analysts note this falls within the statistic’s margin of error. Still, Judge’s edge in most offensive metrics remains clear.
Raleigh’s case comes from power and defense. He carries a .248 average but leads the AL with 125 RBIs. Defensively, he adds value with 10.9 Framing Runs and a +7 Fielding Run Value at one of baseball’s hardest positions.
Voters have leaned toward offense in recent years. The last time the OPS leader in either league did not win MVP was 2021, when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lost to Shohei Ohtani.
Historical context matters
History suggests 60 home runs should weigh heavily. Only one player who hit 60 or more in a playoff season did not win MVP: Sammy Sosa in 1999, when both he and Mark McGwire hit 60 for non-contending teams.
Judge’s own 2022 MVP run provides context. That year, his 62 home runs made headlines, but his dominance across all categories sealed the award over Ohtani.
Judge’s 2022 season is remembered as the best by a right-handed hitter since integration, with an 11.1 WAR and 206 wRC+. That outcome showed how all-around hitting excellence can outweigh unique achievements when both seasons are historic.
The 2025 race is the first clean-era season with two such powerful campaigns happening at once, increasing its significance.
Fatigue factor looms
Judge has already claimed MVP honors in 2022 and 2024. That raises the question of voter fatigue. Some believe writers may prefer Raleigh’s fresh storyline over Judge’s repeated dominance.
Still, Judge’s consistency sets him apart. Few players in history have maintained such a level year after year. Names like Trout, Pujols, Cabrera and Mays never strung together offensive peaks quite like this.
Raleigh’s 2025, however, deserves mention among the best ever by a catcher. Since integration, only Johnny Bench in 1972 and Buster Posey in 2012 posted higher WAR totals from the position.
Final week decides everything
Both the Yankees and Mariners have six games left, leaving time for one final push. MLB.com’s latest expert poll has the race separated by only two points after 40 ballots, showing how close the outcome remains.
For Judge, continuing to carry the Yankees’ offense toward a division title could sway votes. Raleigh, meanwhile, has already ensured his season will stand as one of the greatest by any catcher in history.
The choice between Judge’s overall dominance and Raleigh’s historic power makes this one of the most gripping MVP races in years. One certainty: both men have already etched their names into baseball history in 2025.
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