Cal Raleigh 'Big Dumper' nickname, explained: How Mariners star became fan favorite with hilarious moniker

Cal Raleigh's first half of nan 2025 play has been outstanding, arsenic nan Mariners catcher leads nan convention successful location runs astatine nan All-Star break. That has allowed Raleigh to break done to nan mainstream, pinch his celebrated nickname only adding to his appeal.

Mariners fans cognize Raleigh by nan moniker "Big Dumper," which has go much celebrated arsenic Raleigh has gotten amended arsenic a shot player. Now that Raleigh is simply a full-blown star, he besides has 1 of nan best-known nicknames successful nan sport.

Here's a breakdown of nan nickname and really it grew from an wrong joke to a mainstream phenomenon.

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Cal Raleigh 'Big Dumper' nickname, explained

According to Corey Brock of The Athletic, Raleigh was fixed nan nickname successful nan summertime of 2020 erstwhile nan Mariners' prospects worked retired together aft nan insignificant convention play was canceled owed to COVID. Raleigh's chap prospects enjoyed joking astir nan size of Raleigh's butt, truthful overmuch truthful that it caught on.

"So, if we spell backmost to nan very beginning, everyone has ever joked astir that I person a large butt," Raleigh said via The Athletic. "It’s not thing that I thought about. And past they said nan aforesaid point successful assemblage and successful nan minors."

However, nan first known lawsuit of Raleigh being called "Big Dumper" successful nationalist was connected June 11, 2021, erstwhile he was called up to nan fields for nan first time. That was erstwhile erstwhile Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic called Raleigh "Big Dumper" successful a societal media message.

"Big dumper to nan show," Kelenic said.

Big dumper to nan show🥺 https://t.co/ZnlVceNP3W

From there, "Big Dumper" took disconnected and became a instrumentality favorite, pinch nan Mariners moreover trading jerseys pinch his nickname written connected nan back. Raleigh has travel to position pinch his nickname arsenic fans grew to emotion it.

"I emotion it. I deliberation it's great," Raleigh said. "You sewage to ain it, clasp it. As agelong arsenic you're having nosy pinch it, that's what shot is each about. As agelong arsenic it brings bully power and vibes, it's each good."

Now, nan Mariners are each successful connected nan nickname, including holding a "Big Dumper" conception during games wherever fans tin "dump" different fans. They besides made a commercialized of Raleigh driving a "Big Dumper" motortruck and created a Raleigh "Big Dumper" bobblehead.

The only personification who doesn't for illustration nan nickname seems to beryllium Raleigh's mom.

"It stinks!" she said while being interviewed connected nan Mariners broadcast earlier this year. "I'll rotation pinch it. He's accepted it, truthful I'm bully pinch it, too. I won't opportunity I emotion it, though."

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Cal Raleigh stats

Raleigh's been 1 of nan champion catchers successful nan convention since his first afloat play successful 2022 when he mixed his gold-glove-caliber defense pinch above-average offense. This year, he's taken his discourtesy up respective levels and is an MVP campaigner successful nan American League.

MORE: Full database of starters, reserves for nan 2025 MLB All-Star Game

Cal Raleigh profession highlights

In 2022, nan Mariners ended their 21-year playoff drought erstwhile Raleigh deed a walk-off location tally against nan Athletics, cementing nan catcher's spot successful nan hearts of Mariners fans everywhere.

IT’S A WALK-OFF! THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS! pic.twitter.com/VNGkrpDgXZ

Over nan past fewer years, Raleigh has provided Seattle pinch galore highlight-worthy plays, including a walk-off expansive slam against nan White Sox past year.

WALKOFF SLAM CAL RALEIGH pic.twitter.com/5QzAik4Xa9

This year, Raleigh has already surpassed Ken Griffey Jr. for astir location runs earlier nan All-Star break successful franchise history. He is besides apt to group nan grounds for astir location runs by a catcher successful MLB history, which is presently 48 by Salvador Perez successful 2021.

MORE: 10 players who should person made nan 2025 MLB All-Star Game