Cal Raleigh's 2025 campaign has been one of the best seasons in MLB history, especially considering his position.
The Mariners' switch-hitter has flirted with leading the MLB in home runs all season, something rare for a catcher. While that is impressive in and of itself, he has produced that much power while catching almost every day and trying to help maximize one of the best pitching staffs in the game.
Typically, catcher is a defense-first position, with most catchers focusing on their work behind the plate compared to their offense. Therefore, this kind of power out of the position is rare compared to others, which allowed Raleigh the chance to stamp his name in the MLB record books.
Here's a look at the primary catchers who hit the most home runs in MLB history.
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1. Cal Raleigh, 50, Mariners (2025)
Cal Raleigh has broken Salvador Perez's record. The switch-hitter hit two home runs on August 24 to tie and surpass the Royals catcher for most home runs by a catcher in a single season. Raleigh had passed Johnny Bench for most homers by a catcher before the All-Star break.
He tied Bench with a solo shot against the Rays, came within one of Perez during the Little League Classic on Sunday, Aug. 17, and etched his name in the history book with No. 48 in Seattle's 130th game of the season.
No. 4️⃣8️⃣!
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 24, 2025
Big Dumper has tied the all-time single-season home run record for a catcher 🔥 #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/HT3anJzm5E
Raleigh and Perez were tied for the record for about an hour. The switch-hitting catcher hit his second home run of the game and took the all-time record for himself with a month left in the 2025 regular season to push it even higher.
CAL RALEIGH'S 49TH HOMER! THE MOST BY A CATCHER IN A SEASON IN MLB HISTORY! pic.twitter.com/wFXLoCkQyG
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 24, 2025
MORE: The list of most home runs ever hit before the MLB All-Star break
2. Salvador Perez, 48, Royals (2021)
In 2021, Salvador Perez exploded with 48 home runs to set the record for most homers by a catcher in a single-season. He broke Johnny Bench's previous record, which stood for 51 years, and capped off a career-season by tying the Royals' franchise home run record as well.
SALVY 🙌
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 20, 2021
Salvador Perez breaks the MLB record for most HR by a catcher in a single season (46)
(via @Royals)pic.twitter.com/WY199R3y4a
No. 48 for @SalvadorPerez15 ties the @Royals record for most in a season 🤯 pic.twitter.com/tdpVQsrZap
— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2021
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3. Johnny Bench, 45, Reds (1970)
For a while it seemed like Johnny Bench's record of 45 home runs would stand as the most ever by a catcher. The Reds Hall of Famer set the record in 1970 on his way to winning his first of two MVP awards, producing not just 45 home runs but also 148 RBIs, which would both lead the league and turn out to be career-highs.
Today In 1970: Cincinnati #Reds catcher Johnny Bench is named the National League MVP after leading the league with 45 HR and 148 RBI! #MLB #Legend #MVP #Baseball #History pic.twitter.com/462RrDQzBE
— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) November 18, 2024MORE: Everything to know about history of Tommy John surgery in baseball
4. Javy Lopez, 43, Braves (2003)
In the late-1990s and early-2000s, Javy Lopez was one of the better catchers in the league, but his career-best season came as a 32-year-old in 2003 with the Braves. Lopez slugged 43 homers, which was nine more than his previous career-high and only the second time he surpassed 30 in his career. However, Lopez did set the record of most home runs in games while playing catcher, as opposed to pinch-hitting or serving as DH, with 42.
July 20, 2003 | Mets at Braves
— Braves on TBS (@BravesOnWTBS) July 20, 2025
“Three-run homer Javy López and just like that, it’s a one run game!” - Skip Caray pic.twitter.com/1dDqPobTTIMORE: 16 NFL stars you didn't know were drafted by MLB teams
5-T. Roy Campanella, 41, Dodgers (1953)
The first catcher to ever surpass 40 homers in a season was Roy Campanella, who did so in 1953. On his way to winning his second of three MVP awards, Campanella hit 41 homers with a league-leading 142 RBIs for the Brooklyn Dodgers, which would set the record for 17 years until Johnny Bench broke it.
MORE: What are the longest blasts in HR Derby history?
5-T. Todd Hundley, 41, Mets (1996)
In 1996 at the age of 27, Todd Hundley hit a shocking 41 home runs for the Mets, which was 25 more than his previous career-high. Hundley made the first of two career All-Star appearances and set the Mets single-season record, which would stand for 10 years until Carlos Beltran tied it and 23 years until Pete Alonso broke it.
9/14/1996: Todd Hundley hit his 41st and final home run of the season. That was good for at least a share of the #Mets’ single-season record until Pete Alonso broke it in 2019.#LGM (via MLB) @genymets @RisingAppleBlog pic.twitter.com/rCjqaTQrsm
— MLB Daily Dingers (@MLBDailyDingers) February 22, 20247-T. Johnny Bench, 40, Reds (1972)
Two years after he hit 45 home runs, Johnny Bench reached the 40 home-run mark again in 1972, which helped him win his second MVP award. In doing so, Bench became the first catcher in MLB history to hit 40 home runs twice in his career, and he was alone on that list for 27 years.
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7-T. Mike Piazza, 40, Dodgers (1997)
Mike Piazza is known as one of the best-hitting catchers in MLB history, which was highlighted by his prime from 1993 to 2002 when he hit at least 30 home runs nine times in 10 seasons. In 1997, during his final full season with the Dodgers, Piazza cracked 40 home runs for the first time in his career while totaling a career-high .362 batting average and finishing second in MVP voting.
Mike Piazza's home run, over the left field pavilion and out of Dodger Stadium, 1997. pic.twitter.com/NYUSY1zjud
— Dodgers Archive (@DodgersArchive) February 17, 2021MORE: Ranking the 13 greatest Home Run Derby performances in history
7-T. Mike Piazza, 40, Mets (1999)
After the Dodgers traded Piazza to the Marlins during the 1998 season, Florida flipped the catcher to the Mets where he would continue his success. In his first full season as a Met, Piazza had his second 40-homer campaign and came one home run short of Todd Hundley's franchise record. Piazza also produced 124 RBIs, which tied his career-high from 1997.
4/28/1999 Mike Piazza slugs a walk-off two-run home run off of Trevor Hoffman to beat the Padres 4-3.@mikepiazza31 pic.twitter.com/PYjiQmWmfj
— This Day in Mets History (@NYMhistory) April 28, 2023MORE: Ranking the worst 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' performances ever
