Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh made history on Friday, breaking a long-standing record set by Hall of Famer Johnny Bench in 1970.
Raleigh hit his 28th and 29th home runs of the season during the Mariners’ 9-4 win over the Chicago Cubs, surpassing Bench’s previous mark for home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break.
Setting the New Record
Raleigh, 28, hit his 29th home run in the seventh inning, taking a 9-4 lead for the Mariners with a blast to the left-field bleachers off Cubs pitcher Caleb Thielbar. This home run marked Raleigh’s fifth go-ahead home run in the seventh inning or later this season, leading all of Major League Baseball.
Breaking Bench’s record in just 73 games—14 fewer than Bench’s 87 games in 1970—Raleigh achieved the feat with 22 games to spare before the All-Star Game. Bench, who was a 14-time All-Star and one of the greatest catchers of all time, expressed his gratitude and excitement about being mentioned alongside such a legend.
A Historic Night for Raleigh
In addition to setting the record, Raleigh had a standout game with three hits, including his first homer off Matthew Boyd in the first inning. His two-home-run performance was his sixth multi-homer game of the season, tying him with Mike Piazza for the second-most multi-homer games in a season by a catcher.
Piazza set the record in 1995 with 6 multi-homer games in 112 games.
Raleigh’s performance pushed his season total to 63 RBIs, adding to his growing reputation as one of baseball’s top sluggers.
A Historic Performance by Mitch Garver
Meanwhile, Mariners teammate Mitch Garver, who was also a catcher, added two homers and drove in five RBIs in the same game as the designated hitter. Together, Raleigh and Garver became the first pair of primary catchers to each hit two home runs in the same game since 1979, when Joe Ferguson and Steve Yeager of the Los Angeles Dodgers did the same.
A Special Moment in Baseball History
As Raleigh and Garver stole the show, their performance overshadowed a historic moment for the Cubs, as Sammy Sosa returned to Wrigley Field for the first time in more than 20 years.
Cal Raleigh’s two-home-run game not only made history but solidified his place as one of the most powerful catchers in baseball today. His record-breaking 29 home runs before the All-Star break is a testament to his incredible talent and is a feat that baseball fans will remember for years to come.
