Cal Raleigh’s historic season continued Wednesday night as the switch hitting catcher belted his 59th and 60th home runs in his team’s 9-2 win over Colorado.
Raleigh is only the 7th player in MLB history to hit the 6 home run plateau, joining Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Aaron Judge, Roger Maris and Babe Ruth. “It’s crazy. Sixty is — I don’t know what to say,” said Raleigh after the game. “I didn’t know if I was going to hit 60 in my life. Just tonight, what a way to do it.”
Both long balls came from the left side of the plate, as the league’s home run leader blasted a ball into the top deck at T-Mobile Park off Tanner Gordon in the 1st inning, and then sent another into the night sky off Angel Chivilli in the 8th.
“It was like a movie,” Julio Rodriguez told reporters. “I’m just so grateful that he’s on our team, that he’s able to do what he does. He’s so special, and I can’t say enough.”
By hitting two home runs, Raleigh also tied the MLB record for most multi-homer games in a single season with 11. A mark he currently shares with Judge (2022), Sosa (1998), and Hank Greenberg (1938). If he’s able to hit 2 or more home runs over the final 4 games of the season, he’ll either tie or break Judge’s AL home run record of 62 as well.
Indeed it’s been an historic season for Raleigh all around. Earlier this year he broke Mickey Mantle’s Major League record for most home runs by a switch hitter (54), as well as Salvador Perez’s record for most bombs by a catcher (48).
Not only does the 28 year old lead the league in home runs, but he also has an American League leading 125 RBIs, further solidifying his case as the AL MVP favourite. Moreover, his individual results have translated into on field team success for the Mariners as well, with the club locking up their first division title since 2001 by virtue of their victory Wednesday.
“To do it in this fashion, on this night, in front of these fans, Mom and Dad, obviously, was really cool,” Raleigh said. “It’s 20-plus years since we’ve done something like this, and it’s special. It’s special to this group, to this organization, to the city.”
The AL MVP race has been neck and neck between Judge and Raleigh for much of the season. However, in recent weeks, the veteran catcher has begun to put some distance between himself and his pinstripe clad rival at most sports books.
Raleigh is currently a -210 favourite to take home the award, with Judge trailing at +170 heading into Thursday’s slate of games. The North Carolina native has both the offensive numbers, and the fact that he plays the most physically demanding position in baseball going for him at this point. In reality, it would be a larger surprise for him to not win the award, than it would be to hear his name called when the winners are announced later this year.
All that being said, Raleigh and the Mariners alike still have plenty to play for over the next week. Currently sporting an 89-69 record, the team can still pass the Blue Jays/Yankees for top seed in the American League if they finish the 2025 MLB campaign strong.
Both AL East clubs currently feature identical 90-68 records, putting Seattle a game behind whomever emerges from the dogfight that is the American League East. Toronto is currently at risk of being swept by the Red Sox, and will then host the Tampa Bay Rays to close out their year. Meanwhile New York will look to make it 5 wins in a row against the White Sox tonight, before hosting the Orioles in the Bronx.
Seattle however has perhaps the most daunting remaining slate of games as they’ll look to wrap up their series vs. Colorado Thursday, before hosting the NL West leading Dodgers for a 3 game series. LA still has plenty to play for as well, with San Diego breathing down their neck.
Regardless of the outcome, it’s been a season to remember for Mariners fans, and one that they hope will result in a trip to the World Series later this fall.
Photo: Arc1294. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.