Don’t Take This All Time Judge Run For Granted

Last Thursday, Aaron Judge moved himself into rarefied air in Yankee and baseball history. 

Judge edged out Mariners slugging catcher Cal Raleigh and won his 3rd American League Most Valuable Player Award. 

This past week, Judge’s career has very much come into perspective for me. 

Judge has 3 MVP’s. The only other Yankees to find themselves in that group? Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. 

Judge has officially entered the DiMaggio and Mantle conversation from a statistical standpoint.

Just think about that for a minute. Aaron Judge has put together a career where he can be mentioned in the same sentence as Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. 

It blows my mind thinking about it.  

If you look at Judge’s numbers from 2022 on, he’s on one of the most dominant runs that a hitter has ever been on. 

Judge has won 3 MVP Awards in the past 4 seasons, set the American League record for homers and has posted 3 seasons with an OPS (On Base Plus Slugging) over 1.100. 

We are in an era in which Judge has become one of the most dominant offensive players ever. 

In fact, the only offensive run that to me has been more dominant is peak Barry Bonds at the turn of the century. 

Aaron Judge could retire tomorrow and in my opinion he easily would be a first ballot Hall Of Famer. 

Thankfully, Yankees fans don’t have to worry about that reality for a while.

There is a reality that the Yankees and Judge must conquer. 

We all know there is one thing remaining from Aaron Judge and Yankee immortality. 

Judge needs to finish his career at some point with a World Series ring. 

He knows it, the Yankee fans know it. 

It’s a narrative that will play out this offseason and throughout the next few years. 

It’s the one thing that remains for Aaron Judge, but in the here and now – don’t take for granted what you’re watching. It’s all time greatness from an individual player. 

3 MVP Awards in 4 years. Enough said. 

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