{
  "id": 2058897,
  "title": "Cal Raleigh is hitting .156 — and MLB history shows how bad it is",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/cal-raleigh-is-hitting-156-and-mlb-history-shows-how-bad-it-is",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-20T02:28:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cal-raleigh-hitting-156-mlb-022819015.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cal Raleigh's 2026 season is turning historically ugly, as the Seattle Mariners catcher is currently hitting .156 in 391 plate appearances. This dismal batting average has put him in the same league as Joe Gerhardt, a player from the 1885 season with the New York Giants. Gerhardt managed a .155 average over 423 plate appearances, making him Raleigh's closest historical benchmark in terms of batting performance.\n\nAmong all qualified hitters with at least 391 plate appearances, Raleigh ranks just second to Gerhardt in terms of batting average. The only batter in MLB history to have a lower average in a season with more plate appearances was Joe Gerhardt for the 1885 New York Giants. If Raleigh continues his current hitting slump, it could place him at the top of an MLB record nobody wants to see.\n\nLast season, Cal Raleigh was one of baseball's best hitters, finishing with 60 home runs and 125 RBI while posting a .247 average. However, his performance has since plummeted, with him now struggling to find consistency at the plate. In a recent game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Raleigh went 0-for-3 and even managed a walk.\n\nCal Raleigh's sudden decline in performance has not helped the Mariners, who are currently sitting at 59-67, falling outside the playoff race. The catcher has taken ownership of the team's worsening offense, acknowledging his own shortcomings and expressing a desire to improve and help the team play better baseball.",
  "summary": "Cal Raleigh is threatening to break the unwanted 141-year MLB record.",
  "key_points": [
    "Cal Raleigh's 2026 batting average is .156, historically bad.",
    "Only Joe Gerhardt (.155) in 1885 has a lower average with more plate appearances.",
    "Raleigh's slump has hurt Mariners' offense and playoff chances."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Cal Raleigh's dismal batting average puts him on track to make unwanted history, and his decline has significantly impacted the Seattle Mariners' struggling offense and fading playoff hopes.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}