The other home run record Mariners' Cal Raleigh is chasing deserves more attention

Cal Raleigh may or may not end up winning AL MVP, but his campaign is award-worthy regardless as arguably the best ever season in league history by a catcher. And at the heart of his push for the prestigious award is the plethora of home run records he has set.

Where do you begin? Raleigh became the first catcher and switch-hitter in Major League history to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break. He's also tied-third overall for the most ever homers through the end of June, with 33.

Recently is where it's gotten really special for the 2024 Platinum Glove Award winner, with him tracking down several all-time marks. Raleigh now holds single-season records for the most ever home runs by a catcher, as a catcher and as a switch-hitter, surpassing Salvador Perez, Javy Lopez and Mickey Mantle respectively.

Raleigh is now also on 56 home runs, tying him with the great Ken Griffey Jr. for the most ever in a season in franchise history. To think he's one more away from owning the record outright over the greatest ever Mariners player is somewhat mindboggling.

As a knock-on effect of tying Griffey, Raleigh also has a shot at another home run record that has flown under the radar, but has also helped his pursuit of immortality.

Will Cal Raleigh equal the multi-homer games record?

Raleigh's two homers on Tuesday night in Kansas City represented the 10th time this season he has had multiple blasts in one game.

This puts the 28-year-old within one multi-homer game of the record of 11 for a single season, which is shared by Aaron Judge (2022), Sammy Sosa (1998) and Hank Greenberg (1938). With nine games remaining, this leads to the obvious question of if he can at least tie the record?

One factor to consider is that four of Raleigh's multiple home run games have come at home, compared to six on the road. Only three of the Mariners' remaining nine games are away from home, but it's worth noting Daikin Park is ranked as one of the top 10 most hitter-friendly stadiums in the majors.

The other factor is that after eight multi-homer games in the first four months of the season, the 2025 All-Star "only" has two in the past two months. In truth, we believe he will fall short in his quest to equal the record of 11 multi-home run games, but this is one of those occasions where we will have no issue if we're proven wrong.