They say never meet your heroes, but sometimes fate has other plans.
While the Seattle Mariners were busy celebrating an 8-4 win over the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of their ALDS matchup — to take a 2-1 series lead — one fan got a couple more reasons to cheer.
Cal Raleigh, also known as "big dumper" by the Mariners faithful, added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning off a 391-foot home run, also his 61st dinger of the year. And in a moment of serendipity, the ball cleared the left field wall at Comerica Park in Detroit and into the Mariners bullpen before bouncing right into the glove of Jameson Turner, who was sporting a t-shirt with the message "Dump 61 here" amid a crowd of Tigers fans.
Turner's antics didn't stop there, however, as the Raleigh supporter came prepared. Moments after collecting the home run ball and gathering himself, Turner whipped off the now-viral shirt only to reveal a near-identical "Dump 62 here" top he was hiding underneath.
Turner, a Las Vegas resident, grew up two hours south of Seattle and booked his ticket for Game 3 in Detroit on Monday, just 24 hours before he caught Raleigh's first home run of the 2025 post-season.
“I told the lady next to me, this is my shot, he’s going to hit me a home run right now," Turner told The Athletic. "And it landed in the bullpen and bounced right up to me. I caught it with my glove. I’m still in shock right now.”
His catch, justifiably trending on social media, not only caught the attention of folks online but also the Mariners. It began with players in Seattle's bullpen cheering for Turner in the moment, but extended beyond that after the game.
A member of the team's staff eventually escorted Turner out of his seat to meet Raleigh after the game, a moment Turner described as "unbelievable." He not only met the man who inspired the special moment, but was also gifted a pair of autographs for his efforts.
Raleigh signed the home run ball Turner caught and also gifted him an autographed bat with the message "Thanks for cheering us on and catching 61!"
As for Game 4 on Wednesday, Turner didn't plan on sticking around in Detroit for the pivotal tilt, but now believes his plans may change.
“You've got to come back tomorrow,” Raleigh implored Turner as he came out of the visitor's clubhouse for the meet-and-greet.
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