PTI Podcast Summary: “How Impressed Are You with Cal Raleigh?”

Date: September 25, 2025
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Guest: Booger McFarland (ESPN NFL & college football analyst)

Main Theme

This episode centers on Cal Raleigh’s stunning achievement of hitting 60 home runs as a catcher—a historic milestone in Major League Baseball. Tony and Mike examine the unprecedented nature of Raleigh's season, discuss Aaron Judge’s race for the MVP, analyze dramatic shifts in the AL Central, preview the Ryder Cup, and bring on Booger McFarland to break down the most compelling stories in college football.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Cal Raleigh’s Historic Home Run Feat

• [00:50–04:45]
  • Raleigh hit two more homers, reaching 59 and 60, leading Seattle to their first division title since 2001.
  • Wilbon contextualizes the achievement:
    • “He’s the seventh person to do it… Ruth, Maris and Judge. That’s the list in 150 years.” (Mike Wilbon, 01:52)
    • Emphasis: Only catcher ever to reach 60 homers.
    • Surpasses catching greats: “Bear and Campanella and Bench and those the names that come to my mind…” (Wilbon, 02:08)
  • Kornheiser highlights the difficulty of being a catcher and still producing offensively:
    • “The record for home runs in 100 years for a catcher was 48. This guy’s got 60. He didn’t break the record. He jumped like Bob Beeman on this record.” (Tony Kornheiser, 03:19)
    • Raleigh: 10 HRs in September, 11 multi-homer games this season, 7 HRs in his last 9 games.
  • On MVP race:
    • Kornheiser: “I would vote for Rawley for MVP, but it’s still going to be really tight.” (04:23)
    • Wilbon: “Raleigh. It’s Raleigh. Raleigh.” (04:43)

Aaron Judge’s Streak & Stats

• [03:47–04:30]
  • Judge, with 51 homers, is batting an MLB-leading .328.
  • “There are only three people in major league history who went four times 50. And that’s Ruth and McGwire and Sosa… I’m getting rid of McGwire and Sosa for obvious reasons.” (Kornheiser, 03:55)
  • Judge’s current tear: since September 11th he’s batting .439 with 7 HRs, OPS of 1.572.
  • Judge’s contributions limited by injuries; significant time spent as DH.

AL Central: Guardians’ Rise vs. Tigers’ Collapse

• [04:45–07:39]
  • Guardians:
    • “Management was selling off stuff at the trade deadline… they didn’t just give up.” (Wilbon, 05:22)
    • Noteworthy: 17 wins in their last 19 games, remarkable consistency from the starting rotation.
  • Tigers:
    • “This is a biblical collapse. This is the 1964 Phillies.” (Kornheiser, 06:34)
    • Tigers: 8 straight losses, 11 of 12 lost, only 28 runs in last 12 games (2.3/game), haven’t scored 3+ runs in 6 of last 7 games.
    • “This is like a contagion in the clubhouse.” (Kornheiser, 07:15)
    • A.J. Hinch (Tigers manager) quote: “It’s painful. I’m having a hard time coming up with words. But what I’m seeing out of our team is not normal, but it’s our reality.” (Tony Kornheiser quoting A.J. Hinch, 06:45)

Ryder Cup Preview

• [07:39–11:08]
  • Bethpage Black plays host; USA seen as favorites but edge is questionable.
  • Kornheiser: “I don’t think they have a particular advantage at Beth Page… the European players play it as well.” (Kornheiser, 08:08)
  • Wilbon: “The European team is better on paper, period.” (Wilbon, 09:36)
    • Notes on Euro team: Most are PGA Tour regulars, most live part/full-time in the US.
    • “There’s something about team competition that just sits well with the European side time after time…” (Wilbon, 09:56)
  • Notable fact: Europe has won the Ryder Cup twice on US soil in the last 20 years.

Featured Interview: Booger McFarland on College Football

[13:12–19:17]

Oklahoma Without QB John Mateer

• “Probably 90% of [Oklahoma’s early success] … He is my favorite, early favorite for the Heisman Trophy… there’s no quarterback, and I mean no quarterback, not Arch Manning, not anybody that’s playing the position better than John Mateer had been playing it.” (Booger McFarland, 13:38–14:21)

Oregon vs. Penn State Preview

• Wilbon’s hot take: “Penn State is going to get just wasted by Oregon.” (Wilbon, 14:25)
• Booger agrees: “Oregon is the fastest team, most athletic I’ve seen on tape all year… they got this tight end, Kenyon Sidiq. He’s the best tight end in America.” (Booger, 14:49–15:24)
• Penn State: “They’re supposed to be this giant this year… but I haven’t seen them. Kind of like Bigfoot.” (Booger, 15:32)

Indiana’s Surge under Kurt Signetti

• “It’s all about attitude… [Indiana] plays with a little bit of brashness… they got swagger. And they get that from their head coach.” (Booger, 16:08–17:08)
• “If you don’t know it, just Google it.” (Booger, 17:13)

Alabama vs. Georgia—Who Has the Edge?

• “[Kirby Smart] tried to make Georgia like Alabama. And so I think every time these two teams face each other, Alabama simply says this. They want to be like us.” (Booger, 18:02–18:33)
• “I think this game comes down to the six inches between their ears. Alabama realizes they are trying to mimic what we do. … don’t be surprised if they go into Athens and get a victory.” (Booger, 18:33–19:04)
• Kornheiser: “Ooh, ooh. I got to say, I would be surprised. That’s just me.” (Tony Kornheiser, 19:07)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Raleigh’s uniqueness:
  “He surpassed… Bear and Campanella and Bench and those the names that come to my mind as somebody who’s followed baseball all my life.” (Mike Wilbon, 02:08)

• On the toll of catching:
  “The physical wear and tear, the grueling day after day… so you think when it comes to September, there’s not enough left for any offense. Raleigh now has 10 home runs in September.” (Tony Kornheiser, 03:00)

• On historic home run record-breaking:
  “He didn’t break the record. He jumped like Bob Beeman on this record.” (Tony Kornheiser, 03:25)

• On the Tigers’ collapse:
  “This is a biblical collapse. This is the 1964 Phillies.” (Tony Kornheiser, 06:34)

• On college football upsets:

  • “When they walk on the field, they think they’re the best team on the field. And you can only get there from the head coach. And Kirk Senetti has got that swag. And if you don’t know it, just Google it.” (Booger McFarland, 17:07)

• On Bama-Georgia rivalry:

  • “We started this gangster stuff, if you want to be like us, you got to come take this.” (Booger McFarland, 18:29)

Segment Timestamps

• Opening banter/National Cooking Day: [00:32–00:50]
• Cal Raleigh’s Home Run Milestone: [00:50–04:45]
• Judge’s HR chase and MVP race: [03:47–04:45]
• AL Central: Guardians vs Tigers: [04:45–07:39]
• Ryder Cup Preview: [07:39–11:08]
• Booger McFarland Interview (CFB): [13:12–19:17]
• MLB Updates, Anniversaries, Dodgers Bullpen: [22:10–24:56]
• Lightning round/Big Finish: [25:01–25:49]

Episode Flow & Tone

PTI sticks to its classic rapid-fire, witty, yet thoughtful tone, with Tony and Mike offering sharp, knowledgeable takes underscored by a deep understanding of history and trends in sports. The camaraderie and banter keep the pace lively, while the inclusion of Booger McFarland injects expert football analysis in an accessible, conversational manner.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

This episode is essential for anyone interested in the gravity of Cal Raleigh’s historic season, the nuances shaping the baseball playoff races, key college football storylines, and Ryder Cup dynamics. Through sharp analysis and pointed humor, Tony and Mike—with an assist from Booger—make the case for why these sports moments matter and set the stage for a thrilling weekend ahead.