Cal Raleigh made history on Friday night by hitting his 28th and 29th home runs of the season, surpassing the legendary Johnny Bench’s record for the most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break. The Seattle Mariners triumphed over the Chicago Cubs 9-4, with Raleigh’s first homer coming off Matthew Boyd and the record-breaking shot landing in the left-field bleachers off Caleb Thielbar.
Raleigh’s impressive feat took only 73 games, breaking Bench’s record, which was achieved in 87 games, with 22 games remaining before the All-Star Game. Raleigh expressed his gratitude for being compared with one of the greatest catchers of all time, noting, “Any time you’re mentioned in even the same sentence with one of the best, if not the best ever to do it, is a special thing.”
His five go-ahead home runs in the seventh inning or later this season are the highest in Major League Baseball. Raleigh’s achievement places him alongside baseball legends, as he ties Mike Piazza for the second-most multihomer games in a season for catchers, trailing only Javy Lopez.
In addition to Raleigh’s standout performance, Mariners’ Mitch Garver also shone by hitting two home runs and driving in five runs, marking a significant night for Seattle’s catchers. The pair became the first primary catchers for a team to hit two homers each in a game since the Dodgers’ Joe Ferguson and Steve Yeager in 1979.
This remarkable night not only highlights the Mariners’ offensive prowess but also sets an exciting tone for the season as they continue to challenge for a playoff spot. The combination of talent exhibited by players like Raleigh and Garver reinforces the potential for Seattle to make a significant impact this year.