DETROIT — Jameson Turner wasn’t planning on traveling to Detroit to watch his Seattle Mariners take on the Tigers in Game 3 of the American League Divisional Series. But the shirts Turner made at the end of the season for catcher Cal Raleigh were begging to be worn.
So the Las Vegas resident, who grew up two hours south of Seattle in Longview, Wash., booked a plane ticket Monday. Twenty-four hours later, he found himself in left field at Comerica Park in perfect position to catch Raleigh’s first home run of the postseason and bring his shirts instant viral fame.
“Dump 61 here” read the front of the shirt Turner wore to the Mariners’ 8-4 win over the Tigers, referring to Raleigh’s nickname “The Big Dumper.” When Raleigh obliged with a two-run shot in the eighth inning that Turner caught, he whipped off his shirt to showcase a nearly identical one underneath that read: “Dump 62 here,” laying the 61 shirt atop the Mariners bullpen.
The fan switched to a “Dump 62 Here” shirt after Cal Raleigh listened to the demands and dumped No. 61 there. ⚾️💣🎙️ #MLB pic.twitter.com/i5w8SOhdhC https://t.co/FcEOqmpbxN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 8, 2025
“You got to come back tomorrow,” Raleigh urged Turner after the game, as he came out of the visitors clubhouse to sign the ball. Turner offered it to Raleigh, who told Turner to keep it and then ran back inside to procure a bat and inscribe it: “Thanks for cheering us on & catching 61!”
Though Raleigh’s first home run since Sept. 24 didn’t officially count as No. 61, Turner made the shirts — which say MVP on the back — with a Cricut machine for Seattle’s final regular-season series. During the team’s final regular-season game, which Raleigh entered with 60 home runs as he chased Aaron Judge’s AL record of 62, Turner sat in right field thinking he’d have a better shot at catching a potential milestone. The only last-minute tickets available for Tuesday — which had a three-hour rain delay — were in left field, but they were just one row back of the Mariners bullpen. Turner figured, why not?
The signed bat and home run ball that Jameson Turner received from Cal Raleigh after Game 3. (Brittany Ghiroli / The Athletic)
“I was thinking maybe he would knock a miracle one back there, and that’s what happened,” said Turner, who was overwhelmed by the moment and the large media contingent that wanted to talk to him after the game. “I told the lady next to me, this is my shot, he’s going to hit me a home run right now. 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.”
The Mariners bullpen immediately reacted in the moment, clapping and giving Turner thumbs-up in support. A member of the team’s staff got Turner out of his seat and escorted him to meet Raleigh after the game. Turner was also asked by general manager Justin Hollander for a photo.
“This is just unbelievable,” said Turner, who had planned to fly back home Wednesday but acknowledged — even before Raleigh’s pleading — that he might have to change his plans. The Mariners are one win away from what would be their first American League Championship Series since 2001. Turner, who grew up a Ken Griffey Jr. fan, could get another front-row seat to something special. And who knows? As Raleigh told him, Turner should be prepared with shirts 62 and 63 for Game 4. What’s a little airline change fee when up against baseball history?
Turner might have a much bigger conundrum when he does go back home.
“Good luck getting that back on the plane,” Raleigh said, nodding to the bat he gave to Turner.
