SEATTLE – On a sun-splashed Sunday at T-Mobile Park, the Seattle Mariners delivered a performance that sent shockwaves through the American League and etched Cal Raleigh’s name into the annals of baseball history. The Mariners’ 11-2 rout of the Los Angeles Angels on September 14, 2025, was more than just a lopsided win—it was a night of milestones, emotional moments, and a clear signal that Seattle is intent on breaking its two-decade division title drought.
All eyes were on Cal Raleigh, the Mariners’ power-hitting catcher, as he strode to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. Batting left-handed against Angels starter Kyle Hendricks, Raleigh wasted no time. On the very first pitch—a sinker clocked at 84.6 mph—he launched a towering shot into the left-center field bullpen. The crowd erupted, breaking into a now-familiar “M-V-P” chant as Raleigh rounded the bases. As he emerged from the dugout for a curtain call, the magnitude of the moment was clear: it was his 54th home run of the season, tying the legendary Mickey Mantle for the most homers in a single season by a switch hitter.
“You know, in today’s age it’s hard not to go on your phone and people are talking about it, texting you about it,” Raleigh told reporters after the game. “I’m trying to do my best to block that out. I’m glad that we have something bigger to work towards.”
It’s not just Mantle’s record that Raleigh has matched. With that blast, he also set a new MLB single-season mark for home runs by a catcher, surpassing Atlanta’s Javy López, who hit 42 in 2003. Raleigh’s 43 home runs as a catcher this year have redefined the position’s offensive expectations, all while he’s handled a demanding pitching staff and contributed defensively.
“To do what he has done offensively, to do what he does defensively, to do what he does with our pitching staff, you just marvel at all the things that he’s accomplishing,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “On top of that, making history, and just in a very humble way, that’s the kind of guy he is. He just wants to win, and that’s where it all comes from. That’s the driver.”
Raleigh’s journey to this moment is steeped in baseball lore. As a seventh grader, his father took him out of school to visit Yankee Stadium and learn about Mantle’s exploits. “I remember him talking about [Mantle] like he was a god. Which he was,” Raleigh recalled. “It’s kind of cool to think about that.” Now, Raleigh stands on the cusp of surpassing Mantle’s mark. His next home run will give him the single-season record for a switch hitter. After that, he’ll be eyeing Ken Griffey Jr.’s Mariners franchise record of 56 home runs, set in both 1997 and 1998. Should Raleigh reach 60, he’ll join the most exclusive club in the AL—only Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, and Aaron Judge have ever hit that many in a season, all wearing Yankees pinstripes.
But Raleigh isn’t interested in chasing personal accolades. “I don’t mean to downplay [the record] at all; it’s a very awesome and meaningful thing,” he said. “... But I’m not trying to go out there and try to hit homers or trying to break a certain record or anything. I’m just trying to help the team out any way I can.”
Seattle’s offense was relentless, with nearly every player joining the hit parade. Six Mariners collected multiple hits, and the team racked up seven doubles. Second baseman Jorge Polanco was especially red-hot, doubling in each of his first three at-bats. That extended his streak to seven consecutive games with a double, matching a Seattle franchise record set by Jim Presley in 1986. “He’s just been locked in,” Wilson said of Polanco. “His at-bats have been so good. You can’t beat him in, you can’t beat him away. He’s just in a really good spot.”
While the bats were booming, George Kirby delivered a pitching masterclass. The right-hander bounced back from a pair of rough September outings to match his career high with 14 strikeouts, allowing just two runs on three hits and not issuing a single walk over 6 1/3 innings. Kirby became the only pitcher in MLB this season to record multiple games of 14 or more strikeouts with zero walks, a feat no other Mariners pitcher has accomplished more than once in a single season. His 14th strikeout came in dramatic fashion to open the seventh inning, a result of a miscommunication that saw him unexpectedly return to the mound. “There was a little miscommunication there,” Kirby admitted. “I wasn’t supposed to go back out, but I’m glad I got the strikeout. I didn’t know so I just went out there and did my thing.”
Kirby’s performance was emblematic of the Mariners’ recent surge. The team has now won nine straight games—their longest streak since a 14-gamer in July 2022—and 20 of their last 23 at home. The sweep of the Angels capped a perfect homestand and propelled Seattle into sole possession of first place in the AL West for the first time since June 3. With an 82-68 record, the Mariners now lead the Houston Astros by a game, the latest in the season they’ve held the top spot since their record-setting 2001 campaign.
The significance of this moment isn’t lost on Seattle fans, who have waited 23 years since the club’s last division title—the longest active drought in the American League. The energy in the ballpark was palpable, and the players are feeding off it. “I think everyone is feeling that energy,” Kirby said. “Everyone wants to feel that energy and keep it going. The Astros and Rangers are never going to go away so we’ve got to keep attacking every day, and I think that’s what everyone’s doing right now.”
The Mariners’ surge comes at a crucial time. Around the league, division rivals are battling injuries and making roster moves as the postseason approaches. Houston’s Jose Altuve is expected to miss a couple of games with a foot issue, while Texas has just welcomed back outfielder Adolis Garcia from the injured list. Every edge counts as the playoff race intensifies.
Meanwhile, the Mariners’ minor league affiliate, the Everett AquaSox, added to the organization’s good vibes by clinching the Northwest League Championship over the weekend—a testament to the depth and promise in Seattle’s system.
As the regular season barrels toward its conclusion, the Mariners are not just making noise—they’re making history. With Cal Raleigh on the brink of breaking one of baseball’s most hallowed records and the team playing its best ball in decades, Seattle is a city buzzing with hope and anticipation. The next few weeks promise high drama, and if Sunday’s fireworks are any indication, the Mariners are ready for the spotlight.
For now, Seattle sits atop the AL West, riding a wave of momentum and history. The pressure is on, but so is the belief—maybe, just maybe, this is the year the drought ends.
