Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is rewriting baseball history in 2024. He’s delivering one of the most remarkable seasons we’ve ever seen from behind the plate.
In a jaw-dropping late-season run, Raleigh broke the single-season home run record for catchers. Then he just kept going, pushing it to heights nobody expected.
His mix of historic power, elite defense, and real leadership has thrown him deep into the American League MVP race. These days, that battle’s about more than just offense—it’s about the whole package.
Cal Raleigh Shatters the Catcher Home Run Record
In the Mariners’ final game against the Oakland Athletics, Raleigh tied and then broke the long-standing single-season home run record for catchers. He crushed his 48th and 49th homers right out of the park.
Just a few days later, he hit number 50 against the San Diego Padres. No catcher has ever done that in a single season—until now.
This puts Raleigh in a league of his own. Even with today’s offensive fireworks, hardly anyone dominates like this from such a brutal defensive spot.
Catchers take a beating every day. That makes Raleigh’s power numbers even more impressive, honestly.
The Historical Significance of 50 Home Runs as a Catcher
For some perspective, legends like Mike Piazza, Johnny Bench, and Roy Campanella never got to 50 homers in a single season. Raleigh’s name just got stamped into the history books for good.
Future catchers will look at this as the new gold standard. That’s a wild thought.
The MVP Race: Raleigh vs. Judge
Raleigh’s surge comes at a time when the American League MVP talk is getting heated. His main competition? Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, who’s always been known for monster stats.
Judge still leads in OPS (On-base Plus Slugging), but Raleigh’s all-around game is closing the gap. It’s closer than people might think.
Both guys are sitting at 7.3 fWAR (Wins Above Replacement) right now. Statistically, it’s a toss-up.
But Judge, stuck at designated hitter because of an elbow injury, can’t really help defensively. That’s where Raleigh stands out big time.
Defense: The Great Equalizer
Raleigh’s more than just a power threat. He brings Gold Glove–caliber work behind the plate and took home the Platinum Glove Award last year.
He handles pitchers, frames pitches, and shuts down the running game. Those are things that box scores don’t capture, but voters notice.
Leadership in the Clubhouse
Part of Raleigh’s MVP buzz comes from stuff you can’t measure. ESPN’s Jeff Passan told Seattle Sports’ *Brock and Salk* show that if the MVP vote happened today, Raleigh might be the guy.
Passan pointed out Raleigh’s leadership presence, not just his stats. That’s a big deal in a close race.
Raleigh’s steady voice in the clubhouse keeps the Mariners on track. Teammates and coaches say he helps the pitching staff stay focused and motivates the team when it matters.
In a tight MVP race, that kind of influence could tip the scales.
The Complete MVP Profile
When it comes to MVP value, voters look beyond just home runs and averages. Raleigh’s season checks every box:
- Historic Power: First catcher to ever hit 50 in a season.
- Elite Defense: Platinum Glove winner and a real pro at handling pitchers.
- Durability: He’s been the rock of the Mariners’ lineup, playing one of the toughest spots in the game.
- Leadership: The kind of guy who lifts the whole team, not just himself.
Raleigh’s Place in Baseball History
No matter where the MVP voting lands, Cal Raleigh’s 2024 season stands out as one of the greatest ever by a catcher. He’s set a new offensive bar for the position.
At the same time, Raleigh has kept up his defensive work and brought real leadership to a contending team. Mariners fans know how rare it is to witness a catcher who does it all.
For baseball as a whole, this is the kind of year that changes what we expect from someone behind the plate. Maybe it’ll even shake up how folks talk about the MVP race in the future.
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Here is the source article for this story: Seattle Mariners: Raleigh’s MVP resume has underrated aspect
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