“It doesn’t seem real,” Raleigh said, according to MLB.com. “I mean, 50 home runs, it’s kind of a crazy number to think of. … You hit five in high school, you thought you had all this power. So it’s just crazy.”

Raleigh battled lefty JP Sears in the first inning, working a full count and crushing a 92.9 mph fastball 419 feet into the second deck at T-Mobile Park. “I’m trying to stay on the heater, trying to stay with a good approach. I think that’s kind of what helped me stay on some of those offspeed pitches. I didn’t pull off them,” he said.

How historic is this achievement?

Raleigh is now four homers shy of tying Mickey Mantle’s switch-hitter record (1961) and six shy of matching Griffey’s franchise mark from 1997-98. He also became the first player ever to homer at least 20 times from both sides of the plate in the same season. Through Monday, Raleigh led MLB with 50 home runs, five more than runner-up Shohei Ohtani.

Next steps for Raleigh and the Mariners

As the season unfolds, Cal Raleigh’s historic power surge has positioned him as a leading MVP candidate, continuing to electrify Seattle fans. The Mariners will look to ride his hot streak in their push for postseason contention.

During Rory McIlroy’s dramatic Masters victory and ascension to the career Grand Slam, Griffey Jr. was among the accredited photographers capturing official images. He was perfectly positioned to freeze the iconic moment when the Northern Irish golfer knelt on the green in celebration.

That remarkable photograph joins Griffey Jr.’s growing portfolio of sports moments, but this was a rare opportunity to document a historic achievement that occurs infrequently. The last golfer to complete the Grand Slam before Rory McIlroy did so 25 years prior, a time when Griffey Jr. was still starring in baseball.

Griffey Jr.’s Epic Shot: Capturing McIlroy’s Masters Moment

The powerful image was part of the official media pool for the tournament, with its licensing belonging to Getty Images, which features it on their official website alongside other photos taken by Griffey Jr. and his colleagues throughout the rounds and the playoff.

A search of Getty Images’ website indicates that The Masters was Griffey Jr.’s most recent credited photographic endeavor, at least as a contributor for that agency. He has also been seen working at MLB and NFL games; in 2023, he was photographed with his camera at a Cowboys-Eagles matchup.

Does Ken Griffey Jr. Play Golf?

Griffey Jr. appears to have a genuine passion for golf. Numerous online videos show him playing and practicing his swing, which likely retains some of the power he displayed on the baseball field. In 2024, he participated in “The Match: Superstars at The Breakers,” an exhibition event alongside other celebrities.

Bronny faces the challenge of following in the footsteps of one of the greatest basketball players of all time. However, Griffey Jr. advised him to learn from his father and focus on his own development.

“I did tell Bronny to just relax, enjoy it, be you. You are not gonna be him. Nobody is him. When I got there, my dad told me, ‘This is your team, I am just here.’ He was Dad at home and a teammate at the ballpark. But, like I said, there were times I rode home with Mom. It was much safer.”

Griffey Jr. offered Bronny simple advice: “You’re gonna learn a lot by being able to sit there and be on the bench watching him. People say he needs to be in the G-League, that he needs this and that. I’ll tell you what, I learned more sitting there watching my dad than anything.”

A legacy hard to match for Bronny

Bronny James has expressed a desire to forge his own path and become a standout player in his own right. With the support of his father and the advice of legends like Griffey Jr., he has the opportunity to achieve his goals and make his own mark in the NBA.

Bronny’s first points in the NBA

Bronny recently scored his first points in the NBA and reflected on the special moment. “I’ve been watching this guy for a minute, playing in the league,” Bronny said, pointing to LeBron. “So just dreaming of me being in those players’ steps—not only his, but players he’s played against and with. So it was just a dream come true for me.”

You either love or hate the Yankees. There’s no middle ground. They’re the team with most World Series wins in MLB history, they’ve had a plethora of superstars wearing Pinstripes, and they’re most likely to have a winning record vs. your favorite team, so yeah, we get the despise.

Then again, it seems like Ken Griffey Jr has always taken it to a whole new level when it comes to hating the Yankees’ guts. And, even though he hasn’t been around the game for quite some time, that hasn’t changed a bit.

A couple of days ago, Junior joined the Seattle Mariners broadcast and finally opened up about why he hated the Yankees in the first place, affirming that up to this day, he still hates them.

Ken Griffey Jr Really, Really Hates The New York Yankees

Ken Griffey Jr went on to tell the story of the time he visited his father Ken Griffey Sr when he was playing for the Yankees. Apparently, George Steinbrenner sent employees to get Junior out of the premises, as he didn’t want anyone out of place watching the practice.

“But before you go, look at third base,” Sr told his son, who so one of Craig Nettle’s sons just hanging out there. For context, Craig Nettle and his sons were white, the Griffey’s were not. That was a defining moment on Junior’s life and the very instant his despise for the Yankees was born.

“At that time my dad was 38 years old, and he was like, ‘I ain’t fighting this no more. I got someone a little younger, and a little better. There are certain things that a dad drills into you as a kid that just stick with you. That was one of them, to beat the Yankees. (His wife) Melissa and Iwere talking about using the word “hate,” and she was like, ‘I don’t like the word “hate”. And I go, ‘well I hate the Yankees.’ And she starts laughing, she goes, ‘no, just use the word “dislike.” he said.

He’s Hated The Yankees For Years

Back in the day, Ken Griffey Jr told fans and the media that he rather retire than play for the New York Yankees if they were the only team to offer him a contract. Apparently, that feeling goes a long way.

“… And I don’t hate the Yankees… I respect what they’ve done, you know, I respect the guys that played for them. It’s just that age 12 and 13, the things that were done to me, didn’t scar me, but (they) molded me into making sure when Iplayed certain teams that they got everything,” he concluded.

Ken Griffey Jr went down as one of the greatest MLB players of all time and one of the few superstars who never felt tempted to join the Evil Empire. Now, we finally understand why he feels that way.

Winning a World Series is one of the toughest things any player and team can accomplish, as you’ll need to have luck, health, and good decisions by your side. Needless to say, just a handful of people can brag about achieving that milestone.

Even so, there are some players whose impact in the game was so big, that even though they were never able to win the ultimate prize, they still made their way to the Hall of Fame. It would be blasphemous not to induct them just because of their lack of jewelry.

So, without any further introduction, we’re about to honor the top 10 best MLB players never to win a World Series, walking you through their career accolades and why they made it to the Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mention: Robin Roberts, Juan Marichal,Ryne Sandberg, Billie Williams, Carlton Fisk

10. Willie McCovey

Willie McCovey spent most of his 22-year career with the San Francisco Giants, also playing for the San Diego Padres, and Oakland Athletics. He was one of the best postseason performers in the world in his prime but it was never enough to get over the hump.

McCovey was a 6-time All-Star, NL Rookie of the Year, NL MVP, 3-time home run leader, and 2-time RBI leader. He lost in the 1962 World Series and the 1971 NLCS despite his timely hitting. He’s one of the greatest left-handed power-hitters of all time.

9. Mike Piazza

Most catchers are known for their limited offensive repertoire but that wasn’t Mike Piazza‘s case. He’s perhaps the greatest hitting catcher of all time and still holds the record for most home runs in that position (427) 13 years after his retirement.

Piazza was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1993, a 10-time Silver Slugger, and 12-time All-Star. He was finally able to make it to the World Series in 2000 but the New York Yankees were just too much to handle for his overachieving New York Mets.

8.Nap Lajoie

Most young baseball fans may not know much about Nap Lajoie but make no mistake, he’s one of the greatest second basemen in the history of baseball, and by far one of the best MLB players to never win a World Series.

Lajoie hit over .300 in 16 out of his 21 seasons in the league. He won the Triple Crown, was a 3-time RBI leader, led the AL in home runs, and was a 5-time AL batting champion. Surprisingly, he never even made it to the postseason.

7.Rod Carew

Rod Carew is one of the deadliest hitters ever. He’s one of the few MLB players to top the 3,000 hit plateau, and, notably, he did it while batting for .328 over his 19-season career. That’s incredible consistency we’re talking about.

He was an 18-time All-Star, AL MVP, AL Rookie of the Year, 7-time AL batting champion, and had his number retired by both the Minnesota Twins and California/Los Angeles Angels. Sadly, he could never get past the ALCS.

6.Carl Yastrzemski

Carl Yastrzmeski is one of the greatest baseball players of all time and by a long stretch. He was the best slugger in the game throughout his 23-year career with the Boston Red Sox. He was a synonym to durability and versatility.

Yastrzemski had 3,419 hits and was the first AL player to top the 400-home run mark. He was an 18-time All-Star, AL MVP, Triple Crown winner, 7-time Gold Glove winner, 3-time AL batting champion, AL RBI leader, and AL home run leader. He lost vs. the Reds in the 1975 World Series.

5. Tony Gwynn

The one and only ‘Mr. Padre’, Tony Gwynn, is yet another example of a legendary player punished by not joining a contending team. He was the ultimate slugger and never hit below .309 throughout his 20-season career.

Gwynn had 3,141 hits and a batting average of .338. He was a 15-time All-Star, 8-time NL batting champion, 5-time Gold Glove winner, and 7-time Silver Slugger. Unfortunately, he lost two World Series (1984 and 1998).

4. Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks is one of the biggest legends in Chicago Cubs history. He was one of the first players to break the color barrier in MLB and his philanthropic work was only topped by his huge impact as a first baseman.

Banks was the first player to win back-to-back NL MVPs. He was also a 14-time All-Star, Gold Glove winner, 2-time NL home run leader, and 2-time NL RBI leader. Sadly, the Cubs didn’t even make the playoffs during the 19 seasons he played for them, thus becoming one of the best MLB players to never win a World Series.

3. Ty Cobb

Most old-school fans will tell you that Ty Cobb is the greatest hitter in the history of baseball and I won’t be the one to disagree. At the end of the day, he has the numbers to back it up, racking up4,191 hits and breaking as much as 90 MLB records during his playing days.

Cobb had a .367 batting average (highest of all time). He was an AL MVP, Triple Crown winner, AL home run leader, 12-time AL batting champion, 4-time AL RBI leader, and 6-time AL stolen base winner. He played in 3 consecutive World Series with the Tigers but his teams could never get the job done.

2. Ted Williams

Ted Williams was an American hero and one of the best MLB players ever. He spent his entire career with the Boston Red Sox and got his number retired after posting a batting average of .344, 2,654 hits, and had an on-base percentage of .482, which is the highest of all time.

Throughout his career, Williams was a 19-time All-Star, 2-time AL MVP, 2-time Triple Crown winner, 6-time AL batting champion, 4-time AL home run leader, and 4-time AL RBI leader. However, he could only play in one World Series (1946) and couldn’t live up to expectations, hittingjust .200 with 1 RBI.

1. Ken Griffey Jr

Many people consider Ken Griffey Jr the greatest baseball player of all time, even ahead of Babe Ruth, Mike Trout, Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio, and many others. Sadly, injuries always seemed to get the best of him, and the Seattle Mariners sure paid the price in the postseason.

Junior was a 13-time All-Star, AL MVP, 10-time Gold Glove winner, 7-time Silver Slugger, NL Comeback Player of the Year, AL RBI leader, and 4-time AL home run leader. He only made it to the postseason 4 times and could never get past the ALCS. Even so, he’s perhaps the best MLB player to never win a World Series ever.