Cal Raleigh’s historic slump places Mariners in 19th-century company
The Seattle Mariners catcher is batting .156, a performance that now sits second only to an 1885 New York Giants slugger among qualified hitters.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is currently batting .156 in 391 plate appearances during the 2026 season, a statistical anomaly that places him in rare company within Major League Baseball history. According to data from Codify, Raleigh’s performance is second only to Joe Gerhardt’s 1885 season with the New York Giants, who finished with a .155 average in 423 plate appearances. Among all qualified hitters with at least 391 plate appearances, no other player has recorded a lower batting average in a single season.
Gerhardt’s 1885 campaign serves as a historical benchmark for poor hitting, with the Giants slugger appearing in 112 games and finishing with 62 hits and a .399 on-base plus slugging percentage. If Raleigh continues his current trajectory, he risks surpassing a 141-year-old record that is widely considered an unwanted distinction in the sport.
The sharp decline in Raleigh’s performance marks a stark contrast to his previous season. In 2025, the catcher was one of baseball’s premier hitters, finishing with 60 home runs, 125 runs batted in, and a .247 batting average. That performance earned him a second-place finish in the American League MVP voting behind Aaron Judge.
Raleigh has publicly acknowledged the severity of his slump, taking personal responsibility for the team’s offensive struggles. Following a loss to the New York Yankees last week, the catcher stated, “We’re not playing well. That starts with me. I’m awful. I’ve got to find a way to be better and to help bring the guys along.”
The Mariners’ broader performance reflects these individual struggles, with the team holding a 59-67 record and currently sitting outside the playoff race. In a recent game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Raleigh went 0-for-3 at the plate, managing only a walk, further illustrating the difficulty he is facing at the dish.
The situation highlights a significant governance and performance issue for the franchise, as the team navigates a season where its star player is struggling to maintain even a baseline level of production.
