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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Tom Verducci

American League MVP Race Is on a Historic Track

Ted Williams lost the MVP to Joe DiMaggio in 1941 despite hitting .406 and leading the league in each slash category. Mickey Mantle crushed Roger Maris in WAR and OPS in 1961 but Maris rode his 61 homers to a narrow win in the MVP voting. Mike Trout led the league in WAR in 2012 but lost the MVP to Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera.

A few MVP debates outlive the voting itself, especially among two superlative candidates. But the one unfolding now in the American League between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani is unlike anything seen before. It is on track to become one of the greatest MVP debates of all time.

Will Judge reach the 60-homer mark this season?

Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports

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