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If you caught the Cincinnati Reds' dramatic, come-from-behind, extra-inning win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday, June 2, you may have seen a lot of shirtless young men.
Shirts off at ballgames hasn't been unusual in humid conditions over the years, but it's become a trend much like the "wave" or the incessant high-pitched howling that would take place toward the end of a major league game.
It's called "tarps off."
The tarp refers to an individual's attire from the belt up, which is then swung in circles above their heads.
Tuesday night, Spencer Steer slammed two home runs to bring the Reds back from a 3-0 deficit. Will Benson then had a pinch-home run to tie the game, and Blake Dunn drove in Steer in the 10th as many bare-chested fans waved their makeshift victory flags.
The St. Louis Cardinals began noticing a right-field section of fans engaging in shirtless shrieks this season, but apparently the craze began with Stephen F. Austin's baseball team. Not the Lumberjacks of the Southland Conference, but a club team.
Turns out the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin were in nearby Alton, Illinois, in the NBCA (club baseball) Division II World Series and decided to catch a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium back on May 15.
The Cards beat the Royals 5-4 in 11 innings, prompting Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol to say: "Whoever started that in right field, I'll do whatever I need to do to make sure they come every game.. Because that was awesome. Not only them, but everybody that showed up today. That was a fun environment.”
Marmol was so moved, he offered to buy up the cheap seats over that weekend for more chesty cheers.
Marmol bought out the remaining cheap seats for the Saturday's and Sunday's games, invited the Stephen F. Austin club into his clubhouse to meet the big leaguers and a trend was born.
While the club Lumberjacks helped the Cardinals, they fell short May 17 vs. Grand Valley's club team to end their season.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 'Tarps off' shirtless fans craze hits Reds, Great American Ball Park
Continue reading...
Shirts off at ballgames hasn't been unusual in humid conditions over the years, but it's become a trend much like the "wave" or the incessant high-pitched howling that would take place toward the end of a major league game.
It's called "tarps off."
The tarp refers to an individual's attire from the belt up, which is then swung in circles above their heads.
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Tuesday night, Spencer Steer slammed two home runs to bring the Reds back from a 3-0 deficit. Will Benson then had a pinch-home run to tie the game, and Blake Dunn drove in Steer in the 10th as many bare-chested fans waved their makeshift victory flags.
You must be registered for see images
Where did 'Tarps Off' start?
The St. Louis Cardinals began noticing a right-field section of fans engaging in shirtless shrieks this season, but apparently the craze began with Stephen F. Austin's baseball team. Not the Lumberjacks of the Southland Conference, but a club team.
Turns out the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin were in nearby Alton, Illinois, in the NBCA (club baseball) Division II World Series and decided to catch a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium back on May 15.
The Cards beat the Royals 5-4 in 11 innings, prompting Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol to say: "Whoever started that in right field, I'll do whatever I need to do to make sure they come every game.. Because that was awesome. Not only them, but everybody that showed up today. That was a fun environment.”
Marmol was so moved, he offered to buy up the cheap seats over that weekend for more chesty cheers.
Marmol bought out the remaining cheap seats for the Saturday's and Sunday's games, invited the Stephen F. Austin club into his clubhouse to meet the big leaguers and a trend was born.
While the club Lumberjacks helped the Cardinals, they fell short May 17 vs. Grand Valley's club team to end their season.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 'Tarps off' shirtless fans craze hits Reds, Great American Ball Park
Continue reading...
