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The Seattle Mariners have enjoyed a phenomenal season from Cal Raleigh. He hit his 50th home run of the season on Monday night.
His 50th home run put him six shy of Ken Griffey Jr.’s franchise record of 56. However, it also entered him in an exclusive club with only one other member: Mickey Mantle.
Raleigh’s 50th home run made him and Mantle the only switch-hitters in league history to architect a 50-home run season, per MLB insider Bob Nightengale.
Mantle had two different 50-home run seasons in his career, but the last one came in 1961. Mantle finished second in the MVP race that season, which is what could happen to Raleigh as well.
Even though it has been over 60 years since the last 50-home run season by a switch-hitter, Raleigh still seems to be trailing Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in the MVP race. However, unlike Mantle, Raleigh’s power surge is coming from the catcher position.
Raleigh already broke the record for home runs by a catcher in a season when he hit his 49th home run. He has a chance to break Judge’s American League home run record if he can surpass 62 on the season.
Mantle was a three-time MVP, Triple-Crown winner, 20-time All-Star, seven-time World Series champion, batting champion and Gold Glove Award winner. To be in company with a Hall of Famer like Mantle is a great spot to be in for Raleigh.
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