The King of Seattle: Cal Raleigh Joins Ken Griffey Jr. in 50-Homer Club

Cal Raleigh cannot be stopped. One day after the Seattle Mariners' backstop cemented his place in history with a record-setting 49th home run by a primary catcher, he outdid himself by launching his 50th of the season. With one mighty swing, he etched his name alongside a legend of the Pacific Northwest, joining Ken Griffey Jr. as the only players in Mariners' franchise history to hit 50 home runs in a single season.

Raleigh's historic blast came in the first inning of Seattle's 9-6 victory over the San Diego Padres. In an epic eight-pitch battle with lefty JP Sears, Raleigh worked a full count before turning on a low-and-in, 92.9 mph fastball. He sent a majestic 419-foot shot soaring into the second deck at T-Mobile Park, a sight that has become all too familiar to baseball fans this season.

This milestone is not just a franchise record; it places Raleigh in elite company throughout MLB history. He is only the second switch-hitter ever to reach the 50-homer mark, joining the legendary Mickey Mantle, who accomplished the feat in 1956 and 1961. Raleigh is now just four home runs shy of tying Mantle's record for a switch-hitter in a single season (54 in 1961).

Raleigh's historic season has already seen him surpass Javy Lopez's record of 42 home runs by a catcher in a single season while playing the position. With 40 home runs hit as a catcher and another 10 as a designated hitter, Raleigh's power has been a constant force in the Mariners' lineup. He is the first player to hit at least 20 home runs from both sides of the plate in a single campaign, a testament to his elite skill and adaptability.

As the first player to reach the 50-homer milestone in the 2025 season, Raleigh now holds a five-homer lead over the next closest sluggers, Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber. With a month left in the regular season, Raleigh is on pace to hit 61 home runs, which would tie him with Roger Maris for the American League record and place him in a rarefied group of players who have cleared the 60-homer threshold. Only nine times in MLB history, by six players, has a season produced 60 or more home runs.

Raleigh's remarkable season isn't just a statistical anomaly; it's a testament to his talent and hard work. He's not just chasing records—he's building a legacy that will be talked about for generations to come.