By
Seattle Times features engagement reporter
History was made Friday night in T-Mobile Park. A historic win prompted a sold out stadium of 47,025 fans to leap to their feet and cheer at the top of their lungs. But Jorge Polanco’s walkoff single at the bottom of the 15th inning — one that sent the Mariners to their first ALCS in 24 years — isn’t the focus of this story.
No, the historic win that fans went berserk over was Humpy the Salmon, winning his first-ever Salmon Run.
The silly but lovable mascot had recorded 162 losses since the inception of the Salmon Run on opening day of the 2024 season. Humpy has watched his other competitors — King, Silver, Sockeye and even Mariners outfielder Victor Robles at one point — win numerous times.
But on Friday night, the stars aligned for Humpy as he sped past the others at the very end to win his first race during the second Salmon Run of the night (the baseball game went so long, it begged enough time for another race).
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Fans couldn’t help but attribute the Mariners ALDS win to a certain finned fanatic. Right after Humpy’s win, the Mariners finally broke through and Jorge Polanco delivered the walkoff hit to send the M’s to the American League Championship Series — their first since 2001.
After the game, Humpy joined M’s broadcaster Rick Rizzs to place a winning trident on the T-Mobile Park countdown, signaling the team is another win closer to a World Series.
Perhaps it was just the motivation the fans — and team — needed to push toward a victory worthy of celebration.