Cal Raleigh Historic Season: The baseball world turned its attention to Seattle in late September 2025 when catcher Cal Raleigh crushed two homers in a single game to reach 60 home runs for the season — a landmark few players have ever reached. That night the Mariners clinched the AL West, Raleigh rewrote several positional and switch-hitter records, and the “single-season homer” conversation — and its all-time context — went into overdrive.
This long-form guide unpacks Raleigh’s season, explains where 60 homers sits in MLB history, compares the American League and MLB records, covers roster context (JP Crawford, manager Dan Wilson and the Mariners), and gives practical takeaways for fans, fantasy players and casual readers.
Quick snapshot — the headlines: Cal Raleigh Historic Season
- What happened: Cal Raleigh hit two home runs on Sept. 25, 2025 (game vs. Colorado) to reach 60 homers in 2025 and helped the Mariners clinch the AL West.
- Why it matters: Raleigh became the seventh player in MLB history to reach 60 in one season — and the first catcher ever to do so. Those are rarefied company: Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Aaron Judge.
- Where that ranks all-time: The MLB single-season home run record remains Barry Bonds — 73 (2001); the American League single-season record is Aaron Judge’s 62 (2022). Raleigh’s 60 slots him directly into the historical top tier.
1) Cal Raleigh — who he is (short bio and age)
Caleb John Raleigh (born November 26, 1996) is a catcher for the Seattle Mariners. A third-round pick out of Florida State (2018), Raleigh debuted in 2021 and grew into one of baseball’s most fearsome power threats. As of this writing he is 28 years old and has emerged as a frontline offensive force while also handling the rigors of catching duties.
2) The milestone night — how Raleigh got to 60
On Sept. 25, 2025, in a 9–2 win over the Colorado Rockies, Raleigh belted two home runs — a mammoth 438-foot shot to the upper deck and another long blast later in the game — bringing his season total to 60 and powering the Mariners to an AL West clinch. Multiple outlets (AP, Reuters, MLB) reported that he finished the night 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a two-run double — a statement game in an already spectacular season.
3) Historical context — who’s hit 60 or more?
Hitting 60 homers in a single season has been achieved by very few players. Before Raleigh’s 2025 run, those who’d reached or surpassed 60 were: Babe Ruth (60 in 1927), Roger Maris (61 in 1961), Mark McGwire (70 in 1998; 65 in 1999), Sammy Sosa (66 in 1998; 63 in 1999; 64 in 2001), Barry Bonds (73 in 2001) and Aaron Judge (62 in 2022). Raleigh joins that elite group, becoming the seventh player to reach the 60-HR plateau. That’s a seismic achievement — doubly so because he reached it as a catcher.
4) AL vs MLB single-season records — where Raleigh fits
- MLB single-season record: Barry Bonds — 73 (2001).
- American League single-season record: Aaron Judge — 62 (2022).
Raleigh’s 60 is below Bonds and Judge’s top mark but it places him ahead of nearly every other season in history. Importantly, he becomes the first catcher ever to reach 60, rewriting positional expectations about power production from behind the plate.
5) Records Raleigh broke or approached
Raleigh’s 2025 campaign set and challenged several important benchmarks:
- Most homers by a catcher in a single season: Raleigh surpassed Salvador Perez’s 48 (2021) and other previous positional highs to set a new record for catchers.
- Most homers by a switch-hitter in a season: Raleigh’s total also eclipsed previous switch-hitter records (Mickey Mantle’s 54 in 1961 among the notable historical tallies).
Those positional milestones increase Raleigh’s historical significance beyond simply joining the 60-HR club. They reshape positional expectations and highlight the modern ability of catchers to be premier run creators.
6) Mariners season & standings — team context
Raleigh’s outburst came at a time when the Mariners were surging. Seattle clinched the AL West in 2025 (their first division title since 2001), with a record and run differential that showed a balanced offense and improved pitching. Official standings show the Mariners finishing the regular season with a strong record and a run differential reflecting offensive firepower. Raleigh’s power was a crucial factor in the club’s late-season run.
7) Supporting cast — JP Crawford, Julio Rodríguez, and coaching
Cal’s power numbers didn’t come alone. The Mariners’ lineup construction — speed and on-base work at the top, power threats like Julio Rodríguez and role fulcrums like J.P. Crawford — helped produce lineup protection and run opportunities. J.P. Crawford, Seattle’s long-time shortstop, has delivered key moments for the club in 2025 and provided veteran security at the top of the order. On the dugout side, former Mariners catcher Dan Wilson (now in a managerial role with the club since 2024) has been credited with guiding pitchers and catchers and helping the club’s overall culture.
8) What this means for awards and legacy
- AL MVP conversation: With 60 homers and an elite run-production profile (RBIs and OPS among league leaders), Raleigh is a leading AL MVP candidate in 2025. Voters weigh position (catcher), defense and playing time, but historical comparisons put him squarely in the conversation.
- Rookie/position legacy: Raleigh’s performance resets expectations for catchers as true middle-of-the-order sluggers and will likely push teams and evaluators to reconsider how they value defensive workload vs offensive upside behind the plate.
9) Fantasy & betting takeaways — how to treat a late-season surge
- Fantasy baseball: Raleigh’s explosive totals mean huge seasonal point totals — but his value in dynasty and redraft formats depends on playing time stability and catcher scarcity. If he remains an everyday catcher with continued power, he’s a top fantasy asset. Monitor lineup protection and health updates.
- Betting: Raleigh’s power helps Mariners run lines and impacts run total markets. Bettors should use official lineup confirmations and pitcher matchups when making short-term wagers; Raleigh’s presence makes games against pitchers with high home-run rates especially volatile.
10) How rare is this feat in modern baseball?
Very rare. Even in the power-surge eras of the late 1990s and early 2000s, only a handful of batters breached 60. Since the beginning of the modern era (post-1900), only seven players (including Raleigh) have reached the 60 threshold — an exclusive club reflecting exceptional power, playing time and durability across a full season. Raleigh’s addition to that list is a historical event.
11) What to watch next — the postseason and legacy implications
- Playoffs: If the Mariners go deep in the postseason, Raleigh’s bat will be tested against top playoff arms — and postseason performance can cement versus complicate a season’s legacy.
- Offseason expectations: Teams will track his workload and health — catching remains physically demanding and teams will be cautious about extending heavy workloads if it risks injury.
- Record chase: With four games left in the season when he hit 60, there’s a narrow but real chance of reaching or exceeding the AL single-season record (Aaron Judge’s 62), depending on how many games remained and matchups. (Judge set 62 in 2022.)
Sources — verified links
Below are the authoritative sources used for facts in this article. Each link was live and checked on September 25, 2025.
- Reuters — Cal Raleigh reaches 60 HRs as Mariners clinch AL West title. (Reuters)
https://www.reuters.com/sports/cal-raleigh-reaches-60-hrs-mariners-clinch-al-west-title–flm-2025-09-25/ - Associated Press — Cal Raleigh hits his 60th home run of the season. (AP News)
https://apnews.com/article/2f9405b191442e8e8aaface1b42f787e - MLB.com — Cal Raleigh player bio and game coverage: Cal reaches 60 (coverage & highlights). (MLB.com)
https://www.mlb.com/mariners/player/cal-raleigh-663728
https://www.mlb.com/news/cal-raleigh-60-homer-chase - Baseball-Reference — Single-Season Leaders & Records for Home Runs (all-time list). (Baseball Reference)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/HR_season.shtml - ESPN — Cal Raleigh season breakdown and context. (ESPN.com)
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46346548/mlb-2025-cal-raleigh-mariners-60-home-runs-record-history - MLB Standings (official) — 2025 MLB standings (Mariners AL West position). (MLB.com)
https://www.mlb.com/standings - MLB player pages — J.P. Crawford and Dan Wilson bios. (MLB.com)
https://www.mlb.com/mariners/player/j-p-crawford-641487
https://www.mlb.com/player/dan-wilson-124383
Final take
Cal Raleigh’s 60-home-run season is both a personal triumph and a modern baseball milestone. It’s rare for catchers to deliver this kind of slugging output across a full season; it’s even rarer to join the 60-HR club. Whether you’re a Mariners fan reveling in a division title, a stats nerd comparing eras, a fantasy manager, or a casual observer, Raleigh’s 2025 campaign will be discussed and analyzed for years. History books just got one more unforgettable chapter — and the postseason will decide how brightly it shines.
Disclaimer
This article is informational and based on reporting and official records available as of September 25, 2025. It does not constitute financial, legal, or professional sports advice. For up-to-the-minute lineups, injury updates and official statistics, consult MLB.com, team sites and trusted sports news organizations. Images used in this article are royalty‑free or licensed for commercial use and are provided here for illustrative purposes.