SEATTLE — The disappointment was evident in Cal Raleigh’s tone on Thursday night.
In an interview with MLB Network during the ceremony for the All-MLB Awards presented by MGM Rewards, and making his first public comments shortly after learning that he was the runner-up for the American League MVP Award, it was clear that the Mariners’ catcher was dispirited.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen, but obviously very well deserving,” Raleigh said of Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who took home the honor in what was by far the closest vote among this year’s major awards selected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Raleigh had to quickly turn the page to the ceremony in front of him in Las Vegas, where he was selected to the All-MLB First Team — one of four Mariners honored. Always cordial and accommodating with media requests, and in a celebratory environment that became paradoxical, Raleigh still said all the right things.
Consolation probably won’t come in the immediate.
Yet, beyond the debate between two deserving candidates that raged all summer and continued in the aftermath of Judge’s win, there was recognition of what Raleigh achieved this season. It was a seven-month performance that the sport, and especially the Pacific Northwest region, will remember — with or without trophies to attest to it.
Perhaps no one on Thursday attested to Raleigh’s growth into one of the game’s most promising players better than Judge, who shared a behind-the-scenes story of when he first truly connected with Raleigh, at this year’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.
“I could sit here and talk all night about the player that he is,” Judge said. “But I think, really, the type of leader and person here is really what stuck out to me at the All-Star Game.
“We talked for a brief moment, and one of the things said to me is like, ‘Hey, at some point over this whole kind of week, I want to connect with you and talk about some leadership stuff — just how I can be a better leader, to help lead my team.’ And for me, that really stood out.
“His main focus wasn’t, ‘I made it to an All-Star Game. I’m doing this and that. I won the Home Run Derby. How cool is this?’ He was focused on, ‘How can I make my team better? How can I make the guys around me better?’ Like, ‘What tips can you give me?’
“Hearing him say that, and all this craziness that he’s going through, man, that really, really stuck out to me, and he really showed me what this guy is all about. He’s all about winning and helping his guys. That’s the reason why he had the success this year and why he will continue to have success in this league.”
Judge might not have the most outgoing personality of the sport’s biggest stars, but he is incredibly respected by his peers for how he carries himself as much as his on-field production. He was named the 16th captain in Yankees history after signing a nine-year, $360 million contract in the 2022-23 offseason to return to New York in free agency, a label held by the likes of Derek Jeter, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth.
Judge is one of just 13 players to win at least three MVP Awards, is a seven-time All-Star and was the 2023 Clemente Award winner. He will turn 34 during the 2026 season, which will be his 11th in The Show, all with the Yankees. Like Raleigh in Seattle, Judge is in New York for the long haul and can speak to leadership as well as anyone.
Which added more credence to his conversation with Raleigh in Atlanta.
“I really can’t give him too much advice, man,” Judge said. “He already does it on both sides of the ball — offensively and defensively, behind there managing that [pitching] staff. So I think we’re just going to continue to see such a superstar continue to rise. He’s surrounded by a lot of great players out there in Seattle, but Cal is different. He’s a special individual, a special player.”
