Cal Raleigh made both MLB and Seattle Mariners history last night, blasting his 59th and 60th home runs of the season at T-Mobile Park. With those swings, Raleigh became the first catcher in league history to reach the 60-homer plateau in a single year, cementing his place in the record books.
But while Raleigh’s power drew the headlines, one fan’s act of kindness stole the spotlight. After catching Raleigh’s historic 60th homer, a Mariners supporter immediately handed the ball to a young fan in the stands — a gesture that quickly went viral across social media.
The baseball itself carried immense value. Ken Goldin, CEO of Goldin Auctions, estimated the ball could be worth as much as $250,000 if Raleigh finishes the season with 60 home runs. “Keep in mind, this will be the all-time record for a catcher — one that would seem to be difficult to break in my lifetime, certainly considering durability and games played of most catchers,” Goldin explained. He also noted the uniqueness of the moment happening in Seattle: “It also is interesting that this is a Seattle Mariner, not the traditional Yankees, Giants, Dodgers (and) even Cardinals and Cubs that we have seen … So we will see how much support he has, and we have to remember there are a lot of wealthy people in the Seattle area.”
Still, while the ball may have been worth a fortune, the moment — and the memory for both fans involved — proved priceless.
Now, Seattle turns its focus to the postseason. Having already clinched the American League West title, the Mariners sit one game back of the New York Yankees for the AL’s top seed with four games to play. If they overtake New York down the stretch, the Mariners would secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the AL playoffs — a fitting stage for Raleigh’s historic season to continue.
