Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits his 51st homer and closes in on more records

By: Kristie Ackert, The Associated Press Posted: 8:25 PM CDT Tuesday, Sep. 2, 2025

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Cal Raleigh hit his 51st homer Tuesday night, extending his major league record for home runs by a catcher and drawing closer to Mickey Mantle for the most by a switch-hitter.

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Cal Raleigh hit his 51st homer Tuesday night, extending his major league record for home runs by a catcher and drawing closer to Mickey Mantle for the most by a switch-hitter.

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This article was published 02/09/2025 (385 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Cal Raleigh hit his 51st homer Tuesday night, extending his major league record for home runs by a catcher and drawing closer to Mickey Mantle for the most by a switch-hitter.

The Seattle Mariners star went deep in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Steinbrenner Field.

It was Raleigh’s 41st homer while playing behind the plate, tying Todd Hundley (1996) for the second most in a season. That record is 42 by Javy López in 2003.

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh (29) celebrates his single off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane Baz with first base coach Eric Young Jr. (53) during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Raleigh had already bested Salvador Perez for the most homers by a player whose primary position is catcher. Perez hit 48 in 2021.

Mantle set the mark for homers by a switch-hitter with 54 in 1961. Raleigh is also within five of Ken Griffey Jr.’s Mariners record of 56 homers in a season, set in 1997 and ’98.

The 371-foot shot to right field was his first home run in a week. Raleigh leads the majors in homers by two over Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb