Tucked away in the northwest and playing baseball for the Seattle Mariners, Cal Raleigh has quietly rewritten the record book one home run at a time.
The switch hitting catcher not only has the most home runs in the Major Leagues, he has surpassed Mickey Mantle for the most homeruns by a switch hitter – a record that has stood since 1961 –, set a new record for most home runs in a season by a catcher, and now has surpassed former Mariner Ken Griffey Jr for the most home runs in a single season by a Seattle Mariner.
After hitting his 57th home run of the season Saturday night against the Houston Astros, Raleigh said, “it’s a weird thing to think about. I don’t really — I can’t really comprehend it or wrap my head around it really yet. So… very grateful for it and it just feels weird to be in the same sentence with him for sure.”
Raleigh tied Griffey at home at T-Mobile Park in Seattle late last week in the same game he surpassed Mickey Mantle for a two home run game.
On Saturday night Raleigh launched a ball into the bullpen in right center field for a solo home run off of Framber Valdez that made the score 3-0 Mariners. The Mariners went on to win the game 6-4. After raising his arm as he rounded the bases, Raleigh accepted the trident in the dugout. Raising the trident is how the Mariners celebrate home runs. Weighing nearly 12 pounds, the trident travels with the team in its own special case.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson remarked on Raleigh’s accomplishments saying, “we’ve seen him hit some pretty epic homers and to go the opposite way to that part of the ballpark right handed, that was really well hit. And just another milestone for him. Incredible season.”
Noting that he has had some contact with Griffey, Raleigh said, “he’s reached out a few times. He’s been to T-Mobile a couple of times as well, so he’s awesome. A super good guy, always fun to be around in the clubhouse … and I’m sure he’ll have something to say here afterwards.”
The Astros and Mariners are going head to head in a battle for the West Title in the American League – a matter that is foremost on Raleigh’s mind.
Speaking on the homers, he added, “I’m glad it’s over. “I’m very grateful and it’s an awesome thing, but I’m glad that we can just get back to baseball.”
With all the hoopla over Cal Raleigh’s hitting prowess, his defensive achievements are being overlooked. A catcher, he is involved in every play when the Mariners are on the field. He is responsible for calling every pitch; which also means he has to know what pitches every pitcher on the team throws and how they are thrown.
Manager Dan Wilson noted, “that’s tough to be so productive on both sides of the ball, behind the plate and he has done it. He has done it so well, so consistently. And he’s taken that humble approach to it and just everything about it has been impressive.”
UPDATE: The record now sits at 58 after a second inning home run against the Houston Astros that made the score 2-0.