The story of a Seattle Mariners fan has moved thousands of baseball fans, as after catching the ball from Cal Raleigh’s 60th home run, a souvenir that could fetch up to $200,000 at auction, he decided to hand it over to a child, Marcus Ruelos, instead of keeping it.
A gesture that contrasts with the behavior of the fan nicknamed “Phillies Karen” in which she confronted a father to take the ball away from his son.
That’s why this gesture in the game between the Mariners and Rockies became a lesson in generosity that transcended the sport.
Cal Raleigh made history by becoming just the fourth American League player to hit 60 home runs in a season.
The feat, which took place at T-Mobile Park, brought the fans to their feet. However, the most talked about play of the night did not take place on the diamond, but in the stands.
Why was Cal Raleigh’s 60th home run ball given to a child?
The ball bounced around several fans, even accidentally hitting Galan Ruelos‘ wife before ending up in the hands of Glenn Mutti-Driscoll, a Mariners fan, who instead of keeping it, briefly lifted it up and without hesitation handed it to 12-year-old Marcus, who watched in amazement
“It was all surreal, I had the ball in my hands, I looked down and thought that kid deserved it more than me,” Mutti-Driscoll told MLB.com.
The reaction of the child Marcus and his family
For the Ruelos family, the gesture was an act of kindness that will be forever remembered. “My son was in tears, we were all in shock. It was a kind, sincere and selfless act,” wrote Galan Ruelos on social media.
Marcus, still emotional, told his father: “Dad, because it’s Cal, I want him to have it.” The family made it clear that they never thought about selling the ball, but rather that Raleigh should keep it as part of his own history.
Mariners reward generous fan
The decision did not go unnoticed by the Mariners. Glenn Mutti-Driscoll and his family were invited onto the field, where Raleigh handed him a signed bat with the dedication: “Thanks for being a good guy and for the catch“. He also signed two balls that Glenn later gave to his children.
“That moment will live with him forever,” Galan summarized. And the story of Raleigh’s 60th home run now belongs not only to the baseball record books, but also to the life lessons that transcend generations.
Fans applauded the scene, contrasting it with other recent MLB episodes where home run memorabilia caused conflicts in the stands. For many, what happened in Seattle was a reminder that baseball is not only measured in statistics, but also in gestures that win hearts.
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