Cal Raleigh isn’t looking to give up his home run lead anytime soon. The Seattle Mariners catcher hit his 50th homer on Monday night against the San Diego Padres.
The 419-foot upper deck shot at T-Mobile Park was historic, as Raleigh became the first catcher in MLB history to hit 50 home runs in a single season. Salvador Perez held the record previously with 48.
Now the question is, where will Raleigh be by season’s end?
ESPN’s Jeff Passan and David Schoenfield wondered if Raleigh could reach Roger Maris’s 61 homers, set back in 1961.
“Under 61, but not by much. The Seattle Mariners have 31 games remaining,” Passan said. “Raleigh has had two distinct 31-game spans this year in which he has hit at least a dozen home runs — the number he needs to get to 61 — so it’s possible. Now that he has passed Salvador Perez for the most in a season by a catcher, Raleigh can target the Mariners’ franchise record of 56 set by Ken Griffey Jr. in 1997.”
After Monday’s game, the Mariners have 30 games left. Schoenfield also predicted Raleigh would fall short of 61.
“His pace has slowed since the All-Star break — which isn’t surprising because he was on a 64-homer pace at the time,” Schoenfield said. “He has had just one day off since the break, and the strikeouts have piled up in August, including a five-strikeout game and several three-strikeout games. Is Raleigh finally getting worn down from playing nearly every game? In other words: under 61.”
Maris’s 61 homers stood for 37 years until Mark McGwire broke it, finishing the 1998 season with 70. Others have since surpassed Maris as well, including Sammy Sosa, Aaron Judge, and the all-time single-season home run leader, Barry Bonds.
Raleigh may not reach the coveted 61, but this season won’t be forgotten anytime soon by the Mariners catcher.