Cal Raleigh joins Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr. in ultra-rare club

Andrew Nemec

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Cal Raleigh joins Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr. in ultra-rare club image

It's been a (mostly) hope-filled season for the Seattle Mariners, and all-star catcher Cal Raleigh has provided electricity for a fanbase hoping for a playoff run 

Sunday's 8-4 win over the Tigers was the final game before the all-star break - and Raleigh again made history.

While "Big Dumper" didn't hit a home run - he went 0-of-2 at the plate with three walks - he did steal his 10th base of the season.

That means at the all-star break, Raleigh has totaled 38 home runs and 10 stolen bases, making him only the fourth player ever to reach those marks by the 96th game of the season. 

And he joins some staggering company.

The only other players ever to join the 38-10 club by Game 96? Babe Ruth (1921), Reggie Jackson (1969) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1998).

Equally impressive, only two catchers in history (Calton Fisk, 1985; Ivan Rodriguez, 1999) have hit 33 home runs with 70 RBI and stolen nine bases in a whole season.

Raleigh has become the third... before the all-star break. 

On the season, Raleigh is first in the MLB in home runs (38), RBI (82) and second in OPS (1.011), which has made him the favorite to be named AL MVP.

With Sunday's victory, the Mariners move to 51-45 on the year. 

Andrew Nemec

Andrew Nemec has covered high school sports and the recruiting landscape for more than a decade, with an emphasis on the former and current Pac-12 footprint. Nemec, who hosts his own radio show on ESPN-affiliate 1080 The FAN in Portland, Oregon, is a graduate of the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication.