It is the photo that launched a thousand memes. You know the one. Jose Altuve, the Houston Astros’ diminutive second baseman, standing next to Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees’ skyscraper of an outfielder. One is 5-foot-6. The other is 6-foot-7. It looks like a Photoshop prank, but it’s real life.
Beyond the height difference, these two have spent the last decade as the polar opposite faces of the American League. They’ve traded MVP trophies, home run records, and postseason barbs. Honestly, it’s the most fascinating case study in how to dominate a sport using completely different toolkits.
The 2017 MVP Debate That Refuses to Die
If you want to start a fight in a sports bar between Houston and New York, just whisper "2017 AL MVP."
That year, Jose Altuve and Aaron Judge finished 1-2 in the voting. Altuve won it in a landslide, taking 27 of 30 first-place votes. On paper, it was the "Short King" vs. "The Judge." Altuve hit .346 and led the league in hits. Judge, then a rookie, mashed 52 home runs and walked more than anyone else.
Then came the trash cans.
When the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal broke in late 2019, the 2017 MVP race was retroactively lit on fire. Judge fans felt robbed. They pointed to Judge’s superior 8.1 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) compared to Altuve’s 7.7 (per Baseball-Reference). But there’s a nuance here that most people ignore. While the Astros cheated, Altuve’s individual road splits in 2017 were actually better than his home splits. He hit .381 on the road that year.
Can you steal signs on the road with a trash can? Nope.
Judge, meanwhile, struggled in the second half of that season, hitting just .185 in August. Voters at the time valued Altuve’s consistency and high batting average over Judge’s "three true outcomes" (home runs, walks, and strikeouts). It wasn't a robbery at the time; it was a clash of philosophies.
Two Different Paths to 2026 Greatness
Fast forward to today. It’s January 2026, and both men are entering the twilight of their careers as certified legends.
Aaron Judge has essentially become the modern Babe Ruth. After his historic 62-homer run in 2022, he didn't just stop. He won back-to-back MVPs in 2024 and 2025. He’s currently signed through 2031 on a massive $360 million contract. He is the Captain. The Yankees go as he goes.
Altuve's path has been more about quiet, relentless accumulation. He signed a five-year extension in 2024 worth $125 million, ensuring he retires as an Astro. As of the start of this 2026 season, he’s sitting on 2,388 career hits. He’s 35 years old. The 3,000-hit club—once thought to be dead in the "power-over-everything" era—is suddenly looking very reachable for him.
By the Numbers: How They Stack Up (Through 2025)
- Aaron Judge: 368 Career HRs | .294 Career AVG | 3x AL MVP
- Jose Altuve: 255 Career HRs | .303 Career AVG | 1x AL MVP | 2x World Series Champ
Judge has the raw power that breaks Statcast. We’re talking 121 mph exit velocities. Altuve has the "hand-eye" that defies logic. He hits pitches that are practically bouncing off the dirt.
👉 See also: USA World Cup Matches: Why We Always Seem to Struggle (and Thrive) on the Big Stage
The Height Gap: More Than Just a Meme
People focus on the foot-long height difference because it's funny. But it actually dictates how they play.
Because Judge is 6-foot-7, his strike zone is the size of a garage door. Pitchers have so many places to hide the ball. He has to be incredibly disciplined—which he is, leading the league in walks almost every year he’s healthy.
Altuve has the opposite "problem." His strike zone is tiny. Pitchers have to throw to a "postage stamp." This allows him to be aggressive. He knows that if a ball is in his zone, he can probably reach it.
✨ Don't miss: Dallas Game Live Radio: How to Actually Listen Without the Lag
Why Their Rivalry Still Matters
Baseball is often called a game of inches. In the case of Jose Altuve and Aaron Judge, it’s a game of 13 inches.
They represent the two ways to win. You can be the physical marvel who looks like he was built in a lab to play right field in the Bronx. Or you can be the guy who was told he was too small to even try out for a pro team in Venezuela, only to become the greatest second baseman of his generation.
Neither is "better" in a vacuum. They are just different answers to the same question: How do you beat a 99-mph fastball?
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Stop using 2017 to dismiss Altuve's talent. Whether you hate the Astros or not, Altuve's road stats and career hit total prove he’s a Hall of Famer with or without a trash can.
- Watch Judge's health, not just his homers. For a man his size, the lower body takes a beating. His longevity into his late 30s will depend on his transition to DH (Designated Hitter).
- Track the 3,000-hit chase. Altuve needs roughly 150 hits per year for the next four seasons. In today's MLB, that is a monumental task.
- Value the contrast. Don't wish Judge was smaller or Altuve was taller. The fact that they can coexist on the same field and both be the "best player in the world" at different times is what makes baseball unique.
The 2026 season will likely see Judge continue to chase home run milestones while Altuve grinds toward the magic 3,000-hit mark. Regardless of which team you root for, we’re watching two of the greatest to ever do it.