The Seattle Mariners drafted a young catcher out of Florida State University in 2018 by the name of Cal Raleigh after an outstanding collegiate career with the Seminoles. In 2021 he joined the majors as a part of the 40 man rosters…and as they say, the rest is history!
After earning a gold glove in 2024, Raleigh went into 2025 with a new contract and ready to make his mark in the Mariners record book.
In 1970, one of the biggest catchers in MLB history, Johnny Bench hit 28 home runs before the All Star break. In the past week Cal Raleigh has tied Bench’s record and broken that record with a League leading 31 home runs – topping home run hitting greats Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani! Raleigh broke the record in just 73 games – Bench needed 87 to reach the mark.
The overall home run record going into the All Star break belongs to Barry Bonds with 39.
Speaking on the feat Raleigh said, “any time you’re mentioned in even the same sentence with one of the best, if not the best ever do it is a special thing. I’m just very grateful. He’s one heck of a player or was one heck of a player. And like I said, just very, very happy about it.”
A 14 time All Star, Johnny Bench became the youngest player to win the MVP – Most Valuable Player – Award at age 22 in 1970. That year he hit a total of 45 home runs and had 148 RBIs.
Among the spectators at Wrigley Field to see Raleigh break the record was Cubs great Sammy Sosa who was at the field for the first time in 20 years.
The prognosticators say that Raleigh is on pace to end the season with 63 home runs; which would also break a record as the most home runs by a team’s primary catcher. Kansas City Royals’ Salvador Perez currently holds the record at 48. If Raleigh reaches that 63 home run mark, he would also break a record set by New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge at 62.
But wait, there’s more!
Cal Raleigh is a switch hitter…and has set yet another pre-All Star break record – that of the most home runs by a switch hitter. In 1961 Mickey Mantle set the record with 54 homers during the season with 29 of them before the All Star break. Raleigh has now broken that record with 31…and counting.
In the Seattle Mariners record book, Raleigh is chasing Ken Griffey Jr for most homers before the break with 35.
Cal Raleigh has six multi-home run games – Javy Lopez has the record for catchers with eight.
Raleigh’s team manager Dan Wilson is the only catcher in the Mariners Hall of Fame; speaking on Cal he said, “it’s unbelievable”.
Raleigh is also tied with Pete Alonso for the most RBI’s with 63.
Could Cal Raleigh be one of the players to show off his skills at Truist Park in Atlanta next month at the Home Run Derby???? Raleigh said that he, “would do that in a heartbeat”.
Last year, Cal Raleigh hit a season total of 34 home runs; he is just three shy of that and the season isn’t even half over.
Breaking the records against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley field, Cubs manager Craig Counsell spoke on Raleigh saying, “30 home runs is impressive. And we’re not even at the halfway point. He’s good.”