Cal Raleigh Hits 50th Home Run, Joins Mickey Mantle Record

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh smashed his 50th home run of the season Monday night. No catcher had ever done that before.

The 27-year-old’s season has been wild—he’s racked up historic power numbers from both sides of the plate. Raleigh’s knack for clutch hits is keeping Seattle right in the postseason mix.

Cal Raleigh Breaks Catcher Home Run Record

With that 50th blast, Raleigh became the first catcher in MLB history to hit 50 homers in a season. Kansas City’s Salvador Perez set the old record at 48 in 2021, and it felt untouchable for a while.

Now, Raleigh’s raised the bar, and honestly, he did it with style.

Joining Baseball’s Elite Slugging Company

This feat puts Raleigh in a rare club. Only Mickey Mantle and now Raleigh have hit 50 homers in a season as switch-hitters.

It’s wild—he can go deep from either side, making him a nightmare for opposing pitchers and a huge asset for Seattle’s lineup.

A Historic Two-Sided Power Surge

ESPN Research says Raleigh is the first player ever to hit at least 20 homers from each side of the plate in one season. That’s not just about the total number—it shows how balanced and adaptable his swing really is.

The Milestone Moment

He launched that record-breaking homer off San Diego Padres pitcher JP Sears. The ball soared 419 feet into the second deck at T-Mobile Park.

The crowd went nuts as Raleigh rounded the bases. That’s the kind of thing fans remember for years.

Impact on the Mariners’ Playoff Push

Seattle rode Raleigh’s power to a 9-6 win over the Padres. That bumped their record to 71-61 and pulled them within 1½ games of the Astros in the tight AL West.

Every win matters now, and Raleigh’s hot streak is exactly what you want in late August if you’re chasing a playoff spot.

Chasing More Records

With this homer, Raleigh became just the second Mariner ever to reach 50 in a season. The only other guy? Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., who hit 56 in both 1997 and 1998.

That single-season team record is suddenly in reach. Could Raleigh actually catch Griffey? It’s one of the best storylines as the season winds down.

On a Power Tear

This moment capped a scorching stretch for Raleigh. He’d hit three home runs in his last two games, with Nos. 48 and 49 coming just the night before against Oakland.

His timing couldn’t be better, considering Seattle’s right in the thick of the playoff race.

Before September — An Exclusive Club

Raleigh now joins only seven other players in MLB history to reach 50 homers before September. That’s not just impressive—it means he’s got time to add even more before the season’s over.

Why Cal Raleigh’s Season is Special

This isn’t just another home run milestone. There’s a whole mix of reasons why Raleigh’s 2024 run stands out in baseball:

• Positional Rarity: He’s the first catcher ever to smack 50 home runs in a season.
• Switch-Hitter Dominance: Only the second player in MLB history to reach 50 homers from both sides of the plate.
• Balanced Power: He’s managed at least 20 homers from each side in one year—pretty wild.
• Franchise History: Now he’s sharing the Mariners’ 50-homer club with Griffey Jr. That’s not a list you see every day.

With the season winding down, everyone’s watching to see if Raleigh can take a run at Griffey’s single-season record. Maybe he’ll help push Seattle into the postseason, too.

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Here is the source article for this story: Raleigh joins Mantle in record books with 50th HR