Cal Raleigh Just Became "Hal Baleigh" and Seattle Is About to Lose Its Mind
The Mariners dropped a commercial Tuesday that is basically a love letter to one of the most iconic ads in franchise history, and it features star catcher Cal Raleigh in a wig and fake sideburns that you absolutely have to see. Opening day is two sleeps away, and the M's are not messing around with the hype.
Larry Returns: The Sequel Nobody Knew We Needed
Remember the legendary "Larry Bernandez" commercial from 2011 where former ace Félix Hernández disguised himself as an alter ego to mess with opponents? Yeah, the Mariners just dusted that off and made it a whole thing again. This time, Raleigh is the one getting the transformation treatment, becoming the mysterious "Hal Baleigh."
The commercial opens with play-by-play voice Aaron Goldsmith calling out another intentional walk to Raleigh. "Nobody wants to pitch to this guy," Goldsmith says. "I mean, you almost kind of feel bad for him." Then the clip cuts to Raleigh at his locker, opening a package with a note from Hernández himself. The note reads, "These might help you get a pitch to hit." Cue the wig and sideburns. Hal Baleigh steps to the plate and crushes a home run. It is peak Mariners marketing, and it works.
Opening Day Is Almost Here
This is the fourth commercial the M's have dropped leading up to Thursday. They also released "Babyproofed" on Saturday, "Torpedo 2.0" on Sunday, and "Comin' in Hot" on Monday. The defending American League West champions are ready to roll.
The Mariners open the 2026 season at 7:10 p.m. Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians at T-Mobile Park. You can catch pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m. on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports app. This is what we have been waiting for.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.