SEATTLE -- Amid chants of “MVP! MVP!” echoing through the stadium, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh launched a historic 60th home run on Sept. 24 against the Colorado Rockies -- marking a milestone in franchise history.
But in the outfield stands, another remarkable moment was unfolding, a quiet relay of kindness.
The fan who caught the ball was a man named Glenn Mutti-Driscoll, sitting in the right-field stands. He raised the ball high in celebration, sharing the electric moment with the roaring crowd around him.
Yet instead of keeping the valuable memento -- especially significant as a 60th homer -- Glenn turned and handed it to a 12-year-old boy sitting nearby, who tried to high-five Mr. Glenn.
The act of giving up such a rare ball left many on social media stunned, with comments like “Unbelievable” quickly spreading.
That boy, Marcus Ruelos, who had unexpectedly received the prized ball, soon made a surprising decision of his own.
“This is Cal’s special moment,” Marcus said, explaining why he chose -- of his own accord -- to return the ball to Raleigh.
“I just felt like it should be Cal’s. It was his moment. His special ball. Everyone in the stadium felt that way. It was his time. Of course, I was happy to receive the ball at the moment, but I wanted the ball to be with its rightful owner, Cal.”
With visible excitement, Marcus continued.
“60 home runs as a catcher? That’s crazy!” Marcus said, eyes wide. “He might be the first catcher and switch-hitter to hit 60. It’s just insane. I got to touch that baseball, and that’s enough for me. I wanted Cal to have it.”
His father, Galan, also reflected on the moment.
“It was his last at-bat of the night. Every time he came up, 45,000 people were chanting MVP ... and when that ball came over our heads, man, it was unreal."
Galan also explained that it was entirely Marcus' decision to return the ball.
“Yeah, I made it his call,” Galan said. “I told him, ‘Kiddo, whatever you want to do, I’ll support you. This is your decision.’ He’s only 12, but I was proud of how he handled it. I never told him to do anything -- he acted completely on his own.”
Mr. Galan continued with a smile, looking at his wife Raneth, his 17-year-old son Noah, and Marcus.
“You always try to raise your kids to be humble and kind, No. 1, and it happened. So when that happens, you're really proud as a dad that he is that way. You know you want to be good and kind, and the fan who gave him the ball, [it was] a complete, random act of kindness -- generous, sincere. And then for [Marcus] to pay it forward in his own way, knowing that Cal's parents were there, he wanted Cal to have that moment, and touching the baseball is our moment. So, that's what we had.”
This heartwarming story reached the Mariners organization, and a few days later, Glenn -- the fan who caught the 60th home run -- and his family were invited to the ballpark, followed by Marcus and his family on Saturday. Both families had the chance to meet Cal Raleigh in person and were each presented with a signed bat.
“I just met a guy who’s going to be MVP!" Marcus said after meeting his hero in person. "I don’t even know how to describe it. I am speechless.”
A soccer player and all-around sports fan, Marcus shared his dreams.
“I want to be a soccer player, a sports analyst -- or maybe even a doctor," Marcus said. "I want a job where I can support my family.”
Meeting Raleigh seems to have made those dreams feel even bigger.
“Because of the ball he gave us, we were given this amazing experience," Galan said. "Our family had this experience tonight. We're at batting practice. We're at the game. So the Mariners have been so gracious and generous with our experience.”
Raleigh’s 60th home run wasn’t just a record-setting blast. It became a lasting memory, thanks to a relay of kindness between Glenn and Marcus, forever etched in the hearts of fans.