Cal Raleigh Catcher Home Run Record: Where It Ranks All-Time

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is rewriting the history books in 2025. He’s delivering one of the most electrifying power-hitting seasons anyone’s ever seen from a catcher.

In a wild two-homer game against the Oakland Athletics, Raleigh launched his 48th and 49th home runs of the year. That broke Salvador Perez’s single-season home run record for a catcher.

With more than a month left to play, Raleigh isn’t just chasing catcher milestones. He’s also making a run at records set by some of baseball’s greatest sluggers, all while keeping the Mariners in the postseason hunt.

Breaking Records and Making History

Raleigh just surpassed the 2021 mark of 48 home runs set by Perez. What makes this even more remarkable is how consistent he’s been over the past three seasons.

After back-to-back years with 30-plus home runs, the switch-hitting catcher has taken his game to a whole new level in 2025. Of his 49 homers, nine have come as the designated hitter, but he’s still doing most of his damage behind the plate.

Only legendary names like Javy Lopez, Mike Piazza, and Johnny Bench have ever put up numbers like this as primary catchers.

Leading the League from Behind the Plate

Raleigh isn’t just setting records for catchers. He currently leads all of Major League Baseball in home runs.

If he manages to finish the season on top, he’d be the first catcher to claim the home run crown since Johnny Bench in the 1970s. That says a lot about Raleigh’s skill and his durability—he’s played in nearly every game this year.

Defying Ballpark Factors

Part of what makes Raleigh’s season so impressive is how he’s thriving in pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park. Most power hitters see their numbers dip in Seattle because of the ballpark’s size and the weather.

But Raleigh doesn’t seem fazed, hitting 24 home runs at home and 25 on the road. That balance really shows his power surge is no fluke.

The Switch-Hitting Chase for Mantle

As a switch-hitter, Raleigh is now within striking distance of Mickey Mantle’s record of 54 home runs in a season—the most ever by a switch-hitter. With the way he’s been swinging, he might even pass Mantle’s mark.

He could also approach Ken Griffey Jr.’s franchise record of 56 home runs, which Griffey set in both 1997 and 1998. That would be something to see.

Joining Baseball’s 50-Homer Club

If Raleigh can reach 50 homers, he’d join a pretty exclusive list—just the 51st season of 50 or more in MLB history. That club is packed with Hall of Famers and a few surprises.

Some notable members include:

• Johnny Bench
• Mark McGwire
• Sammy Sosa
• Brady Anderson (50 in 1996)
• Jose Bautista (54 in 2010)

From Breakout to Backbone

Like Anderson and Bautista, Raleigh’s season has caught a lot of folks off guard outside Seattle. But inside the Mariners clubhouse, it feels like the next step for a guy whose power keeps growing.

The Mariners are counting on that bat more than ever as they fight through the final stretch of a tight playoff race.

The Road Ahead

Raleigh’s strikeouts have ticked up in August, which isn’t unusual—catchers take on a heavy load. Still, his durability stands out.

He’s played nearly every day, and that’s been a huge part of Seattle’s success in 2025. Let’s see if he can keep it rolling.

Could This Be the Mariners’ Most Historic Season?

With a playoff berth within reach, Raleigh has positioned himself as one of the best catchers in baseball today. He’s also become one of the most dangerous sluggers in any lineup.

If his bat stays hot through September, fans in the Pacific Northwest might witness a season etched in Mariners lore for decades. In a summer where home runs are flying and history is up for grabs, Cal Raleigh isn’t just chasing records—he’s redefining what’s possible from the catcher’s position.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Where Cal Raleigh’s catcher home run record ranks among all-time surprising power seasons