Former North Carolina Legion Baseball player to be honored this summer for his character, leadership, play and community service.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is the 2026 American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year.
Raleigh played American Legion Baseball for Post 47 in Waynesville, N.C., helping the team reach the state tournament for the first time in his final season.
A third-round pick by the Mariners in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft, Raleigh made his major league debut in July 2021. In 2024, he was the American League Gold Glove Award winner at catcher and AL Platinum Glove Award winner as the best defensive player in the league. His 60 home runs in 2025 were the most ever by a catcher or switch-hitter in a single season and set the Mariners’ team record. He was also selected to his first All-Star Game, won his first Silver Slugger Award, and led the majors in home runs and the AL in RBIs. He also finished second in American League MVP voting.
Raleigh will officially receive the award this summer.
About the American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year Award
Each year The American Legion honors a former American Legion Baseball player who is currently playing in the Major Leagues for his character, leadership, playing abilities and community service. Individuals are recommended by their respective post.
Recipients of the award:
2025: Jake Meyers (Post 1, Omaha, Neb.)
2024: Paul Sewald (Post 76, Las Vegas, Nev.)
2023: Corey Seager (Post 115, Kannapolis, N.C.)
2022: Brandon Woodruff (Post 49, Tupelo, Miss.)
2021: Jacob deGrom (Post 3, Deland, Fla.)
2020: no award
2019: Neil Walker (Post 548, Gibsonia, Pa.)
2018: Brian Duensing (Post 374, Omaha, Neb.)
2017: Brian Dozier (Post 49, Tupelo, Miss.)
2016: Cliff Lee (Benton, Ark.)
2015: Alex Gordon (Post 3, Lincoln, Neb.)
2014: Michael Cuddyer (Post 280, Chesapeake, Va.)
2013: Chad Billingsley (Post 300, Napoleon, Ohio)
2012: Mark Ellis (Post 22, Rapid City, S.D.)
2011: Corey Hart (Kentucky)
2010: Brandon Inge (Lynchburg, Va.)
2009: Lyle Overbay (Post 15, Centralia, Wash.)
2008: Justin Verlander (Post 201, Powhatan, Va.)
2007: Chris Carpenter (Post 79, Manchester, N.H.)
2006: Albert Pujols (Post 340, Independence, Mo.)
2005: Scott Rolen (Jasper, Ind.)
2004: Darin Erstad (Jamestown, N.D.)
2003: Jeff Bagwell (Post 75, Middletown, Conn.)
2002: Luis Gonzalez (Post 248, Tampa, Fla.)
2001: Todd Stottlemyre (Washington)
2000: Chipper Jones (Post 6, Deland, Fla.)
1999: Steve Finley (Post 31, Paducah, Ky.)
1998: Tony Gwynn (Post 27, Long Beach, Calif.)
1997: Mo Vaughn (Norwalk, Conn.)
1996: Paul Molitor (Post 606, St. Paul, Minn.)
1995: Bob Tewksbury (New Hampshire)
1994: Greg Maddux (Post 8, Las Vegas, Nev.)
1993: Bill Swift (Portland, Maine)
1992: Terry Steinbach (Post 132, New Ulm, Minn.)
1991: Sid Bream (Carlisle, Pa.)
1990: Harold Reynolds (Post 11, Corvallis, Ore.)
1989: Alan Trammell (San Diego, Calif.)
1988: Roger Clemens (Spring Woods, Ohio)
1987: Don Mattingly (Evansville, Ind.)
1986: Dale Murphy (Portland, Ore.)
1985: Jeff Reardon (Dalton, Mass.)
1984: Ryne Sandberg (Spokane, Wash.)
1983: Andre Thornton (Phoenixville, Pa.)
1982: Jim Sundberg (Galesburg, Ill.)
1981: Gary Carter (Fullerton, Calif.)
1980: George Brett (El Segundo, Calif.)
1979: Mike Flanagan (Post 2, Manchester, N.H.)
1978: Ron Guidry (Lafayette, La.)
1977: Dave Winfield (Post 606, St. Paul, Minn.)
1976: Rick Monday (Post 123, Santa Monica, Calif.)
1975: Carlton Fisk (Post 37, Bellows Falls, Vt.)
1974: Wilbur Wood (Post 99, Watertown, Mass.)
1973: Johnny Bench (Anadarko, Okla.)
1972: Al Kaline (Baltimore, Md.)
1971: Steve Carlton (Miami, Fla.)
1970: Dave McNally (Post 4, Billings, Mont.)
1969: Harmon Killebrew (Payette, Idaho)
1968: Mickey Lolich (Post 102, Portland, Ore.)
1967: Carl Yastrzemski (Bridgehampton, N.Y.)
1966: Frank Robinson (Post 237, Pleasanton, Calif.)
1965: Eddie Fisher (Oklahoma)
1964: Brooks Robinson (Post 1, North Little Rock, Ark.)
1963: Warren Spahn (Buffalo, N.Y.)
1962: Bobby Richardson (Sumter, S.C.)
1961: Stan Musial (Donora, Pa.)
1960: Ted Williams (San Diego, Calif.)
1958: Sherm Lollar (Arkansas)
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