SEATTLE (AP) — Cal Raleigh made history on Wednesday night by becoming the seventh player in Major League Baseball's history to hit 60 home runs in a single season. The milestone came during a game against the Colorado Rockies at T-Mobile Park, where Raleigh launched two solo home runs to solidify his status as the league leader in homers this season.
After achieving such a significant milestone, Raleigh expressed his disbelief, saying, “It’s crazy. Sixty is — I don’t know what to say. I didn’t know if I was going to hit 60 in my life. Just tonight, what a way to do it.” His first home run, which was his 59th of the year, occurred in the first inning against Rockies pitcher Tanner Gordon, soaring into the top deck of the stadium’s right field.
Teammate Julio Rodríguez described Raleigh’s home run as “like a movie,” reflecting on the excitement and gratitude felt by the team. “I’m just so grateful that he’s on our team, that he’s able to do what he does. He’s so special, and I can’t say enough,” Rodríguez remarked.
Raleigh added to his remarkable performance with another home run in the eighth inning off Angel Chivilli, marking his 60th of the season. Additionally, he contributed to the game with a two-run double in the second inning, bringing his season total for runs batted in (RBIs) to 125, which leads the American League.
The Seattle Mariners secured a 9-2 victory over the Rockies, clinching their fourth American League West title and the first since 2001, amidst the celebration of Raleigh’s accomplishments.
Raleigh joined the elite company of legends who have reached 60 home runs in a season, following in the footsteps of Babe Ruth (1927), Roger Maris (1961), Mark McGwire (1998 and ’99), Sammy Sosa (1998, ’99, 2001), Barry Bonds (2001), and Aaron Judge (2022). This achievement marks his 11th multi-home run game of the season, tying him with Aaron Judge (2022), Hank Greenberg (1938), and Sammy Sosa (1998) for the MLB record.
With only four games remaining in the regular season, Raleigh stands a chance to surpass Judge's record of 62 home runs set in 2022, which eclipsed the previous American League mark of 61 by Roger Maris in 1961. Raleigh's recent home runs came just days after he broke the Seattle Mariners franchise record with his 57th home run, surpassing Ken Griffey Jr.’s record of 56 homers hit in both 1997 and 1998.
In addition to his impressive feats, Raleigh set a new record for home runs by a switch-hitter, breaking Mickey Mantle’s long-standing record of 54 home runs that had persisted since 1961. He also claimed the record for the most home runs by a catcher, surpassing Salvador Perez's 48 home runs hit in 2021.
As the season approaches its conclusion, Raleigh maintains a four-home run lead over Philadelphia designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and is six ahead of Los Angeles Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani. Mariners manager Dan Wilson spoke highly of Raleigh, emphasizing the unique challenge of his position as a catcher while performing at such a high level offensively. “When you look at how he has done it and the position that he plays — I was telling somebody earlier today that when you come off the field, you’re mentally and physically exhausted,” Wilson noted. “And for him to do what he’s done offensively and to do what he does behind the plate, I honestly don’t think we’ve seen this before. It’s been incredible. I think he deserves the MVP, no question.”
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