Cal Raleigh’s “Big Dumper” is Blasting Baseballs and Breaking Broadcast Norms in the Bronx
If you’re tuning into MLB this summer and haven’t heard of Cal Raleigh, you’re either not paying attention, or you’ve somehow missed the walking legend of a man having what might be the most entertaining season in baseball. The Seattle Mariners catcher isn’t just knocking baseballs out of parks — he’s stealing the show with power, presence, and, well... his posterior.
Yup. We're Talking About the Butt.
Let’s just put it out there: Cal Raleigh is affectionately known as the "Big Dumper." And no, that nickname didn’t come from nowhere. It’s a fan-favorite moniker that’s taken on a life of its own. Whether you're a die-hard Mariners supporter or just a casual baseball observer flipping through highlights, chances are you've heard someone reference it with a smirk.
But on Tuesday night, during a game at Yankee Stadium, the Big Dumper nickname became something else entirely — a full-on broadcast moment that left viewers doing double takes.
The Yankees Broadcast Delivered a Wild Tribute
As fate would have it, Raleigh and the Mariners were in New York for a three-game series with the Yankees. The stars aligned for the perfect blend of power and personality, and YES Network’s Michael Kay wasn’t going to miss the chance to give Raleigh his flowers... or, more accurately, zoom in on his, ahem, “strength.”
After Raleigh drew a walk in the sixth inning, the broadcast team started discussing his now-iconic nickname. And Kay, never one to shy away from a good one-liner, referred to Raleigh’s “large posterior.” Cue the camera operator doing what can only be described as a double butt zoom. Not one shot. Two zoom-ins. Back to back. Right there on live television.
“Don’t see that every day,” said literally everyone watching.
Closed captioning didn’t miss a beat either. Screenshots flooded social media, fans howled in delight, and suddenly Raleigh wasn’t just leading the league in home runs — he was leading in cheeks content, too.
Let’s Not Forget: This Dude Is Absolutely Raking
As hilarious as the butt-zoom moment was, it's Raleigh’s bat that’s been doing the real talking.
Heading into Tuesday's game, Raleigh led all of Major League Baseball with 35 home runs. Let that sink in. A catcher — not a corner outfielder, not a DH — is pacing the league in bombs. That’s a rare feat and a serious testament to the kind of season he’s having.
Need more proof that he’s on a magical run?
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✅ Voted as an All-Star Game starter
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✅ Named a participant in the 2025 Home Run Derby
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✅ Fan favorite with a nickname known coast-to-coast
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✅ Putting up MVP-level production in a premium position
For those unfamiliar, catchers typically aren’t the big boppers of a lineup. Their value usually lies in defense, framing, game-calling, and surviving the physical toll of squatting 150 games a season. So, for Raleigh to not only survive but thrive offensively at this level is downright incredible.
Seattle’s Golden Boy in the Spotlight
With the All-Star Game just around the corner, you can bet your bottom dollar that all eyes will be on Raleigh. And not just for his bat speed or pitch-framing.
The Home Run Derby is tailor-made for players like him. Not only does he have raw power, but his swing has that uppercut beauty fans love to watch in slow-mo. If he gets hot in the Derby, he could very well put on a show for the ages — think Vlad Jr. 2019 levels of excitement.
And you just know someone’s going to show up with a Big Dumper sign in the outfield bleachers.
Let’s Talk About That Nickname, Though…
How did “Big Dumper” even start?
Well, it began as an inside joke among teammates and fans — a nod to Raleigh’s size and strength, sure, but also his down-to-earth demeanor and goofy charm. It’s one of those rare nicknames that sticks because it fits so well. The Mariners' fanbase embraced it immediately. Now, it’s on t-shirts, in chants, and part of the Seattle sports lexicon.
Think of it like "Beast Mode" for Marshawn Lynch — quirky at first, but totally inseparable from the athlete's identity once it caught fire.
And Tuesday night’s broadcast moment might have solidified it forever.
The Internet Reacts (Because, Of Course It Did)
Once the YES Network cameras did their double-zoom magic and the caption popped on screen, fans took to social media like wildfire. There were memes, jokes, stills, and even fake "in memoriam" graphics for the broadcast team's dignity.
Some gems from X (formerly Twitter):
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“Michael Kay just said ‘large posterior’ with zero hesitation. Legend.”
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“We got the double butt zoom and we’re not even at the All-Star break yet.”
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“Baseball is the greatest sport on Earth. Case in point: Cal Raleigh’s butt is a broadcast event now.”
You can't make this stuff up.
What Makes Raleigh So Easy to Root For?
Beyond the power and the nickname, there’s something refreshingly unfiltered about Cal Raleigh. He’s not polished in a typical superstar way. He’s gritty, funny, and completely comfortable being himself — whether that’s mashing baseballs or embracing a hilarious nickname on national TV.
He’s also a huge part of why the Mariners are staying competitive in a brutal AL West race. His ability to call games, control the running game, and lead from behind the plate is underrated by many outside Seattle. But inside that clubhouse? He’s gold.
Final Thought: A Posterior Worth Celebrating
In a season full of home run records, standout stars, and broadcast weirdness, Cal Raleigh is a unicorn. He’s breaking baseball molds while somehow keeping things wildly entertaining. From leading the majors in homers to unintentionally launching meme culture from Yankee Stadium, his 2025 campaign is one for the books.
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