The face of Seattle baseball, Cal Raleigh, is having the season of a lifetime. He became the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby as well as the first catcher to hit 60 homers in a single season. And the slugger found himself making headlines, not for another moonshot, but for his legendary nickname “Big Dumper” becoming the subject of debate on a New York morning talk show. And it will make you laugh too!

The moniker has an amusing story. Former teammate Jarred Kelenic coined ‘Big Dumper’ as a playful reference to Raleigh’s well-developed posterior. What started as clubhouse banter became one of baseball’s most beloved nicknames, embraced by fans and woven into Mariners lore. The nickname recently found its way to a New York morning show.

In that show, co-host Mark Consuelos asked Mariners fans in the studio audience about their catcher. When he pressed them about Cal Raleigh’s nickname, the fans shouted: ”Big Dumper!” Co-host Kelly Ripa’s confusion was immediate, and she demanded to see photos of the slugger. When Consuelos finally showed pictures of Raleigh, Ripa delivered what she called a ”controversial” opinion. ”I don’t think the dumper’s that big,” she declared.

Consuelos, attempting damage control, offered that the action shot might not do justice to Raleigh’s physique, joking that “maybe in still life, it’s a little more interesting.” He pressed the Mariners fans further, asking if Cal Raleigh actually enjoys the nickname. Apparently, he does—and he’s leaning into it. The segment wrapped with Consuelos floating the idea of going as “The Big Dumper” for Halloween, bringing the conversation full circle from controversy to comedy.

The couple’s baseball banter didn’t stop there. Earlier this season, when Ripa suggested Consuelos should throw out a ceremonial first pitch at a game, he immediately declined. Despite growing up attending “hundreds of baseball games” and insisting he can “throw a baseball very, very well,” Consuelos admitted he’d get “the yips” under pressure. “You can’t skip it in. It can’t bounce, you can’t lob it in,” he explained, rubbing his shoulder after miming a few warm-up throws before declaring himself injured.

The nickname’s playful appeal extends beyond morning television. Earlier this season, a fan wore a t-shirt that sparked laughter across the ballpark when displayed on the Jumbotron.

From teal t-shirt to touchdown: Big Dumper delivers

In the ALDS GAME 3 against the Tigers, one fan’s flamboyant outfit added to the excitement, and then Raleigh gave the shirt exactly what it asked for.

Jameson Turner, who was born in Longview, Washington, and now lives in Las Vegas, wore a bright teal shirt with “DUMP HERE” and a big No. 61 on the front. This was a funny reference to Cal Raleigh’s home runs. 

When Raleigh came up to bat in the ninth inning, he hit a homer of 391 feet to left center that went into the stands and got caught in Turner’s gloves. That moment was displayed, and everyone laughed, looking at the T-shirt and the fusion of the slugger’s nickname.

Later, the fan was called up for a quick chat. During that, Turner shared, “I waved at him when he came up. Maybe he saw me.” After the game, Cal Raleigh met Turner, took pictures with him, and even gave him a signed bat.

At that moment, the name “Big Dumper” garnered some attention again. Turner’s shirt asked for the dump, and Cal Raleigh didn’t disappoint. It’s a clear reminder that his power is now part of the fan mythos, and even the fans know it’s a joke.