Cal Raleigh Makes History in the Major Leagues
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has rewritten the record books in Major League Baseball, solidifying his name among baseball legends.
Raleigh became the switch-hitter with the most home runs in a single season, surpassing the mark set by the iconic Mickey Mantle.
In addition, he tied an emblematic record within the Mariners franchise.
On Thursday, at Kauffman Stadium, against the Kansas City Royals, Raleigh hit his 55th and 56th home runs of the season. With these impressive hits, he surpassed Mantle’s record (54 in 1961) and reached the figure of Ken Griffey Jr., who achieved 56 in 1997 and 1998, the most in Mariners history.
THE YEAR OF CAL RALEIGH NEVER STOPS
Both home runs came in consecutive innings and from both sides of the plate. The first, a 419-foot hit to right field, and the second, a 425-foot laser to center.
This outstanding performance reinforces Raleigh’s credentials as a serious contender for the American League Most Valuable Player.
At 28 years old, Raleigh leads the American League in home runs (56) and RBIs (118). In addition, he has achieved 10 multi-home run games so far this season.
It also holds a historical record: 45 of his home runs have been while playing as a catcher, the most in a season for that position in all of MLB.
Now, the Mariners’ slugger needs six more home runs in the remaining 11 games of the season to equal Aaron Judge’s record (62 in 2022), an absolute American League record in a season.
Raleigh finished the game 3-3 with three RBIs and 10 total bases in just five innings, as the Mariners sought their tenth consecutive victory, something that has only happened five times in the history of the franchise.
