Cal Raleigh Equals Ken Griffey Jr.’s Legendary Mariners Home Run Record—But What Comes Next Will Shock Fans!
Right after the Mariners cruised to a 6-0 win over Pittsburgh on Friday, Cal Raleigh found himself rattling off a list of legends who belong on Seattle’s Mount Rushmore. Names like Ichiro, Felix Hernandez, and Randy Johnson came up right quick. But when it came to the man who truly defines the Mariners’ legacy, Raleigh didn’t hesitate—Ken Griffey Jr. stands tall, especially given that Cal himself tied Griffey’s franchise record with 35 home runs before the All-Star break, capped off by two thunderous blasts.
“Being mentioned alongside a guy like that—iconic, a legend, first-ballot Hall of Famer—it’s humbling,” Cal admitted. “I’m just trying to do right by it and keep the momentum going. If I can channel even a sliver of what he did, that’s a benchmark worth chasing.”
Cal sees Griffey as someone who could’ve obliterated the major league home run record were it not for injuries cutting his prime short—a record that still looms large, even if Barry Bonds holds the current mark. And it’s not just a public admiration: whenever Griffey swings back through Seattle, like during the FIFA Club World Cup at Lumen Field, Cal treasures the chance to chat with “The Kid” himself.
“Having him pop by the clubhouse, just talking and learning how he approached the game, it’s priceless,” Raleigh shared. “I’ve even had a few phone conversations. He’s definitely one of the all-time greats. Talking to a legend like that—nothing quite like it.”
Now, Raleigh’s scorching start to the 2025 season—he’ll be representing in the Home Run Derby—is drawing rare comparisons to Griffey’s own pace before the ’98 All-Star break. Dan Wilson, a former teammate of Griffey’s back in the day, is among those uniquely qualified to gauge just how impressive Cal’s performance has been.
“It’s unbelievable. It feels like he’s launching a homer every game,” Wilson said with a knowing smile. “I remember feeling that magic from Griffey—he hit homers almost daily. And that consistency? Raleigh’s been showing it month after month, not just a short streak.”
Indeed, Raleigh’s power surge has been steady as a metronome: nine homers in April, a dozen in May, and eleven more in June. Griffey’s numbers danced a bit differently but were by no means less spectacular. Through it all, 28-year-old Raleigh has already exceeded expectations set by his hefty six-year, $105 million contract extension inked before the season started. Not only is he smashing career highs in homers, but the trajectory points to new personal bests in batting average, on-base, and slugging percentages as well.
The secret? Maturity and sharpened discipline as he settles into his fourth full major league season. “I’ve got the strength to clear fences,” Cal explained. “But it’s about refining the approach—knowing when to swing, when to take your hits, especially when the pitch isn’t right down the middle.”
That refinement shows in the results: Raleigh’s stock has soared, with nearly as many singles as homers—36 singles to 35 homers so far. His value to the Mariners has been evident every day, every game, making every dollar invested by the team worthwhile and then some.
“I want to earn that paycheck every single day,” he said, “but it’s bigger than money. It’s about being a leader, bringing it in the clubhouse, and staying ready no matter what.”
SEATTLE — On the spot, Cal Raleigh compiled a laundry list of players he would consider for a Mount Rushmore of Seattle Mariners following their 6-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday.
Ichiro was one of the first names off the board, followed by the likes of stud starting pitchers Felix Hernandez and Randy Johnson. When identifying who is the face of the Mariners, though, Raleigh immediately landed on Ken Griffey Jr., who he tied for the franchise record for home runs before the All-Star break with 35 with a pair of blasts.
“To be mentioned with that name, somebody that’s just iconic, a legend, first ballot Hall of Famer, I’m just blessed,” Raleigh said. “Trying to do the right thing and trying to keep it rolling. If I can try to be like that guy, it’s a good guy to look up to.”
From Raleigh’s perspective, Griffey would have “smashed” the major league home run record rather than come up 132 short of Barry Bonds if not for injuries. Thankfully for Raleigh’s sake, that admiration hasn’t been reserved for the public eye.
Whenever Griffey finds himself back in Seattle, which was the case when FIFA Club World Cup games were taking place at Lumen Field, Raleigh has enjoyed his chats with “The Kid.”
“It’s always fun to have him around the clubhouse to just talk to him a little bit and figure out how he went about his business,” Raleigh said. “So, I’ve talked to him on the phone once or twice as well. So, he’s a good one. He’s one of the best of all-time. It’s hard to beat talking to somebody like that.”
It’s also hard to find many comparable runs to what Raleigh – who will participate in the Home Run Derby – is in the midst of, and what Griffey accomplished ahead of the 1998 All-Star break. Manager Dan Wilson, who was a teammate of Griffey’s in 1998, is among the few folks who can truly put Raleigh’s fast start to 2025 in perspective.
“It’s remarkable. It feels like he hits a home run every game, that’s what it feels like,” Wilson said. “And I can remember feeling it as a player, that (Griffey) just felt like he hit a home run every day. Again, that’s the consistency that (Raleigh) has shown. It hasn’t been a streak where he has hit a bunch of home runs in a short amount of time. It’s been kind of 10 per month.”
To Wilson’s point, Raleigh has been remarkably consistent. He walloped nine home runs in April, 12 in May and 11 more in June. Griffey’s figures were a tad more mercurial, but just barely (10 in April, eight in May, 14 in June).
All told, the 28-year-old Raleigh has more than lived up to the early stages of his six-year, $105 million contract extension, which he signed just ahead of the 2025 season. Not only has Raleigh set a career high for home runs, but he’s on track to post new marks for batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Raleigh chalked those developments up to his maturing a little over halfway into his fourth full major league season.
“I have the ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark,” Raleigh said. “I mean, it’s part of my game and I’m a strong guy. It’s learning how to hone it in and take your hits when maybe you’re not getting those pitches in the heart of the plate.”
Such an approach is all well and good, but the results have been starkly different. Raleigh has racked up just 36 singles, or one more than his home run total. Suffice to say, Raleigh’s offensive output has justified every dollar the Mariners have sent his way so far, and then some.
“Want to make sure I’m doing everything I can every single day to earn that paycheck and earn what they gave me,” Raleigh said. “But it’s a lot more than just that. It’s being a leader, doing things in the clubhouse and making sure you’re ready to go every single day.”
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