All it took was a brief conversation with a fan while he was waiting in the on-deck circle and there’s another Mookie in the world.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts was preparing for an at-bat in an Aug. 2 home game against the Oakland A’s when a fan told the seven-time All-Star he’d give his soon-to-be born daughter the middle name “Mookie” if he hit a home run.
Betts lived up to his end of the bargain, launching a 436-foot shot to left field. And when he finished circling the bases, he made a detour on his way back to the dugout to give the fan a celebratory fist bump.
A few weeks later, the 2018 AL MVP noticed something interesting on social media.
The fan, Giuseppe Mancuso, posted a photo of his baby daughter’s birth certificate − Francesca Mookie Mancuso, born Aug. 7, 2023.
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“One of the coolest moments of ya boy’s entire career!” Betts said in a video he posted on Tuesday. “Bro is a man of his word.”
The outfielder, born Marcus Lynn Betts, got his nickname from his parents, who were fans of basketball star Mookie Blaylock.
He said he’s looking forward to someday meeting Francesca Mookie: “That’s going to be my girl.”
