Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh smashed two home runs at Kansas City on Tuesday to break Mickey Mantle's Major League Baseball record for the most homers by a switch-hitter in a season. The 28-year-old American smacked his 55th homer of the campaign, a 419-yard solo blast down the right-field line in the third inning, to break the former New York Yankees star's mark from 1961. But the curveball from Kansas City pitcher Michael Wacha wasn't the last ball Raleigh would send over an outfield fence.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-bjk-cup-jasmine-paolini-survives-scare-as-italy-battle-into-semi-finals-1758042682799">BJK Cup: Jasmine Paolini survives scare as Italy battle into semi-finals</a>Raleigh bashed his 56th homer of the season in the fourth inning, a two-run round-tripper to centerfield to give the Mariners a 9-1 lead on their way to a 12-5 victory, the club's 10th consecutive triumph to seize the American League West division lead at 83-68, one game atop Houston.That homer also lifted Raleigh level with Ken Griffey Jr. for the most homers in a season in Mariners history, which Griffey achieved in 1997 and 1998."I feel like my name shouldn't be in the same sentence with those guys, Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr." Raleigh said. "I don't really have words for it. I don't know what to say. For now, just keep it going."Raleigh has smacked 21 homers as a right-handed batter and 35 as a left-handed hitter so far this year.Raleigh, who had already broken the record for most homers in an MLB season by a catcher, needs six homers in Seattle's last 11 games to match Yankees slugger Aaron Judge's 62 homers in 2022 for the most in a season in American League history."It has been great all year," said Raleigh. "We're playing good ball now, trying to keep our heads down until the final bell rings."The Mariners have reached the playoffs only once since 2001, that coming when they lost to Houston in the second round in 2022, and have never played in the World Series.

Raleigh bashed his 56th homer of the season in the fourth inning, a two-run round-tripper to centerfield to give the Mariners a 9-1 lead on their way to a 12-5 victory. That homer also lifted Raleigh level with Ken Griffey Jr. for the most homers in a season in Mariners history.

Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh smashed two home runs at Kansas City on Tuesday to break Mickey Mantle's Major League Baseball record for the most homers by a switch-hitter in a season. The 28-year-old American smacked his 55th homer of the campaign, a 419-yard solo blast down the right-field line in the third inning, to break the former New York Yankees star's mark from 1961. But the curveball from Kansas City pitcher Michael Wacha wasn't the last ball Raleigh would send over an outfield fence. Also Read - BJK Cup: Jasmine Paolini survives scare as Italy battle into semi-finals Raleigh bashed his 56th homer of the season in the fourth inning, a two-run round-tripper to centerfield to give the Mariners a 9-1 lead on their way to a 12-5 victory, the club's 10th consecutive triumph to seize the American League West division lead at 83-68, one game atop Houston. That homer also lifted Raleigh level with Ken Griffey Jr. for the most homers in a season in Mariners history, which Griffey achieved in 1997 and 1998. "I feel like my name shouldn't be in the same sentence with those guys, Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr." Raleigh said. "I don't really have words for it. I don't know what to say. For now, just keep it going." Raleigh has smacked 21 homers as a right-handed batter and 35 as a left-handed hitter so far this year. Raleigh, who had already broken the record for most homers in an MLB season by a catcher, needs six homers in Seattle's last 11 games to match Yankees slugger Aaron Judge's 62 homers in 2022 for the most in a season in American League history. "It has been great all year," said Raleigh. "We're playing good ball now, trying to keep our heads down until the final bell rings." The Mariners have reached the playoffs only once since 2001, that coming when they lost to Houston in the second round in 2022, and have never played in the World Series.

Raleigh bashed his 56th homer of the season in the fourth inning, a two-run round-tripper to centerfield to give the Mariners a 9-1 lead on their way to a 12-5 victory. That homer also lifted Raleigh level with Ken Griffey Jr. for the most homers in a season in Mariners history.

Cal Raleigh makes history - Seattle Mariners C breaks MLB record for switch-hit homers in a season

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is having a home run of a season as he reached the 50 home run-mark during 9-6 win over San Diego Padres on Monday (Aug 25). With his latest HR, Raleigh joined legendary Micky Mantle as only switch-hitter in the history of MLB to hit 50 homers in a season. Mantle had done it back in 1961 and finished with 54 HRs with Raleigh very much in sight of that all-time record as well. The Mariners C is also only the second player from the franchise to reach the 50 HR milestone and is six short of Ken Griffey Jr's (1997 and 1998) franchise record.<h2>Cal Raleigh Home Run Record</h2>Raleigh has hit three home runs in last two games and with number 48 and 49, he went past Salvador Perez's 48 HR record in a season as a designated catcher in at least half of the game played. With his HR against the Padres, he's the only catcher in MLB history to reach the 50-homer landmark.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/syko-stu-update-pro-wrestler-stable-and-awake-after-assault-by-raja-jackson-mma-fighter-and-son-of-ex-ufc-champion-1756122205959">Syko Stu update: Pro wrestler 'stable and awake' after Raja Jackson assault</a>As a switch hitter, someone who plays both right and left of the plate, he's the first player in MLB to hit at least 20 homers each side. 10 of his 50 HRs came in a designated hitter in the ongoing season. Have a look at Raleigh's iconic 50th HR of the season:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Fifty, nifty, Big Dumper blasts 💥 <a href="https://t.co/ZMmtVlplj8">pic.twitter.com/ZMmtVlplj8</a>&mdash; Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mariners/status/1960159081911689355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Cal Raleigh Home Runs in 2025</h2>The M's catcher is the first one of breach 50-HR mark in the ongoing 2025 MLB season and leads the chart by five homers from second-placed Shohei Ohtani. With the pace he's hitting those homers, Raleigh is projected to end up with 61 HRs in the season, one short of Aaron Judge's record of 62 for most HRs in American League set back in 2022. If Raleigh reaches the 60-HR mark, he'll be only the second player behind Judge to do so since 2001.

Cal Raleigh Home Run Record: Seattle Mariners player is the first catcher to his 50 home runs in a MLB season and only second switch-hitter after legendary Micky Mantle in 1961.

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is having a home run of a season as he reached the 50 home run-mark during 9-6 win over San Diego Padres on Monday (Aug 25). With his latest HR, Raleigh joined legendary Micky Mantle as only switch-hitter in the history of MLB to hit 50 homers in a season. Mantle had done it back in 1961 and finished with 54 HRs with Raleigh very much in sight of that all-time record as well. The Mariners C is also only the second player from the franchise to reach the 50 HR milestone and is six short of Ken Griffey Jr's (1997 and 1998) franchise record. Cal Raleigh Home Run Record Raleigh has hit three home runs in last two games and with number 48 and 49, he went past Salvador Perez's 48 HR record in a season as a designated catcher in at least half of the game played. With his HR against the Padres, he's the only catcher in MLB history to reach the 50-homer landmark. Also Read: Syko Stu update: Pro wrestler 'stable and awake' after Raja Jackson assault As a switch hitter, someone who plays both right and left of the plate, he's the first player in MLB to hit at least 20 homers each side. 10 of his 50 HRs came in a designated hitter in the ongoing season. Have a look at Raleigh's iconic 50th HR of the season:

Cal Raleigh Home Run Record: Seattle Mariners player is the first catcher to his 50 home runs in a MLB season and only second switch-hitter after legendary Micky Mantle in 1961.

Cal Raleigh Home Run Record: M's player first catcher to hit 50 HRs in a season

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh has become the first catcher to win All-Star Home Run Derby after staving off Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero in the final. Raleigh had 38 HRs while entering the derby - the most ever in the history and going past Luis Gonzalez (2001), Ken Griffey Jr's (1998) record of 35 home runs. Raleigh almost missed the final round but his 470.61 feet HR in the Round 1 was just 0.08 feet longer than Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker when both were tied with 17 HRs.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-was-ex-nfl-qb-teddy-bridgewater-suspended-as-miami-northwestern-coach-1752575366099">Ex-NFL QB Teddy Bridgewater announces suspension from high school coach job</a>"Usually, the guy that's leading the league in homers doesn't win the whole thing," Raleigh said after the win. "That's as surprising to me as anybody else. An inch off and I'm not even in the final four, which is amazing. So, I guess I got lucky there: one extra biscuit," he added.He was pitched to by his dad Todd Raleigh while Cal's younger brother Todd Raleigh Jr. took the catcher's position. "Anybody that's ever played baseball as a kid dreams of stuff like this," Raleigh Sr. said. "I dreamed of it. He dreamed of it. When you're a parent, you look at it differently because you want your kids to be happy." Watch it below:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Big Dumper makes a big splash 💥 <a href="https://t.co/NPerDLBqju">pic.twitter.com/NPerDLBqju</a>&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1944948073492570185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In the final round, Raleigh hit 18 home runs to Rooker's 15 but the latter was fun about it, almost and said: "They told me before I went up there that I could take two pitches, but I didn't know when they told me that there were only 40 balls already in the crate. So, I took two pitches that didn't count, but when we went to do the round, there was only 38 remaining. So, we got down to having two pitches with five seconds left and they're out of baseballs."

Mariners' Cal Raleigh is the first catcher to win Home Run derby after beat Athletics' Brent Rooker 18-15 in the final round. Raleigh also entered the derby with most HRs in history - 38.

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh has become the first catcher to win All-Star Home Run Derby after staving off Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero in the final. Raleigh had 38 HRs while entering the derby - the most ever in the history and going past Luis Gonzalez (2001), Ken Griffey Jr's (1998) record of 35 home runs. Raleigh almost missed the final round but his 470.61 feet HR in the Round 1 was just 0.08 feet longer than Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker when both were tied with 17 HRs. Also Read - Ex-NFL QB Teddy Bridgewater announces suspension from high school coach job "Usually, the guy that's leading the league in homers doesn't win the whole thing," Raleigh said after the win. "That's as surprising to me as anybody else. An inch off and I'm not even in the final four, which is amazing. So, I guess I got lucky there: one extra biscuit," he added. He was pitched to by his dad Todd Raleigh while Cal's younger brother Todd Raleigh Jr. took the catcher's position. "Anybody that's ever played baseball as a kid dreams of stuff like this," Raleigh Sr. said. "I dreamed of it. He dreamed of it. When you're a parent, you look at it differently because you want your kids to be happy." Watch it below:

Mariners' Cal Raleigh is the first catcher to win Home Run derby after beat Athletics' Brent Rooker 18-15 in the final round. Raleigh also entered the derby with most HRs in history - 38.

Home Run Derby: Mariners' Cal Raleigh first catcher to win after surviving Round 1 by 0.08 feet

Cal Raleigh has grabbed headlines from the baseball world after smashing his way into the Major League Baseball (MLB) record books. The Seattle Mariners catcher is having a first half of the season to remember, becoming the first player to reach 30 home runs in the 2025-26 season. Raleigh didn’t stop there; he now has 38 home runs, making him the 23rd player in MLB history to hit at least 32 home runs before the All-Star break.<h2>What is the All-Star break?</h2>The All-Star break is a short midseason pause in the MLB schedule, usually held in early to mid-July. Every year, plenty of players show off why they've earned a few days off. &nbsp;The break also includes fan-favourite events like the Home Run Derby.&nbsp;&nbsp;Coming back to MLB, Raleigh is joined in the 30-home run club by two of baseball’s biggest stars: Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. Judge hit 34 homers before last year’s All-Star break and ended the 2024 season with 58. Ohtani, continuing to impress as both a hitter and pitcher, also crossed the 30 home runs mark ahead of this year’s midsummer.&nbsp;Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-is-dsd-the-rare-condition-behind-caster-semenyas-ban-from-womens-events-in-olympics-1752245003974">What is DSD? The rare condition behind Caster Semenya’s ban from women’s events in Olympics</a>&nbsp;While Raleigh has been the player of the season so far, the record for most home runs still belongs to Barry Bonds. In 2001, Bonds scored 39 home runs before the break and finished the year with a record-breaking 73 home runs.&nbsp;Only three other players in MLB history have come close to Bonds’ first-half total. Chris Davis hit 37 in 2013 for the Orioles, Reggie Jackson did it in 1969 and Mark McGwire matched that number in 1998 (the same year he hit 70 overall).&nbsp;It will be fascinating to see whether Cal can come close to Bond's tally of 73 home runs.

Cal Raleigh is having a first half of the season to remember, becoming the first player to reach 30 home runs in the 2025-26 season. 

Cal Raleigh has grabbed headlines from the baseball world after smashing his way into the Major League Baseball (MLB) record books. The Seattle Mariners catcher is having a first half of the season to remember, becoming the first player to reach 30 home runs in the 2025-26 season. Raleigh didn’t stop there; he now has 38 home runs, making him the 23rd player in MLB history to hit at least 32 home runs before the All-Star break. What is the All-Star break? The All-Star break is a short midseason pause in the MLB schedule, usually held in early to mid-July. Every year, plenty of players show off why they've earned a few days off. The break also includes fan-favourite events like the Home Run Derby. Coming back to MLB, Raleigh is joined in the 30-home run club by two of baseball’s biggest stars: Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. Judge hit 34 homers before last year’s All-Star break and ended the 2024 season with 58. Ohtani, continuing to impress as both a hitter and pitcher, also crossed the 30 home runs mark ahead of this year’s midsummer. Also Read | What is DSD? The rare condition behind Caster Semenya’s ban from women’s events in Olympics While Raleigh has been the player of the season so far, the record for most home runs still belongs to Barry Bonds. In 2001, Bonds scored 39 home runs before the break and finished the year with a record-breaking 73 home runs. Only three other players in MLB history have come close to Bonds’ first-half total. Chris Davis hit 37 in 2013 for the Orioles, Reggie Jackson did it in 1969 and Mark McGwire matched that number in 1998 (the same year he hit 70 overall). It will be fascinating to see whether Cal can come close to Bond's tally of 73 home runs.

Cal Raleigh is having a first half of the season to remember, becoming the first player to reach 30 home runs in the 2025-26 season.&nbsp;

Meet MLB's top home run-scorer of 2025-26 season, now on course to break all-time record

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Cal Raleigh makes history - Seattle Mariners C breaks MLB record for switch-hit homers in a season

Cal Raleigh Home Run Record: M's player first catcher to hit 50 HRs in a season

HR Derby 2025: Raleigh 1st catcher to win after surviving Round 1 by 0.08 feet

Meet MLB's top home run-scorer of 2025-26, on course to break all-time record