Haniger, Mariners host Children's Hospital patients

This story was excerpted from Daniel Kramer’s Mariners Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SEATTLE -- In between his walk-off heroics on the Mariners’ nine-game homestand, Mitch Haniger made perhaps an even bigger impact off the field when welcoming patients from Seattle Children’s Hospital to T-Mobile Park on Tuesday for an autograph ceremony.

But there was a twist -- it was a “reverse signing,” where Haniger and many of his teammates sought signatures from the roughly two dozen children on hand.

With help from Topps, which designed a special set of cards in decorative designs featuring the kids, Haniger and the other Mariners players who took part had the children in attendance autograph their own and present them to the big leaguers. The players also signed autographs on various keepsakes, including baseball cards, while mingling with the children and their families for nearly an hour.

“I think just something with kids [holds] a special place in I'm sure everyone's hearts, but especially mine,” Haniger said. “So I wanted to do something for kids. ... I want to make sure everybody, young kids, have every opportunity they can get. So, any time we can do something to help is always fun.”

The event was arranged by Haniger and his wife, Amanda, and his agent, Adam Katz, along with Topps, which created the custom packs that included 24 cards apiece.

“Honestly, just wanting to bring the kids out and just have a fun day at the ballpark,” Haniger said. “I know when I was a kid, coming to the ballpark was always a lot of fun. So the whole thing was just to bring them out, have a good time and just enjoy it.”

This isn’t the first time that Haniger has engineered the wholesome and meaningful collaboration, but it has carried more significance to the veteran outfielder as a father. He and Amanda welcomed their second daughter this past offseason.

“It was a big change for me,” Haniger said. “I'm not the most important person in the world anymore. Once you have kids, you've got to put them first. So that was huge. I mean, my kids have taught me a lot of lessons and brightened my day, so any time you can do that for another kid, it's always special.”

His efforts this week -- both on the field with his dramatic, game-winning moments, and off, with the “reverse signing” -- reinforced how greatly Haniger has resonated with Mariners fans and the Seattle community. He’s reiterated throughout this season how much he feels at home here, after spending one year in San Francisco upon signing a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Giants ahead of 2023, then returning via a Jan. 5 trade centered on Robbie Ray as the return.

Above all, Haniger has repeatedly said throughout his career how badly he wants to win a World Series. That ambition has only been reinforced in his age-33 season, when he knows that he’s probably closer to the end than the beginning.

Outside of his walk-offs over the past week, the Mariners have weathered a topsy-turvy homestand -- really for most of the past month, if not longer. But with a few significant swing adjustments that have led to his turnaround, coupled with the front office’s moves ahead of the Trade Deadline, Haniger is eager for the final stretch.

“I was really happy with the moves we made,” Haniger said. “I think each guy is going to bring a unique presence to our team. Those guys that you pick up that have been around for a while, they have more to give because they’ve done it and they know what they need to do, so now they can help other guys fill their cups.

“When you’re a younger player, it’s really hard to survive, play really well and also have all this time and energy for everyone else around you. So, those veteran players that we bring in, it’s really important. It makes a huge impact.”