In 1970, Johnny Bench hit 45 home runs for the Reds. And for years, for catchers, that was the mark to beat in a season.
Salvador Perez hit 48 in 2021, setting a new mark for guys who play catcher for at least 75% of their games.
But in 2025, the way Cal Raleigh was hitting, it was always clear that barring injury, he was going to be able to beat Perez's mark. And today, he did.
With his 48th and 49th home runs of the season, he has exclusive rights to the record.
Cal Raleigh keeps crushing his way through history
https://t.co/wE85uukya7 pic.twitter.com/uzdc99XRlN
— MLB (@MLB) August 24, 2025
As it's still August, he'll almost certainly have the chance to shatter the mark and raise the bar high for future catchers who want to tackle his mark.
In fact, the catcher is on a 62-tour pace. That would be enough to match Aaron Judge's mark of 62 in 2022. That's still, to this day, the record in American League history.
Cal Raleigh is on pace for 62 home runs, which would:
Tie Aaron Judge's AL record (2022)
Tie for 7th-most HR in a single season all-time pic.twitter.com/CuPExaAVd1
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) August 24, 2025
Do we still think Judge is the MVP of the American in 2025 or not?
It's crazy to see that a catcher like Raleigh, who also plays in a stadium that favors pitchers, has already reached 49 home runs this season. That's quite a feat, and it doesn't happen every year.
So we have to take advantage of it.
The next step for the man nicknamed Big Ass will be to make sure he gets his team into the playoffs. It's not guaranteed, and he'll have to work hard to get the Mariners to the fall dance.

- Things are going well for the pitcher.
Trevor Rogers gets a standing ovation coming off the field and sends some love back to the crowd.
That's now NINE straight starts of at least six innings allowing two runs or less.
His season ERA is 1.40.
(Via: @jcalvinmeyer) pic.twitter.com/AYCWWox0pt
– Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 24, 2025
- Vladdy should be back at it tomorrow.
Blue Jays played it safe by not asking Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to take the field after pinch hitting today, but manager John Schneider indicated that Guerrero Jr. should be available vs. Twins. “Going forward, I'd expect him to be back in there,” Schneider said.
– Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) August 24, 2025
- Please note.
Le Taïwan remporte la Série mondiale des petites ligues pour la première fois depuis 1996
— RDS (@RDSca) August 24, 2025
This content was created with the help of AI.
Tie Aaron Judge's AL record (2022)