Raleigh Sets Record: 56 HR, Surpasses Mantle and Ties Griffey Jr.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Cal Raleigh, star player for the Seattle Mariners, made history on Tuesday night by breaking the home run record for a switch hitter set by Mickey Mantle. In addition, he tied the Mariners’ record set by Ken Griffey Jr.Raleigh hit his 55th and 56th home runs of the season in consecutive at-bats against the Royals.On a hot and humid night in Kansas City, Raleigh started his performance with a double. In his next at-bat, in the third inning, and batting from the left side against Michael Wacha, Raleigh sent a curveball that stayed high 419 feet over the right field fence, adding his 55th home run of the season.This home run broke the record for switch-hitters set by the Yankees star in 1961, a mark that Raleigh had tied against the Angels on Sunday.

Cal Raleigh breaks Mickey Mantle’s record for homers by a switch-hitter and ties the Mariners record when he hit his 55th and 56th of the season in consecutive at-bats against the Royals on Tuesday night.

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In the fourth inning, the All-Star catcher, batting from the right side against left-handed pitcher Daniel Lynch IV, hit the first pitch he saw 425 feet to center field, achieving his 56th home run.Griffey set the Mariners record with 56 home runs in the 1997 season and tied it the following year.After both home runs, Raleigh received a standing ovation from a small group of Mariners fans present at Kauffman Stadium. Even many Royals fans applauded the home runs.This was Raleigh’s 20th multi-home run game of his career and the tenth this season.In Major League Baseball, there have only been nine seasons with 60 home runs or more. Aaron Judge achieved the last one, with 62 for the Yankees in 2022.