There are nights in baseball where you feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy tale — and Sunday in Houston was one of those nights. If you blinked, you might have missed history being written. But Mariners fans? You felt every second.
⚾ A Roar in the Night
With the Mariners already pounding the Astros, Seattle brought the kind of heat that leaves you breathless. In the second inning, after J.P. Crawford smashed a grand slam, Cal Raleigh strode up — calm, collected, electric. He unleashed a line drive into right field that lit up the night. His 58th home run of the 2025 season.
Here’s what makes that swing more than just another homer:
- Franchise Legend Topped. Just one day earlier, Raleigh passed Ken Griffey Jr. (who hit 56 in both 1997 & ‘98) to become the Mariners’ single-season home run leader.
- Tearing Down Old Records. He’s not just leading his team. He smashed past Mickey Mantle’s mark for most homers in a season by a switch hitter (Mantle hit 54 back in 1961).
- Catching Greatness. Raleigh has already set the Major League record for most home runs by a catcher in a season — those power swings coming behind the plate, not just as a DH.
- 7×7FT Baseball Net with Batting Tee and Strike Zone Target
👀 The Big Prize: Aaron Judge’s AL Record
Raleigh’s 58th home run doesn’t just add to his highlight reel — it throws down a gauntlet. He’s now just 4 home runs shy of Aaron Judge’s American League record of 62, set in 2022.
Can he do it? With only a handful of games left, it’s a long shot. But if this season has taught us anything, it’s to never count him out.
🔥 More Than Just the Long Ball
Numbers tell part of the tale. But what makes this season feel different:
- Raleigh isn’t playing merely for stats. The Mariners are in the thick of a playoff push, fighting for the AL West. Every swing, every homer, holds weight.
- The respect from teammates and rivals alike is growing. When your grand slam + Raleigh homer in the same inning turns into a sweep of a top division rival — people notice.
🙌 What’s Next?
- Could Raleigh finish with 60 or more? It’s possible. And if he reaches . 62, he becomes a legend for the ages.
- How will Aaron Judge factor into MVP conversations this year? Raleigh’s surge puts him firmly in the mix. Yahoo Sports+1
- Expect stadiums, sports talk shows, and highlight reels across the nation to be watching. Every fastball, every wind-blown fly ball — they all matter now.
Baseball is often about moments — the pitch, the swing, the crack of the bat. And in Houston, we saw one of those moments. Cal Raleigh isn’t just hitting home runs this season. He’s hitting history.