The moral of this heartwarming story is clear: nice guys finish first. Glenn Mutti-Driscoll was in the right place at the right time when he caught Cal Raleigh’s historic 60th home run ball on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Park. Positioned in Section 108 of the right-field bleachers, Mutti-Driscoll reached out his hand and snagged the ball, a moment that would soon captivate fans both in the stadium and online.
“The ball was ricocheting around; it went off a few people’s hands and I grabbed it,” Mutti-Driscoll recounted in an interview the following afternoon. He described how he held onto the ball for about 15 to 20 seconds before a young fan caught his attention. With a generous spirit, he motioned to hand the ball to the kid. “The whole thing was surreal,” he said. “It just was happening so fast,” emphasizing how he felt that the young fan deserved the ball more than he did.
Witnesses around Mutti-Driscoll captured the moment on their phones, snapping pictures and videos of his selfless act. This wasn't just any baseball; it was No. 60, a milestone achieved by only a select few players in baseball history. A nearby fan shared a blurry photo on social media, captioning it: “This is the man that caught Cal Raleigh’s 60th home run! He gave it to a kid who got swept away by the Mariners team employees. What a gem and a Seattle legend.” By Thursday afternoon, this post had garnered over 5 million views, shining a spotlight on Mutti-Driscoll's kindness.
Mariners team officials, noticing the viral post, solicited help from the public to identify the good Samaritan. Glenn Mutti-Driscoll, an environmental consultant who attended the game with coworkers, was soon located by Adam Gresch, the team’s senior manager of communications. Gresch extended a heartfelt invitation for Mutti-Driscoll and his family to return for Thursday’s game, offering them front-row seats near the home dugout.
Excited by the opportunity, Mutti-Driscoll and his wife, Catherine, along with their sons Ethan, 14, and Aiden, 10, quickly rearranged their plans, even skipping curriculum night at Aiden’s school. About 90 minutes before the first pitch, they found themselves standing in front of the Mariners dugout. It was here that they had the chance to meet Cal Raleigh, who emerged from the clubhouse carrying one of his Louisville Slugger bats as a special gift for Mutti-Driscoll. “Glenn, thanks for being a good guy & nice catch,” Raleigh inscribed on the bat, marking a memorable encounter for the family.
During this unforgettable experience, Ethan and Aiden each received their own baseball with Raleigh’s autograph. The family posed for pictures with the star player on the edge of the field, creating lasting memories. This moment of generosity and kindness from Mutti-Driscoll is a stark contrast to a recent incident at a Phillies-Marlins game, where a man faced harassment for giving a home-run ball to his son—a reminder of how sportsmanship can inspire positivity.
In a fitting conclusion to this story, the young fan who received the historic No. 60 ball from Mutti-Driscoll traded it back to the Mariners for a bat from Raleigh, further emphasizing the spirit of giving that resonated throughout the night. Glenn Mutti-Driscoll’s actions not only made headlines but also showcased the best of sportsmanship, reminding us all that kindness can create unforgettable moments in the world of baseball.
