The question is, who isn’t talking about Cal Raleigh right now?
Cal Raleigh Breaks Griffey’s Record—and the Internet
The Mariners may have gotten shellacked 10–3 by the Yankees on Tuesday night—yep, it was rough—but honestly, most fans couldn’t stop buzzing about what happened in the fourth inning. That’s when Cal Raleigh stepped to the plate and smashed his 36th home run of the season. Not just another homer. This one mattered—big time.
That swing didn’t just send a ball flying over the fence—it sent Ken Griffey Jr. down a peg in the Mariners’ record books. Yeah, that Ken Griffey Jr. The guy who’s got a statue outside the stadium and a plaque in Cooperstown. Before Tuesday, Griffey held the Mariners’ record for most home runs before the All-Star break. And now that title belongs to Raleigh.
Chasing 63: The AL’s New Home Run King in the Making
This is more than just a hot streak. This is baseball history happening in real time. Cal’s already passed his previous best of 34 dingers from last season, and we’re only at the break. He’s pacing for 63 home runs, which—just so we’re clear—would break the American League record. Not just a Mariners record. The entire league. Nobody’s done that since Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa were trading moonshots back in 2001.
And it’s not just individual stats we’re talking about. Because of Raleigh’s firepower, the Mariners are hanging onto the American League’s final wild-card spot by a thread—just one game up on the Red Sox. Every homer he hits keeps Seattle’s October dreams alive.
From Afterthought to Icon: Raleigh Ignites Seattle’s Faith
This is a franchise that hasn’t had much to hang its hat on for a long time. Mariners fans have waited decades for a season—and a player—like this. Cal Raleigh has become a symbol of hope in a city that’s been starving for baseball greatness. He’s not just hitting homers. He’s bringing back belief.
So yeah, Tuesday was a loss. But if you’re a Mariners fan? It didn’t feel like one. Because Cal Raleigh just reminded everyone that Seattle’s got something special going—and maybe, just maybe, the best is yet to come.
