Our favorite moments this season (so far)

These 2025 Mariners are something special. Longtime M’s fans already know that Seattle has waited a long time to experience this kind of magic.

They’re writing the best storyline in baseball, filled with flair, deep talent, class, and a steady determination to do what no Mariners team has done before.

Like with any good book, we don’t want it to end. But with the turn of each page, our hopes for a storybook ending rise higher. Here are some of our favorite fan and player moments from this season, as we look ahead to what’s still unwritten.

Cal Raleigh, The Man That You Are

I mean, where do you start with The Big Dumper? The guy with the best nickname in baseball has been backing it up all season, becoming the first catcher and switch-hitter to win the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby.

He went on to annihilate 60 homers in the regular season, setting a new franchise record previously held by Ken Griffey Jr., who racked up 56 in both 1997 and ’98.

Raleigh hit his 59th and 60th home runs as the M’s beat the Rockies 9-2 on Sept. 24, clinching the AL West for the first time since 2001.

Dump It Here – Jameson Turner

From the “You Couldn’t Script a Better Moment” files, loyal Mariners fan Jameson Turner traveled to Detroit for Game 3 of the ALDS wearing an impressively handmade shirt that read, “Dump 61 Here.”

And what happened next? The Big Dumper delivered. And Turner caught it off the bounce. ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?!?

Even Tigers fans were amazed and cheering on the moment in Detroit. As if anything could top that, Turner quickly removed his now iconic shirt to reveal “Dump 62 Here” patiently waiting underneath.

Turner got a chance to meet Raleigh, and all we see in this Instagram post is two absolute legends.

Turner, who actually lives in Vegas, told “The MLB Network” that he stayed up all night to make the shirt and wore it to the M’s last regular-season game. It traveled with him to Detroit, where he planned to sit in right field for better odds at a Raleigh ball. But when he couldn’t find a seat he liked, he landed in the front row behind the bullpen, the exact spot where the magic ultimately happened.

There is Crying in Baseball – Saul Spady

Like a perfect wave around the Kingdome, this season has been a rollercoaster of emotions. Saul Spady felt them all at once during Game 2 of the ALDS. Fox Sports cameras zoomed in on Spady after Julio Rodriguez delivered the game-winning RBI double that led the M’s to victory.

Spady told KOMO Sports Director Niko Tamurian, “I was caught on camera crying because I’ve been a lifelong Mariners fan.” Spady said, “It’s the players that we’ve grown up following. I’ve seen Julio Rodriguez become a man. I’ve seen Cal Raleigh become the Big Dumper like a folk legend. I’ve never had a mustache my whole life. I don’t look good with a mustache. But I’m mustache-ing, I’m big-dumping, and I’m all in, baby! It’s epic.”

Fun Seattle fact: Saul Spady is the grandson of Dick’s Drive-In founder, Dick Spady.

Bonus sports trivia: “The Wave” has deep roots at Husky Stadium.

You Go, Glenn & Mariners Kid

Let’s keep crying, shall we? A reflexive act of kindness turned into another favorite fan moment of the season.

A Mariners fan named Glenn, who just looks like a nice guy to begin with, caught Cal Raleigh’s historic 60th home run ball. Instead of gloating or getting cartoon dollar signs in his eyes, Glenn did the manliest thing possible and handed it to a kid who reached out to high-five him. For that seemingly simple but honestly huge gesture, the M’s arranged for Cal to meet with Glenn and his family and receive a signed bat.

Bonus Points: Cal’s shirt!

The story gets somehow sweeter when it turns out the boy who received the ball also has a pure heart of gold. 12-year-old Marcus Ruelos wanted the prized ball to go back to Cal Raleigh. “He deserves it,” Ruelos said.

“This whole experience has been incredible, something I’ll never forget,” Marcus said with a big smile. “Cal’s the GOAT, and if I get to meet him, I just want to tell him that and take a picture together to remember it forever.”

And that’s exactly what happened!

Marcus, an instant celebrity at his Renton school, returned to T-Mobile Park that weekend to meet Cal Raleigh with his family. His dad saying, “You hope to raise your child to be humble and kind,” he said. “When they choose that on their own, it’s really something special.”

Etsy Witch

So what’s the secret to all of the Mariners’ success this season? An Etsy Witch, DUH!

During a Sept. 9 game with his dad, Steven Blackburn of Lake Stevens, held up a sign that he “paid an Etsy witch” to fix the Mariners, who had lost four in a row and six of seven games.

“The idea to lift the curse actually partially came from my best friend,” Blackburn said. “She and I have made jokes in the past about using magic or witchcraft or something to fix various things in our lives, and she suggested a few months ago, ‘Hey, why don’t you hire a witch to fix the Mariners?'”

Blackburn posted a confirmation that he paid an Etsy shop $15.99 for a spell for the Mariners to “get their act together and start winning baseball games again.” And what did the Mariners do? They started winning baseball games again. A lot of them. Even the Mariners know where credit is due, posting: “shout out to the etsy witch.”

Humpy Wins!

While the Mariners keep swimming upstream in this odds-defying season, one humble salmon has become a symbol of resilience.

Humpy had been 0-162 in “Salmon Run” races in between innings at Mariners games. That is, until the 15th inning (!) of the Mariners thriller to send the team to the next round of the postseason.

Mid-inning, the Mariners decided to run a second race with the four salmon mascots: Sockeye, King, Silver, and Humpy. In some serious foreshadowing, Humpy finally prevailed, and the Mariners did too immediately afterwards on Jorge Polanco’s walk-off single.

In honor of the milestone victory, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 has been declared “Humpy Day” in Seattle.

Seattle’s mayor will make the proclamation during a rally at Seattle City Hall on Thursday at 2 p.m. The rally will feature community and sports leaders, fans, and the University of Washington marching band. Following the rally, the group will march from City Hall to T-Mobile Park for Game 4.

Fun fact: Seattle Refined host Gaard Swanson and reporter Brandon Burnstead were among the first non-Mariners employees to compete in the storied Salmon Run during a game. Here’s how that went:

Bark at the Park

The only paws-ible way to improve the good vibes at Mariners games? Bring dogs!

“Bark at the Park” games at T-Mobile Park unleash some serious cuteness. We love some doggone fun here at Seattle Refined, so enjoy these 2025 “Bark at the Park” photo galleries:

Hot Dogs From Heaven

From weiner dogs in hot dog costumes to Hot Dogs From Heaven, the greatest gimmick in baseball! It was introduced in the 2024 season and took the league by storm.

For 90 blissful seconds, the Mariners blast “Heaven is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle and send hot dogs in parachutes down to fans. The Mariners said Carlisle is aware and loves it, with a possible collaboration coming in the future. When Chris Stapleton played at T-Mobile Park last summer, he wanted in on it. And so, hot dogs, with little LED lights attached, were launched during Stapleton’s song “Parachute.”

One fan even has it tattooed on her ankle.

“It’s probably the most beautiful and cool thing we’ve ever seen. Hot dogs just raining down from the sky. And that song playing? It’s perfect. It’s life-changing. I had to do it,” said Gwen from Seattle.

Rick Rizzs’ Cheetos

From glizzies to Rick Rizzs (been waiting to use that line), even the beloved voice of the Mariners has a gameday superstition.

Rizzs posted on Instagram, “The power of Cheetos, my friends! That’s nine wins in a row for your Seattle Mariners! Jerry Dipoto brings ’em in the booth before every game – Cheetos, mustaches, and one terrific ballclub to watch! And you can just feel the magic of Dave Niehaus smiling down on these 1st place Mariners!”

Mini Mascots

We can never forget the iconic Cotton Candy Girl from 2016:

But this season brought us a new tiny hero: KETTLE CORN BOY!

Cole is going to The Show

This season, we’ve cheered, we’ve laughed, we’ve cried. Let’s cry again! Here’s a favorite moment from earlier in the season when Cole Young found out he was going from the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers to the Big Leagues:

Like straight from a Hollywood baseball movie, when Cole Young debuted as a Mariner the next day, he hit a fielder’s choice in the 11th inning for his first RBI, giving the Mariners a 5-4 victory and the memory of a lifetime.

Ichiro’s Legacy

In August, Ichiro Suzuki was cemented as a Mariners legend during his #51 jersey retirement ceremony and a weekend-long celebration. The Hall of Famer became just the third Seattle Mariner to have his number retired, along with Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez.

PHOTOS: Ichiro enshrined as Mariners legend as team retires #51 in pregame ceremony

On Opening Day, Ichiro threw out the first pitch, an 84-mph heater to kick off this epic Mariners’ 2025 season. The M’s went on to win 4-2 against the A’s.

Yolo Polo

Jorge Polanco. That’s the whole tweet.

Might As Well Go Win The Whole (bleepin’) Thing

Sieze The Moment. Trident’s Up. PostSEAson. Whatever your mantra of choice is, Cal Raleigh has a choice rally cry that sums it up. We can’t type the NSFW version here, but to paraphrase him: “Might As Well Go Win The Whole Thing!”

What’s your favorite moment of the season (so far)? Did we miss some? Email Hello@SeattleRefined.com to share.

Jennifer King is the Managing Editor for Seattle Refined and lifelong Mariners fan.

PHOTOS | Mariners celebrate win into playoffs

Our favorite moments this season (so far)

Tags: