LAS VEGAS — New York Yankees star Aaron Judge, who led MLB in batting average while hitting 53 home runs, beat the Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh in a close vote to win his third American League MVP Award — all but securing his eventual spot in Cooperstown.

Judge netted 17 first-place votes and 355 points to edge Raleigh, who garnered 13 first-place votes and 335 points, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced Thursday night. The Cleveland Guardians’ José Ramírez (224 points) finished third.

Judge’s across-the-board offensive dominance as right fielder/designated hitter in leading the Yankees to a tie for the AL’s best record won out over whispers of voter fatigue amid a historic season from Raleigh, whose 60 home runs were the most ever by a catcher or a switch hitter, and

See Full Page