The Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh’s historic 60th home run should have been the kind of moment a fan remembers forever. One man in the right-field stands at T-Mobile Park had that chance—and then, in an instant, gave it all away.
Glenn Mutti-Driscoll, the fan who came down with Raleigh’s milestone blast, did what might be the most generous—or the dumbest—move of the 2025 season. Instead of pocketing the ball, which experts say could fetch as much as $200,000 at auction, he turned and handed it directly to a 12-year-old Mariners fan sitting behind him.
The kid, Marcus Ruelos, couldn’t believe it. “He just gave me the ball,” Marcus told MLB.com. “I was going for a high five, and he gave me the ball instead.”
A Priceless Souvenir With a Real Price Tag
The gesture was instantly compared to the viral “Phillies Karen” fiasco earlier this year, when a woman fought with a father over a ball he had caught and given to his son. In Seattle, the opposite happened. Mutti-Driscoll handed away what auction house founder David Kohler later told TMZ could sell between $100,000 and $200,000.
“It’s a phenomenal home run ball historically for the Seattle base,” Kohler said. “MLB catchers are very seldom in the home run race of a MLB season. Very unique.”
History backs him up. Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball from 2024 sold for $4.39 million. Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run ball from 2022 brought $1.5 million. Raleigh’s name might not carry that kind of weight yet, but the market made clear: Mutti-Driscoll’s giveaway cost him a serious payday.
Instead, the Ruelos family took the ball to security, and Marcus happily exchanged it for a signed bat, a meet-and-greet with Raleigh, and some extra mementos. “I don’t really care about the money,” the seventh-grader said. “It means more to him than it does to me.”
Mariners Hunt Down Their “Good Guy”
For a day, nobody knew the identity of the man who gave the ball away. The Mariners even put out a call on social media: “The Mariners would love to get in contact with this incredible fan. If you know him, please DM!”
By Thursday, the team tracked him down. Mutti-Driscoll was brought on the field before the game to meet Raleigh, who signed a bat with a personal note: “Glenn, Thanks for being a good guy & nice catch! — Big Dumper.”
The Mariners turned the moment into a viral feel-good story. Fans cheered Mutti-Driscoll’s generosity. His name trended online. He got a handshake, a picture, and a story to tell.
But the truth is hard to ignore: the man gave away a ball that could have changed his bank account forever.
For Marcus, the story is perfect—a kid who ended up with a once-in-a-lifetime souvenir, a chance to meet his hero, and a little bit of internet fame to go along with it.
For Mutti-Driscoll? He’s either a Seattle saint or the biggest sucker in baseball. Maybe both.
Because in baseball, moments can be priceless. However, they can also be worth $200,000.
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