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Mariners Turn Viral Ballard Raccoon Into Stadium Theme Night

The promotion showed how viral fame can be turned into merchandise, high-value resale listings, public-safety concerns, wildlife-welfare questions

Overview

  • On Wednesday night the Seattle Mariners gave the first 20,000 fans Jimothy t-shirts and numbered rookie trading cards, and the team confirmed the unique 1/1 gold card went to a 13-year-old fan.
  • Stadium activations included video-board graphics, an inflatable raccoon with the Mariner Moose, a Jimothy-themed concession drink, on-field races and players wearing Jimothy batting-practice shirts.
  • After the game some recipients listed cards for resale online, with at least one eBay asking price reported at $10,000, and strong demand prompted the Mariners to schedule a second Jimothy night.
  • Jimothy rose to fame from a mid-July social clip and has been the subject of murals, fundraising tie-ins and corporate promotions while veterinarians have suggested a rare short-spine condition may explain the raccoon’s shape.
  • Wildlife officials and rehabilitators have warned the public not to approach or feed Jimothy because crowding and human interaction can harm the animal and raise public-safety and disease risks, a concern that has returned to focus after the stadium event.