Pat McAfee has taken Cal Raleigh’s nickname to a whole new level.
Affectionately dubbed “Big Damper” because of his well-endowed backside, the nickname got a boost when McAfee introduced the Mariners catcher at the Home Run Derby.
“Coming from Karowhi, North Carolina, this guy is doing something no catcher has ever achieved in sports history,” McAfee exclaimed during the introduction. “With the most substantial backside in all professional sports… Ladies and gentlemen: Big Damper! Callorie!”
Raleigh seemed to embrace the nickname, making it a memorable moment for Atlanta fans and viewers tuning in from home.
It was quite surprising to hear McAfee’s remarks, especially considering Raleigh had recently been on McAfee’s ESPN show where they briefly touched on the nickname. Maybe that set the stage for this introduction.
Regardless, it hasn’t negatively impacted Raleigh’s performance. He’s currently leading Major League Baseball with 38 home runs as the All-Star break approaches.
Alongside that impressive stat, he holds a .259 batting average, an OPS of 1.010, and an MLB-leading 82 RBIs.
Raleigh’s playful nickname has caught on, too. Merchandise featuring “Big Damper” is available at Mariners Stadium, and it appears to be more popular than even his regular jerseys.
“In the stadium, you see more ‘Big Damper’ jerseys than my standard ones,” Raleigh shared with GQ Sports. “They’ve clearly had a lot of requests, so they stock it now—and they’re sold out. Someone even came up to me the other day with a jersey for me to sign, saying they had run out of adult sizes.”
Big Damper has become a talking point, especially during the recent games against the Yankees, where broadcast cameras couldn’t resist showcasing “the fattest butt in all professional sports.”
