Cal Raleigh continues to impress as he hit his 37th and 38th home runs during the Seattle Mariners’ emphatic 12-3 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. This achievement brings him within one home run of tying Barry Bonds’ record of 39 homers set before the All-Star break in 2001.
Raleigh’s first home run came in the eighth inning off his former teammate Tyler Holton, allowing him to equal the American League record of 37 home runs before the All-Star break, a mark set by Reggie Jackson in 1969 and matched by Chris Davis in 2013. Raleigh expressed his camaraderie with Holton, saying, “I don’t think that helped much, but I’m sure he’s not very happy with me.”
He followed with a grand slam off Brant Hurter in the ninth inning, showcasing his incredible power at the plate. Raleigh remarked, “I didn’t even know it was a record until just now. I guess I’m just very grateful and thankful.” This marks his eighth multihomer game this season, tying him with Jackson for the most such games before the All-Star break in MLB history, as well as tying Ken Griffey Jr. for the most in Mariners franchise history.
With two games remaining against the Tigers before the All-Star break, there remains an opportunity for Raleigh to achieve this historic milestone. Mariners manager Dan Wilson couldn’t hide his excitement, stating, “Cal Raleigh … this is just unbelievable. He’s already set the AL record, and now he’s only one short of Barry. There are two games, so who knows?”
Raleigh’s consistent performance has been noteworthy—amassing 10 home runs in March and April, 12 in May, 11 in June, and five in July, demonstrating a level of consistency that Wilson attributes to his success.
As fans look forward to the upcoming games, there is a palpable excitement surrounding Raleigh’s chase for the record, highlighting the inspiring possibilities in the second half of the season.