Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh Sets Home Run Record

The Seattle Mariners’ remarkable season took another turn on Sunday as Cal Raleigh made history for catchers in Major League Baseball (MLB).

A fan-favorite known as “Big Damper,” Raleigh became the first catcher ever to hit 49 home runs in a single season, surpassing Salvador Perez’s previous record of 48.

He achieved this feat with flair, hammering his second homer in just as many at-bats during a game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park.

Raleigh had already taken down Oakland’s pitcher Jacob Lopezyard earlier in the first inning, setting the scene for another shot in the next frame.

On the very first pitch he faced, batting from the right side, Raleigh connected with a changeup that sailed over the left-field fence.

As fans in the stands erupted, Raleigh celebrated in the dugout with teammates, proudly holding the Mariners’ Trident—a symbol given to any player who hits a home run.

Prior to this game, Raleigh led the league with 47 home runs, a number that now stands at 49. He had some pretty stiff competition, notably from Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber.

To put things in perspective, Perez hit 48 home runs during the 2021 season, a remarkable achievement alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

At that time, Perez had set the bar high, surpassing Johnny Bench’s longstanding record of 45 home runs, which stood since 1970.

This year, though, Raleigh has really come into his own, even becoming the first major catcher to win a home run derby. Fans relish every swing; it almost feels like he’s in the zone all the time.

The Mariners, also eyeing a postseason bid, find themselves 2.5 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West. They currently occupy the final wildcard spot in the American League, while Perez’s Royals trail by the same margin.

As September approaches, expectations are high for Raleigh to extend his record-breaking totals, with hopes that he might help lead the Mariners to a shot at the World Series title.