After an historic season in 2025, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh received the American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year Award.
A year ago, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was in the midst of a record-setting season.
His 60 home runs in 2025 were the most in a single season by a catcher or a switch-hitter. He also earned his first All-Star Game selection; became the first catcher or switch-hitter to win the Home Run Derby; and helped the Mariners win the American League West title for the first time since 2001, all while finishing second to the Yankees’ Aaron Judge in voting for AL Most Valuable Player.
Those statistics, coupled with Raleigh’s character, leadership and community service, earned him the 2026 American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year Award.
Raleigh, who played for Post 47 in Waynesville, N.C., received the award on June 17 from American Legion National Commander Dan K. Wiley before the Mariners’ game against the Baltimore Orioles.
“I can’t think of a more deserving recipient of this award than you, with your skill, your integrity and your leadership,” Wiley said.
Raleigh said he “had a lot of fun” playing American Legion Baseball. He played for Post 47 for parts of three seasons, helping the team reach the state tournament in his final season.
“I had a lot of fun playing with those guys and had a lot of help from the Legion there,” Raleigh said. “Just a lot of fun playing pure baseball, some of the best days ever.”
While 2025 was a breakout year for Raleigh, 2026 has been a tougher road. He accepted the Graduate of the Year Award the day after his return from his first career stint on the injured list. He hit a go-ahead two-run single in Seattle’s 3-1 win over Baltimore on Tuesday night.
The Mariners won two of three against the Orioles to enter the weekend with a 1-1/2 game lead over the Athletics in the AL West.
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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:
2026: Cal Raleigh (Post 47, Waynesville, N.C.)
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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