The Seattle Mariners are toasting history, and Mariners’ catcher Cal Raleigh’s girlfriend, Hannah Shimek, is celebrating right along with him.
Raleigh, 27, became the first catcher in MLB history to hit 60 home runs in a single season on Wednesday, September 24, blasting his way into the record books and helping the Mariners clinch the American League West title in the process, their first since 2001.
After the game, Shimek, 26, shared her excitement on social media.
She posted a video via Instagram on the field during the division-clinching celebration with the caption: “The little kid in me is SCREAMING.”
In another post, Shimek shared a picture of Raleigh chugging two beers at once in the raucous clubhouse party. She added simply: “I. LOVE. YOU.”
The catcher’s milestone night capped off a season for the ages. Raleigh has been the engine of Seattle’s offense, powering the team back to the postseason with 60 long balls, something no other backstop has ever achieved. The feat places him alongside sluggers like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Aaron Judge.
“It’s crazy. Sixty is, I don’t know what to say,” Raleigh admitted after the game. “I didn’t know if I was going to hit 60 in my life. Just tonight, what a way to do it.”
He added, “I love this team. I love this city.”
On the field Wednesday, teammates drenched Raleigh in champagne as fans at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park roared. Shimek joined him for photos as fireworks capped the night.
Seattle manager, Scott Servais, praised his slugging catcher as an “MVP candidate” and credited Raleigh’s consistency all season long. “This has been his year,” Servais, 58, told reporters after the win.
Raleigh, nicknamed “Big Dumper” by teammates, even went viral on live TV after the game. During an interview with Root Sports, Raleigh shouted,“Might as well go win the whole f*ing thing!”
Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez emphasized the team’s chemistry in the clubhouse after the game, saying, “We care about each other, truly. We would die for each other every single day.”
Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo, added, “I think we’re playing our best baseball right now, and that’s the teams you see win it all.”
Seattle’s next game is Thursday, September 25, when they host the Colorado Rockies.
MLB’s 2025 postseason begins on Tuesday, September 30, with the Wild Card round opening the path toward the World Series.