Cal vs. Judge for MVP

[D-train]

Catchers who have won MVP Awards

Bob O'Farrell 1926 - OPS+ 112, WAR 3.9
Michey Cochrane 1928 - OPS+ 122, WAR 3.4
Michey Cochrane 1934 - OPS+ 117 , WAR 4.5
Gabby Hartnett 1935 - OPS+ 151, WAR 4.9
Ernie Lombardi 1938 - OPS+ 152 , WAR 4.8
Roy Campanella 1951 - OPS+ 159 , WAR 6.9
Yogi Berra 1951 - OPS+ 130 , WAR 5.3
Roy Campanella 1953 - OPS+ 154, WAR 6.8
Yogi Berra 1954 - OPS+ 137 , WAR 5.3
Roy Campanella 1955 - OPS+ 152 , WAR 5.2
Yogi Berra 1955 - OPS+ 120 , WAR 4.5
Elston Howard 1963 - OPS+ 141 , WAR 5.2
Johnny Bench 1970 - OPS+ 141, WAR 7.4
Johnny Bench 1972 - OPS+ 166 , WAR 8.6
Thurman Munson 1976 - OPS+ 126 , WAR 5.3
Pudge Rodriguez 1999 - OPS+ 125 , WAR 6.4
Joe Mauer 2009 - OPS+ 171 , WAR 7.8
Buster Posey 2012 - OPS+ 171, WAR 7.6

Cal Raleigh in 2025 OPS+ 169, WAR 6.9

8.8 fWAR

[Captain 97]

Should a catcher win the MVP over an outfielder with better numbers "Just because they are a catcher" ?

I give you the 1955 Season......

[Captain 97]

1963 and 1976 are also particularly useful comparisons for arguing with arrogant Yankees fans.

[DavidGee24]

Catchers who have won MVP Awards

Bob O'Farrell 1926 - OPS+ 112, WAR 3.9
Michey Cochrane 1928 - OPS+ 122, WAR 3.4
Michey Cochrane 1934 - OPS+ 117 , WAR 4.5
Gabby Hartnett 1935 - OPS+ 151, WAR 4.9
Ernie Lombardi 1938 - OPS+ 152 , WAR 4.8
Roy Campanella 1951 - OPS+ 159 , WAR 6.9
Yogi Berra 1951 - OPS+ 130 , WAR 5.3
Roy Campanella 1953 - OPS+ 154, WAR 6.8
Yogi Berra 1954 - OPS+ 137 , WAR 5.3
Roy Campanella 1955 - OPS+ 152 , WAR 5.2
Yogi Berra 1955 - OPS+ 120 , WAR 4.5
Elston Howard 1963 - OPS+ 141 , WAR 5.2
Johnny Bench 1970 - OPS+ 141, WAR 7.4
Johnny Bench 1972 - OPS+ 166 , WAR 8.6
Thurman Munson 1976 - OPS+ 126 , WAR 5.3
Pudge Rodriguez 1999 - OPS+ 125 , WAR 6.4
Joe Mauer 2009 - OPS+ 171 , WAR 7.8
Buster Posey 2012 - OPS+ 171, WAR 7.6

Cal Raleigh in 2025 OPS+ 169, WAR 6.9

8.8 fWAR

And if Cal was actually catching 140-145 games instead of DHing so that noted hitting machine Mitch Garver can play, he'd be over 8.0 bWAR easily.

[DavidGee24]

1963 and 1976 are also particularly useful comparisons for arguing with arrogant Yankees fans.

I wonder how much leeway we can give catchers. 2 WAR? 3 WAR?

I can see (albeit barely) taking Munson over Brett in 1976 and Howard over Allison in 1963. Even in not one of his "WOW" years in 1955 though, Mantle was the best player in the league and dwarfed Berra.

Mantle actually came in 5th in the MVP voting in 1955, same thing happened in 1958 even though he was also the best player in the league that year. I thought the writers liked The Mick.

[Donn Beach]

I might have expected Cal to fade, that guy is unbelievable

In September, Raleigh is slashing .288/.409/.658 with eight home runs and 14 RBIs. Judge’s line (.344/.506/.656, six homers, eight RBIs) is nothing to dismiss, but WAR tips the scales: Raleigh 1.4, Judge 1.3.

[D-train]

Should a catcher win the MVP over an outfielder with better numbers "Just because they are a catcher" ?

I give you the 1955 Season......

A cartoon character was named after one and the other was named after the most famous cartoon character of all time.

[Donn Beach]

Should a catcher win the MVP over an outfielder with better numbers "Just because they are a catcher" ?

I give you the 1955 Season......

A cartoon character was named after one and the other was named after the most famous cartoon character of all time.

Mickey was named after Mickey Cochrane which is pretty coincidental actually

[Captain 97]

Should a catcher win the MVP over an outfielder with better numbers "Just because they are a catcher" ?

I give you the 1955 Season......

A cartoon character was named after one and the other was named after the most famous cartoon character of all time.

Mickey was named after Mickey Cochrane which is pretty coincidental actually

Mickey Mouse was originally called Mortimer Mouse until Disney's wife suggested changing it to Mickey in 1928. 1928 also happens to be the year Mickey Cochrane won his first MVP. I wonder if the Mickey Mouse name was somewhat influenced by Cochrane? Seems feasible.

[Donn Beach]

Ty Cobb was finishing out his career with the A’s when Cochrane came into his hotel room after a loss and stomped his hat in an outburst of rage. Cobb, a notoriously sore loser, was impressed. “It was one of the greatest examples of what it means to be a “hard loser” that I’ve ever seen,” Cobb said.