Mariners fan praised for giving away Cal Raleigh’s 60th home run ball to child
Kind gesture stands out as Mariners clinch a playoff berth after Raleigh’s milestone, contrasted with a viral moment from Philadelphia.
A Seattle Mariners fan earned praise after giving away Cal Raleigh’s 60th home run ball to a 12-year-old boy at Wednesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies. The milestone marked the first time a Mariners player reached 60 homers in a season. Mutti-Driscoll waved the ball in the air and celebrated for about 15 seconds before handing it to Marcus Ruelos, who was seated nearby. "The whole thing was surreal," Mutti-Driscoll told MLB.com. "It just was happening so fast, and like, standing there with it, and I was just looking down at a kid, and he deserves more than me. … And I guess if it’s helping bring whatever — baseball’s reputation has those sorts of feel-good stories." Marcus’s father, Galan Ruelos, said on Facebook that the moment brought tears and surprise, and the exchange was followed by an autographed bat in return for the ball. "A genuine act of kindness, a true gentleman. Marcus was in tears. We were all in shock," he wrote. The family was escorted to a reception area, and Mutti-Driscoll joined Raleigh on the field ahead of the game the next day as part of a Mariners gesture of thanks. The team later posted on X that Raleigh had met the fan who handed off No. 60 to another young fan, praising the moment as one fans love to see. Raleigh also signed a bat for Mutti-Driscoll’s family and posed for photos near the dugout.
The exchange came as Seattle celebrated a milestone of its own: the Mariners clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2001 and are in the mix for the American League Most Valuable Player award for Raleigh, who is the seventh player in history to reach 60 homers in a season.
The moment stood in sharp relief to a widely criticized incident earlier this month at LoanDepot Park, where a Phillies fan in the stands shouted at a ballpark official to hand over a home run ball that had been caught by another spectator. The incident, captured on video, drew heavy social-media criticism and underscored a stark contrast to Mutti-Driscoll’s act of generosity. The online reaction highlighted the difference between a quiet, generous gesture and an outburst that overshadowed the game.
Fans and analysts quickly noted Mutti-Driscoll’s act as the kind of sportsmanship that endears fans to the game and to the team. Mariners officials and players publicly thanked him for the gesture, underscoring a narrative that has gained traction online: acts of kindness matter just as much as milestones, and they can shape a team’s season trajectory and public image.