Cal Raleigh overtakes Mickey Mantle and equals Ken Griffey Jr

Cal Raleigh is having an exceptional season, to say the least. And the fairy tale continued last night (Tuesday). The Seattle Mariners catcher cannoned his ^55th and ^56th long balls, two historic home runs.

With his first four-base hit of the night in the game against the Kansas City Royals, Raleigh wrote his name in the history books of Major League Baseball, surpassing legend Mickey Mantle for the most long balls hit by an ambidextrous hitter in a single season. Mantle had set the record with 54 home runs in 1961.

Then, the 28-year-old's second home run of the game from the bat enabled him to tie Ken Griffey Jr. for the most bombs hit in a single season in Mariners history with a grand total of 56. Griffey hit 56 home runs in the 1997 and 1998 seasons while playing for Seattle.

And guess what? The season isn't over yet.

Raleigh has led the Manfred Tour in home runs for the majority of the current campaign and now holds a three-run lead over Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies at the top of that chart.

“My name shouldn't be in the same sentence with those guys, Mickey Mantle & Ken Griffey Jr. I don't really have words for it… I'm sure one day it will set in.”@Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh joined us on #MLBTonight after his historic night at the dish. pic.twitter.com/jAGDglt7q4

– MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) September 17, 2025

What's more, the man himself can hardly believe what's happening to him in 2025.

My name shouldn't be in the same sentence as these guys, Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr. I don't really have words for it, I don't really know what to say.

To add to this moment, the Mariners recorded their tenth consecutive victory and still sit atop the American League's Western Section, half a game ahead of the Houston Astros.

This content was created with the help of AI.