New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has had the season of a lifetime but how great is it really.

Aaron Judge has had an MVP caliber season with a slash line of .311/.425/.686 (batting average, on base percentage and slugging percentage). Judge also led the league in runs, home runs, runs batted in and War (wins above replacement). The most important out of those is home runs. Judge hit 62 which passed Roger Maris with the most home runs in a season in the American League and only the 9th season in which a player has had 60 plus home runs.

So if there have been 9 other seasons why does this one matter so much? Judge’s was to break the American League record which although is not the MLB record is still an amazing accomplishment. Secondly, Judge’s came when the hitting was down. The league average was the lowest it has ever been at .232 and only 4.02 runs per game which is the lowest since 1981. This shows how dominant pitching has been this year and many players have struggled but Judge still had such a remarkable year. Lastly is the other players who have hit the 60 home run accomplishment. The 5 other players were Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Roger Maris and Babe Ruth. Sosa, McGwire and Bonds all hit the home runs during the peak of the “Steroid Era” and all were caught using performance enhancing drugs. The MLB regularly tests all the players for using PEDs so Judge did it clean. Maris and Babe hit less than Judge and did it back in 1927 (Babe) and 1961 (Roger) where offense was at its peak during the “Golden Era.”

Judge was also in the Triple Crown race. The Triple Crown is when a player leads the league in batting average, home runs and runs batted in. The last 2 times the triple crown has been done is in 2012 by future hall of famer Miguel Cabrera and in 1967 by hall of famer Carl Yaztrzemski. This shows how rare the feat is and even being in the conversation for completing it is a great accomplishment. Judge only missed out on batting average hitting for .311 average which Twins all star Luis Arraez batted .316.

Love him or hate Judge’s season was extremely good and deserving of the MVP and a huge contract.