Cal Raleigh hits pair of homers to reach No. 56, passing Mickey Mantle and tying Ken Griffey Jr.

Ryan Divish, The Seattle Times on Sep 16, 2025

Published in Baseball

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Whether he steps into the batter’s box on the right or left side of home plate, Cal Raleigh will stand alone in the records of Major League Baseball.

When Raleigh, who was batting left-handed, smashed his 55th homer of the season — a towering solo homer to right field off right-hander Michael Wacha in Tuesday’s game versus the Royals at Kauffman Stadium — he surpassed Yankees Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle’s record for the most home runs in a season by a switch hitter.

“I was just thinking, ‘Stay fair,' ” Raleigh said. “It did.”

The chants of “MVP! MVP!” could be heard throughout the Royals’ home ballpark as Raleigh rounded the bases.

His MVP case might have actually been made in the bottom of the second, when Logan Gilbert spiked a pitch to Jac Caglione that bounced up and struck Raleigh in the throat. Irritated and in obvious pain, Raleigh didn’t come out of the game and homered to start the next inning.

“It didn’t feel good,” said Raleigh, who had a big red welt on his neck postgame. “I’ve got to be better. I just got to keep my head down. It’s one of those things catchers have to deal with from time to time.”

His manager, Dan Wilson, used it as a reason Raleigh deserves the MVP without saying it.

“I don’t know if it’s poetic license, or whatever you want to call it,” Wilson said. “But to take a ball off the neck in the half inning before, and then to come out and hit a homer and then hit another one later. That’s the kind of year Cal has had. It says a lot about the kind of fight that’s in that guy and his desire to win.”

Mantle, the childhood hero for an entire generation now in their 60s and 70s, hit 54 homers in the same magical 1961 season where his teammate Roger Maris hit 61 homers to surpass the longstanding record of 60 held by Babe Ruth.

Mantle has long been considered the greatest switch hitter in MLB history. It’s a reputation that Raleigh recognized through the teachings of his father, Todd. But Mantle has some company now.

And Raleigh wasn’t done.

In his next plate appearance, batting right-handed against lefty Daniel Lynch IV, Raleigh smashed a first-pitch change-up over the wall in center field for homer No. 56 on the season.

The MVP chants grew even louder on Raleigh’s second trip around the bases.

That blast tied him with Ken Griffey Jr. for the Mariners record for most homers in a season. Griffey hit 56 in 1997 and 1998.

When you break a record held by Mantle and tie one by Griffey, you are reaching the heights of the ultra elite.

“It’s very cool, and I’m very humbled by it,” Raleigh said. “It’s really a crazy, crazy kind of thing I never thought would happen. I’m just taking it day by day and pitch by pitch. I’m just really enjoying the ride with these guys and trying to finish the season strong.”

It was also the fifth time in his career that Raleigh has hit a homer from each side of the plate.

Wilson could only shake his head at Raleigh’s growing list of accomplishments.

“We’ve said this all before, but it just continues, and it continues at a historic level,” Wilson said. “To do what he’s doing, and to do it behind the plate as often as he’s back there, it’s kind of unfathomable.”

With 11 games remaining in the season, breaking Griffey’s record seems to be a given. But how far can he go? Could he reach 60? Is Aaron Judge’s AL record of 62 homers in a season within reach?

It’s impossible to put limitations on anything that Raleigh is doing this season. Big Dumper? More like Big Dominance.

Raleigh’s historic season has been one of many milestones that include setting the record of most homers in a season by a catcher (49), most homers in a season while playing catcher (43), first switch hitter with at least 20 from each side of the plate and now the most by a switch hitter.

Raleigh is also attempting to become the first Mariners player to lead all of MLB in home runs and also the first catcher to lead the league in homers since Johnny Bench did it in 1970 with 45.