ATLANTA — On Monday morning, Stephanie Raleigh was pleasantly surprised to find a fresh navy blue jersey laid out on her hotel bed, accompanied by a heartfelt note written in black ink across the bright white letters of the uniform.
“Mom, I love you so much! Thank you for all the sacrifices!” — Cal Laurie, 29
Later that day, Stephanie, mother of the Major League Baseball home run leader, basked in the spotlight of All-Star Week, centered around the 2025 Home Run Derby.
The event turned into a full family affair. Todd, Cal’s father and a former college coach with a stint as the University of Tennessee’s head coach, took on the role of Derby pitcher while their 15-year-old brother, Todd Jr., caught each round. Numerous other family members also sported jerseys like Stephanie’s, all adorned with personal messages.
“He had it set up in his hotel room for us when we arrived,” Stephanie told Yahoo Sports, reflecting on the joyful event. “We were definitely a little stunned.”
Cal Raleigh’s electrifying performance at the Derby crowned a remarkable journey, transitioning from a third-round draft pick to a National Baseball standout. With an impressive 38 home runs in the first half of the season, many now view Loewry as one of the finest catchers in the sport. Over three seasons, he has evolved from a regular catcher to a genuine MVP contender.
While Raleigh has long been popular in the Pacific Northwest, his game-winning home run that ended Seattle’s playoff drought has cemented his status as a Mariners legend. His spectacular 2025 season elevated him to a whole new level, perfectly exemplified by his dazzling Monday night on the Grand Stage.
Laurie’s remarkable display only reinforced his new reality as one of sports’ most celebrated figures—nicknames certainly boosting his fame.
The night kicked off memorably when the professional broadcaster Pat McAfee introduced Raleigh with an enthusiastic shoutout: “There’s the heavyweight of all professional sports… Big Damper Cal Lowry.”
Raleigh blasted 17 towering home runs in the first round, narrowly advancing after a tiebreaker with track and field athlete Brent Luker. Despite some understandable frustration from Luker, Raleigh’s performance remained stellar.
In the semifinals, Raleigh went head-to-head with Pirates outfielder Onir Cruz, the only non-All-Star competitor, who smashed a staggering 513-foot home run—the longest ever tracked, second only to those at Coors Field’s high altitude. Cruz’s overall athletic display was impressive, consistently firing deep shots that landed far beyond the stadium walls. Ultimately, Raleigh overcame Cruz, hitting 19 home runs to Cruz’s 13.
This set up a stylish showdown with Tampa Bay’s third baseman, junior Dominican star Kaminero, who ranked second in the league behind Cruz. Kaminero reached the final after an early semi-final exit by twin outfielder Byron Buxton.
Kaminero placed several homers along the left field line, captivating media members in the outdoor press box. After Raleigh scored 18 in the final round, Kaminero attempted a late surge to tie, but ran out of steam.
At the event’s climax, Laurie celebrated with Mariners teammates Landia Rozarena, Brian Wu, and Andres Munoz, before joyfully embracing family members.
Todd Jr. summed it up well: “He’s just a beast. He couldn’t be any better.”
Todd Sr., who pitched during batting practice all night, admitted having trouble fully grasping his son’s phenomenal season.
“People started comparing him to legends like Johnny Bench and Mickey Mantle,” the longtime coach said. “That’s tough for me to wrap my head around because those guys are baseball gods. But the stats don’t lie.”
Though this was his first All-Star Derby appearance, Laurie isn’t new to home run contests. In 2005, as an 8-year-old, he won an informal home run contest at a friend’s garden, dreaming of the big leagues. Despite the humble setting, “Big Damper,” as he would later be known, led the competition with the most home runs.
On that day, young Laurie proudly proclaimed, “I’m the Home Run Derby Champion… In the pump, in the wump, in the champ, I’m the champ.”
And that title holds true today.
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Fan Take: Cal Laurie’s rise from backyard contests to All-Star Derby champion symbolizes the classic baseball dream coming to life, inspiring fans everywhere. His electrifying performance and personal story not only energize Mariners fans but also underscore the enduring appeal and evolving excitement of the sport.
