Judge deserves AL MVP treatment beyond Michael Jordan narratives, columnist argues

An opinion column in the New York Post argues that Aaron Judge deserves better treatment in American League MVP discussions, insisting he is the real AL MVP and should not be overshadowed by a Michael Jordan-era narrative. The author contends that voters and pundits sometimes reward compelling stories over pure performance, a pattern the piece says has tainted past MVP outcomes.

Drawing a line to Michael Jordan's MVP history, the writer notes that Jordan claimed five regular-season MVPs but later became susceptible to what the piece calls “Jordan fatigue” among voters. After two consecutive MVP seasons, Charles Barkley won the 1993 award, and after Jordan's 1996 MVP upon returning from baseball, Karl Malone captured the next year's honors. The column argues that those decisions were influenced less by season-long dominance than by shifting narratives and the desire for fresh faces.

Supporters of Judge's case say his performance for the Yankees this season demanded serious consideration for AL MVP, arguing that the conversation should center on numbers, on-base percentage, power production, and defensive impact, rather than on whether his name fits a familiar historical storyline. The column stresses that Judge’s contributions extend beyond raw statistics, reflecting the broader impact a standout season can have on a franchise.

Those who hear the call for equity in MVP voting say the awards should rely on objective performance indicators and season-long impact, not narrative cycles. They contend Judge’s sustained excellence warrants recognition independent of any analogy to an all-time great, insisting that the AL MVP honor should follow the player’s actual production and value to his team.

At stake is a broader conversation about how the league’s most prestigious individual honor is awarded, and whether voters will resist the pull of familiar legends in favor of a fair appraisal of Judge's standout season. The piece invites readers to consider how narrative dynamics shape MVP voting and whether the sport’s awards process can better reflect verifiable performance rather than popular storytelling.