With a mighty swing in Atlanta on September 7th, Cal Raleigh (C, SEA) sent his 53rd home run of the 2025 season soaring into the stands, further extending his all-time single-season record for home runs by a catcher. Raleigh had already eclipsed Johnny Bench's previous mark of 45 (set in 1970) nearly a month ago on August 10th, breaking a hallowed record that had stood for 55 years. With 16 games remaining, "The Big Dumper" continues adding to his historic total, redefining what's possible for a backstop in the power department.

But where does Raleigh's power-packed 2025 campaign rank among the greatest catching seasons ever? Is his record-breaking power display enough to place him among great catching legends like Johnny Bench (C,CIN), Mike Piazza (C, NYM), and Gary Carter (C, MON)?

THE RECORD-BREAKING POWER DISPLAY
Raleigh's 53 home runs have shattered the previous catcher record by a stunning eight homers and counting, creating a new benchmark that may stand for decades. His slugging percentage of .573 would rank among the best all-time for the position, while his 162 OPS+ shows he's been 62% better than a league-average hitter this season when adjusting for park factors.

What makes Raleigh's power surge even more impressive is the context. He plays half his games at T-Mobile Park, historically one of baseball's most pitcher-friendly venues.

"What Cal's doing this year is absolutely bonkers," said former Mariners catcher Dan Wilson during a recent broadcast. "Catchers just don't hit 50 home runs. It's not supposed to be possible with the physical demands of the position."

HOW RALEIGH STACKS UP: THE WAR METRIC
While Raleigh's power numbers are historic, his overall season currently ranks around 59th all-time among catchers according to Baseball-Reference's Wins Above Replacement (WAR) metric, with 5.8 WAR accumulated so far. This places him well behind the all-time great catcher seasons, such as Mike Piazza's 8.7 WAR campaign in 1997, Gary Carter's 8.6 WAR season in 1982, and Johnny Bench's 8.6 WAR year in 1972.

All-Time Great Catcher Seasons by WAR

Rank Player Year Team WAR HR BA OBP SLG OPS+ oWAR dWAR
1 Mike Piazza 1997 LAD 8.7 40 .362 .431 .638 185 9.0 0.5
2 Gary Carter 1982 MON 8.6 29 .293 .381 .510 146 6.9 2.8
3 Johnny Bench 1972 CIN 8.6 40 .270 .379 .541 166 6.9 2.4
4 Johnny Bench 1974 CIN 7.9 33 .280 .363 .507 143 6.7 2.1
5 Joe Mauer 2009 MIN 7.8 28 .365 .444 .587 171 7.7 0.7
6 Darrell Porter 1979 KCR 7.6 20 .291 .421 .484 142 6.8 1.8
7 Buster Posey 2012 SFG 7.6 24 .336 .408 .549 171 7.3 0.8
8 Johnny Bench 1970 CIN 7.4 45 .293 .345 .587 141 6.3 1.8
9 Gary Carter 1984 MON 7.4 27 .294 .366 .487 143 6.5 1.8
10 Carlton Fisk 1972 BOS 7.3 22 .293 .370 .538 162 7.3 1.0
12 Yadier Molina 2012 STL 7.2 22 .315 .373 .501 137 5.1 2.9
21 Javy López 2003 ATL 6.8 43 .328 .378 .687 169 6.4 1.1
59 Cal Raleigh 2025 SEA 5.8 53 .241 .352 .573 162 6.5 -0.1

Data source: Baseball-Reference.com (as of September 11, 2025)

So why doesn't Raleigh's season rank higher despite his record-setting power? Two factors stand out: batting average and defense.

THE BATTING AVERAGE ANCHOR
Raleigh's .241 batting average, while respectable for a power-hitting catcher in today's game, sits significantly lower than the marks posted during the all-time great catcher seasons. Among the top 25 catcher seasons by WAR, the average batting average is .305—a full 64 points higher than Raleigh's current mark.

Mike Piazza
Mike Piazza 1999

For comparison:

  • Mike Piazza hit .362 during his 8.7 WAR season in 1997.
  • Joe Mauer batted .365 in his 7.8 WAR campaign in 2009.
  • Buster Posey hit .336 during his 7.6 WAR season in 2012.

Even Johnny Bench, known more for power than for average, batted .270 during his 8.6 WAR season in 1972.

Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench 1970

The batting average disparity creates a significant gap in on-base value that even Raleigh's historic home run total can't completely overcome. His .352 on-base percentage, while solid, also trails the elite catcher seasons, most of which featured OBPs over .370.

"If Raleigh were hitting .280 or .290 with this kind of power, we'd be talking about perhaps the greatest catching season ever," said Mariners broadcaster Aaron Goldsmith. "The average is the only thing keeping this from being an all-time offensive campaign."

THE DEFENSIVE COMPONENT
The second factor affecting Raleigh's overall WAR ranking is defense. With a -0.1 dWAR (Defensive Wins Above Replacement), Raleigh rates as a slightly below-average defender this season. By comparison, the top catcher seasons typically feature strong defensive contributions:

  • Gary Carter: +2.8 dWAR (1982)
  • Yadier Molina: +2.9 dWAR (2012)
  • Johnny Bench: +2.4 dWAR (1972)
  • Thurman Munson: +2.1 dWAR (1973)

These defensive wizards boosted their overall value significantly through their work behind the plate. Molina's 2012 season is particularly notable—his 7.2 WAR included a substantial 2.9 dWAR contribution, showing how defense can elevate a solid offensive season (137 OPS+) into an all-time great campaign.

RALEIGH'S OFFENSIVE WAR: A MORE TELLING STORY
While Raleigh's overall WAR may not crack the all-time top 25, his offensive contribution tells a different story. His current 5.9 oWAR (Offensive WAR)] ranks among the elite offensive seasons by catchers in baseball history.

For perspective, Raleigh's 5.9 oWAR would rank just outside the top 20 all-time for the position, placing his offensive output ahead of legendary seasons like Roy Campanella's MVP season in 1953 (5.8 oWAR) and nearly matching Johnny Bench's MVP campaign in 1970 (6.3 oWAR).

"What Cal is doing with the bat this year puts him in truly elite company," said Mariners manager Scott Servais, a former catcher himself. "The power numbers are obviously historic, but his overall offensive contribution—the walks, the clutch hits, the run production—that's what makes this season special."

THE ALL-TIME GREATS: CONTEXT AND COMPARISON
To fully appreciate Raleigh's 2025 campaign, let's examine some of the seasons he's being measured against:

MIKE PIAZZA (1997): THE OFFENSIVE STANDARD
Piazza's 1997 season with the Dodgers remains the gold standard for offensive production from a catcher. His statistics were video-game-like:

  • .362/.431/.638 slash line
  • 40 HR, 124 RBI
  • 185 OPS+, 9.0 oWAR, 8.7 total WAR

GARY CARTER (1982): THE COMPLETE PACKAGE
Carter's 1982 campaign with Montreal epitomizes the ideal balance between offense and defense:

  • .293/.381/.510 slash line
  • 29 HR, 97 RBI
  • 146 OPS+, 6.9 oWAR, 8.6 total WAR

JOHNNY BENCH (1972): THE GOLD STANDARD
Bench's 1972 MVP season represents perhaps the most complete catching season ever:

  • .270/.379/.541 slash line
  • 40 HR, 125 RBI
  • 166 OPS+, 6.9 oWAR, 8.6 total WAR

JOE MAUER (2009): THE BATTING TITLE SEASON
Mauer's 2009 MVP campaign showcased a different type of offensive excellence:

  • .365/.444/.587 slash line
  • 28 HR, 96 RBI
  • 171 OPS+, 7.7 oWAR, 7.8 total WAR
    Mauer became the first catcher to win three batting titles and the first in the American League to do so since the 1930s. While his 28 homers pale in comparison to Raleigh's 53, his exceptional on-base skills created similar overall offensive value.

THE HISTORIC CONTEXT OF RALEIGH'S POWER

Raleigh's 53 home runs deserve special recognition. Consider these facts:

  1. Prior to 2025, only six catchers had ever hit 40+ home runs in a season: Salvador Perez (48), Johnny Bench (45), Javy López (43), Todd Hundley (41), Roy Campanella (41), and Mike Piazza (40, twice).
  2. Raleigh has already exceeded the previous record by eight home runs, with 16 games still remaining.
  3. His 53 homers would currently rank as one of the top 100 single-season totals by any player at any position in MLB history.
  4. He's on pace for approximately 58 home runs, which would place him near the top 20 single-season totals of all time.

Mariners hitting coach Jarret DeHart put it in perspective: "The physical toll of catching makes 40 homers exceptional—50-plus is entering a completely different stratosphere."

THE VERDICT: WHERE DOES RALEIGH RANK?
So where does Cal Raleigh's 2025 season stand? The answer depends on how you weigh the components of value:

  • Pure Power Production: It is, without question, the greatest power-hitting season ever by a catcher, eclipsing the previous home run record by a substantial margin.
  • Offensive Value (oWAR): Raleigh's season ranks among the top 20-25 offensive seasons ever by a catcher, placing him in elite historical company.
  • Overall Value (WAR): His 5.8 WAR currently places him outside the top 50 all-time, held back by a low batting average and slightly below-average defensive metrics.
  • Historical Significance: As the new single-season home run king for catchers, Raleigh's 2025 campaign will be remembered regardless of where it ranks in overall WAR.
"Baseball isn't just about WAR," said Mariners broadcaster Dave Sims. "What Cal is doing this year is special in a way that transcends a single metric. He's rewriting what we thought was possible."

With 16 games remaining, a strong finishing kick could push Raleigh's season total toward 6.5 WAR, potentially moving him into the top 35 all-time.

Ultimately, Cal Raleigh's 2025 season may not be the best all-around catching season ever, but it is one of the most significant. The record books have been rewritten, and "The Big Dumper" has blasted his way into baseball history.