Cal Raleigh's Laundry Ritual: A Superstition to End a Slump

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) attempted to halt a prolonged hitless stretch by doing his laundry in the team shower while still wearing his uniform. The next night, he went 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The act was likened to a similar anecdote shared by NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.

Deadspin

Baseball culture includes a long-standing tradition of superstitious practices aimed at influencing luck. The article references Barkley’s story from a March Madness broadcast, where he claimed to shower in his Philadelphia 76ers uniform after games to save time. Barkley’s tale provoked laughter and a correction from former NBA player Kenny Smith, highlighting how such rituals can appear implausible.

Deadspin

• Cal Raleigh – Mariners catcher attempting the laundry ritual.

Deadspin

• Logan Gilbert – Right-handed Mariners pitcher who offered a suggestion to Raleigh.

Deadspin

• Charles Barkley – NBA Hall of Famer whose own uniform-shower story serves as a cultural comparison.

Deadspin

During the 2025 season, Raleigh was an American League MVP candidate, hitting 60 home runs and delivering one of the strongest offensive seasons ever recorded by a catcher. In the 2026 campaign, his production has declined; the most recent game produced two hits in four at-bats, a walk, and three runs, but the season overall “hasn’t picked up where he left off.”

Deadspin

Raleigh’s laundry ritual illustrates how players may seek psychological edges during slumps. Teammates frequently exchange advice ranging from swing adjustments to superstitious acts, and such practices can affect morale, confidence, and potentially on-field performance.

Deadspin

Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert gave Raleigh a suggestion intended to help break the slump, though the specific content of that advice was not disclosed in the source material. No formal statement from the Mariners organization or from Raleigh himself was provided.

Deadspin

The article characterizes many of these tips as “silly” and notes that they can be “not advisable to try.” Kenny Smith’s interjection during Barkley’s recounting—“Time out. There's no era where you did this. You're making this up.”—demonstrates skepticism toward such anecdotes.

Deadspin

• The exact suggestion offered by Logan Gilbert to Raleigh is absent, leaving a gap in understanding the teammate’s counsel.

Deadspin

• While Raleigh’s recent game statistics are reported, broader season-long metrics are missing, limiting assessment of the ritual’s overall impact.

Deadspin

• “Time out. There's no era where you did this. You're making this up.” — Kenny Smith, former NBA player and analyst

Deadspin

Raleigh will continue as the Mariners’ primary catcher in the forthcoming series. Observers will watch whether he repeats the laundry ritual or adopts alternative strategies suggested by teammates as Seattle seeks to improve its offensive output.

Deadspin