Cal Raleigh not guaranteed MVP despite historic season

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh added another chapter to his historic season on Wednesday.

Raleigh launched a pair of home runs during the Mariners' 9-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies as Seattle clinched the AL West title, their first since 2001. He became the seventh player in MLB history to hit 60+ homers in a season as he shattered the record for most home runs in a season by a catcher.

The Mariners catcher has put together a career year for the playoff-bound Mariners. He has posted a .248/.361/.598 batting line in his 687 plate appearances entering Thursday, belting 60 homers and 23 doubles. Although Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is still regarded as the favorite for the AL MVP, Raleigh's performance has tightened that race.

60 home runs does not guarantee Cal Raleigh the MVP

There have been 10 seasons in MLB history where a player hit 60+ home runs, including Raleigh's. Out of those seasons, only four were considered MVP worthy. Excluding Babe Ruth, who was ineligible for the 1927 MVP award as he had previously won the award, both of Mark McGwire's 60+ home runs seasons and two of Sammy Sosa's 60+ homer seasons did not result in the MVP.

One of those losing seasons comes with a caveat - McGwire finished second to Sosa in 1998 for the NL MVP. Nonetheless, half of the MVP eligible seasons with 60 home runs failed to take home the award. 

Judge has put together another impressive season, posting a .328/.455/.681 batting line in 662 plate appearances, hitting 51 homers and 29 doubles. He leads the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and bWAR (9.3). He, like Raleigh, has been vital to his team's success. 

Both players are deserving of the MVP award. Unless there are co-MVPs, which happened in 1979 when Keith Hernandez and Willie Stargell shared the award, 60 home runs may not be enough to win the MVP once more.