Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who belted an American League record 62 home runs, on Thursday was named the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) ahead of Angels star Shohei Ohtani.
Judge broke Roger Maris’ iconic single-season American League home run record, which was the MLB record when Maris achieved it in 1961.
Judge led the majors not only in homers, but also runs-batted-in (131), total bases (391) and runs scored (133).
Photo: Tim Heitman-USA Today
In what was expected to be a tight race for the honor with last year’s MVP Ohtani, Judge — who powered the Yankees to the American League East title — received 28 first-place votes and Ohtani two in balloting of 30 members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
St Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt won the National League MVP, the first Cardinal to scoop the award since Albert Pujols in 2009.
Goldschmidt, 34, enjoyed a career year, leading the National League with a career-best slugging percentage of .578 as he helped St Louis claim the top spot in the Central Division.
He had a .317 batting average with 35 home runs and 115 runs-batted-in, and received 22 first-place votes to beat out teammate Nolan Arenado, who earned a 10th straight Gold Glove award at third base and belted 30 home runs.
However, it was Judge’s astonishing display of power that mesmerized the MLB this year.
Ohtani said during the MLB TV broadcast announcing the award that he tuned in to watch Judge’s exploits.
“I was definitely checking out what Judge was doing every day, just as a baseball fan,” the Japanese star said.
Judge became the first Yankees outfielder to win the award since Mickey Mantle in 1962.
Judge narrowly missed out on a Triple Crown, finishing five points shy of Minnesota Twins infielder Luis Arraez for the American League batting title, but he became just the fourth major league player to hit more than 62 home runs in a single season, a list led by Barry Bonds’ record 73 in 2001.
Many still consider Bonds’ achievement tainted by allegations of steroid use, and Maris’ son Roger Maris Jr said he believed Judge’s mark should be viewed as the “legitimate” record.
Judge said during the season that in his book 73 is the record, but there was no doubt his season was one for the ages.
As he approached Maris’ mark, Judge’s at-bats became must-see events. He tied the mark on Sept. 28 against Blue Jays relief pitcher Tim Mayza in Toronto.
He did not get No. 62 until Oct, 4 in the Yankees’ penultimate game of the regular season against the Texas Rangers.
Judge’s exploits earned him the nod over Ohtani, who hit 34 home runs and as a pitcher struck out 219 batters in another outstanding season for an Angels team that nevertheless missed the playoffs for an eighth straight season.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their