Dissatisfied Cal Raleigh Admits Glaring Weakness Despite Surpassing Mickey Mantle’s MLB Record

“Expect the unexpected” is practically a motto in baseball. But even then, no one could have predicted this. Cal Raleigh isn’t just hitting home runs; he is rewriting history. And catchers are not usually the ones doing it, because they are the ones who grind behind the plate. They keep the pitchers calm and take foul tips. But Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh did something extraordinary on Tuesday night in Kansas City.

Raleigh carved his name in the record books not once, but twice. The night actually felt like a chapter from a storybook. He took Michael Wacha deep for his 55th homer of the year. He passed Mickey Mantle’s 1961 mark for most home runs in a season by a switch-hitter. And as if that record was not enough, he later shot his No. 56 off Daniel Lynch IV and tied Ken Griffey Jr. for the Mariners single-season home run record.

Just imagine this—in a matter of a few innings, Raleigh passed Mantle and stood neck to neck with Griffey, the most famous slugger in the franchise’s history. But as humble as he is, he can’t wrap his head around it. “My name shouldn’t be in the same sentence with those guys, Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr. I don’t really have words for it. … I’m sure one day it will set in.” Later, rather than puffing his chest, Raleigh decided to talk about the flaws rather than anything else.

Postgame, Raleigh lifted his jersey to reveal the bright red welt on his throat. Earlier in the night, Logan Gilbert’s pitch had spiked into the dirt and ricocheted right into him. So referencing what he said, “It didn’t feel good. I have to be better. I just have to keep my head down. It’s one of those things catchers have to deal with.”

That’s the endearing part about him. Raleigh just outpassed Mantle and Griffey in a single game, yet all he could think about was how he handled a ball in the dirt! The entire crowd had started chanting MVP MVP in the ballpark, but clearly, Raleigh’s mind is not on that right now. He is hyper-focused on winning games, and there is no doubt that he is the reason that the Mariners are even in contention this season.

The numbers Cal Raleigh has put in are absurd, too. He has already set the MLB record for most homers in a season by a catcher. He is now sitting three ahead of Kyle Schwarber for the league lead. And with 11 games left, 60 homers doesn’t seem out of reach. Maybe he can even catch up to Judge’s record, which stands at 62. There are even talks about how it’s not past Raleigh to get across Barry Bonds’ record for most home runs in a single season– that stands at 73!

Mariners keep rolling as Cal Raleigh powers their October dreams

The Seattle Mariners cruised to a 12-5 win over the Kansas City Royals. They are not just winning; they are collecting those wins at the perfect time. They had a shaky start in the month and a brief scare when the Texas Rangers looked like they might creep into the race. But the Mariners have since then tightened the grip for October play. Now with 11 games left, they are not fighting for a playoff berth; they are chasing their first American League West crown since 2001.

Of course, nothing comes easy in this division. The Houston Astros, for example, simply refuse to go away and won again on Tuesday to stay just a half game back. This means Seattle’s magic number to clinch the West is set at 11. As for simply locking in a playoff spot, that number has dropped to eight, thanks to Cleveland’s surge putting them in the mix too. So yes, the math matters. But even more than math right now is the feeling.

This team believes that they can. Raleigh has been the spark for the team, and recently, even Mookie Betts talked about the amazing things about him. Manager of the Mariners, Wilson, couldn’t help but marvel at all that his catcher has done so far. “I think the way he led the staff again tonight and what he has done for us behind the plate all year—to do it at that level and then do what he has done offensively—it’s unmatched. I think you can honestly say it’s unmatched,” Wilson said.

Well, the Mariners’ streak now stands at ten straight wins, and the playoffs are not here yet, but the energy and vibe of giving it all every game sure are.