If you are a fan of the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens, you know superfan Mo Gaba. If you’re not from the area, you may have been blessed enough to hear stories and/or witness moments.
Mo would have celebrated his 18th birthday on January 26. Unfortunately, Mo passed at the age of 14 after battling cancer four different times. He lost his sight at a young age when it was discovered he had a malignant tumor of the retina.
Mossila Kingsley Gaba was born January 26, 2006, and was raised in Glen Burnie. It was discovered at nine months of age that baby Mo had retinoblastoma, a rare form of cancer that develops in immature cells of the retina. Eventually, he would lose his sight and be diagnosed a second time with retinoblastoma.
At the age of six, Mo was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. He would have to attend schooling virtually after his diagnosis. By the time he graduated middle school in 2020, he had spent 75% of his life in the hospital.
While his mother, Sonsy, was working, Mo began calling into various sports radio stations, including the local 105.7 The Fan. He would gain a strong following after becoming a regular. His mother would soon learn of his calls after receiving an invitation written in Braille to speak at Gaba’s school.
Mo’s popularity grew as his knowledge of Baltimore sports was put on display. Fans even held fundraisers to help with treatments and medical bills.
Mo would throw out the first pitch before an Orioles game in 2017 and then call a play at Ravens practice, which resulted in a Lamar Jackson touchdown pass. His celebrity status grew, and soon, Birdland was giving this superfan the celebrity treatment.
During the 2018 season, Trey Mancini would spend the day with Mo over the All-Star Break. The two would develop a friendship, as Mo was one of Mancini’s biggest supporters while the former Oriole went through treatments for colon cancer.
“Your kindness, bravery and positivity has left a lasting impact on all of us who were lucky enough to have met you. You have truly made this world a better place.”
– Trey Mancini on Mo Gaba
Gaba became the first person to announce a selection of a card written in Braille at the 2019 NFL Draft. Ben Powers was the player announced in the fourth round of the draft, and that card was entered into the NFL Hall of Fame to be remembered for all time.
“He’ll never know how many lives he touched. He will always have a special place in my heart.”
– Ben Powers on Mo Gaba
After numerous operations, aggressive chemotherapy, radiation treatments and a bone marrow transplant, it was discovered that the cancer had spread to Mo’s lungs and brain. Sadly, it was too much to overcome, and Mo Gaba would pass away on July 28, 2020.
“I lost my best friend today. Your legacy will live on, love bug.”
– Sonsy Gaba on the passing of her son, Mo
Moments before his passing, Gaba would be announced to the Orioles Hall of Fame, becoming the second fan to ever earn the distinction.
It has been almost four years since Gaba’s passing, but his memory remains a major part of the Baltimore area and sports world.
The Orioles and Ravens both honor Mo when his birthday comes around. Various players and both teams offer tributes to keep the memory of Mo alive and burning brightly. The Orioles host Mo Gaba Day as a tribute to his fandom of the two teams.
“Mo Gaba, you have brought so much joy to so many people. Your legacy will live on as a positive young man who never made an excuse and wanted your team to play hard. You’re such an inspiration. Rest easy, big fella. You will be missed!”
– Adam Jones on Mo Gaba
The Ravens have their own tribute as the letters “MO” in the end zone are always painted gold as a remembrance to Gaba. This tribute even made its way to the EA Sports Madden NFL 2023 video game.
In Baltimore, Mo Gaba touched the lives of so many and united a city with hope and love. As Mo would have been 18 this past week, we are left to remember the last thing Gaba said when he spoke to WJZ of Baltimore:
“If you want to be like me, just be yourself.”
What’s your fondest memory of Mo Gaba? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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