Mariners‘ Cal Raleigh Reaches Historic 60-Homer Milestone, propels Team to Division Title
SEATTLE – Cal Raleigh etched his name into baseball history Wednesday night, becoming just the fourth player ever to hit 60 home runs in a single season. Raleigh’s milestone blast, securing a Mariners’ victory, also clinched the team’s first American League West division title since 2001. He joins hank Greenberg (1938), Sammy Sosa (1998), and Aaron Judge (2022) as the only players to achieve the 60-homer feat.
Raleigh’s pursuit of the record unfolded dramatically throughout September. A slow start to the month – hitting only one home run in a nine-game stretch where the Mariners struggled to maintain their wild-card position - gave way to an unusual surge. He launched two home runs against the Atlanta Braves on September 14th, igniting a 14-of-15 game winning streak. This stretch saw Raleigh hit .286/.437/.714 with seven home runs, including his 10th two-homer game of the season against the Kansas City Royals.
The Royals series proved pivotal, as Raleigh surpassed Mickey Mantle’s record for home runs hit by a switch-hitter and tied Ken Griffey Jr.’s Mariners club record. He then broke Griffey’s record with a home run against the Houston Astros on Saturday. Wednesday’s 60th home run tied him with Greenberg, Sosa, and Judge for the record of most two-homer games in a single season.
Despite the individual accolades, Raleigh emphasized the team’s success. “I don’t know if 8-year-old Cal Raleigh ever envisioned something like this happening, but hear’s the thing that has endeared Raleigh to Mariners fans… He’ll be much happier about the Mariners winning their first division title since 2001… than hitting his 60th home run.”
The Mariners, now division champions, will advance directly to the AL Division Series, bypassing the Wild Card round. Raleigh’s historic season has not only captivated fans but has also positioned the Mariners as a serious contender for the World Series title.
