“Tarps off” is back, and now it has moved to baseball.
The “tarps off” trend started last October at an Oklahoma State football game. It started when one fan was dared by his sister to walk into an empty section, take his shirt off, and start twirling it in the air like a Terrible Towel for $10.
The section was soon filled with other Cowboys fans joining him and also twirling their shirts. The trend went crazy in the college football world, with other fanbases like Indiana, Florida, and Pitt participating. The crowd would sometimes get so crazy that they would fill entire sections with shirtless fans.
The trend was very short lived in the college football world, only lasting two weeks. However, it has gained a second life in the world of baseball.
When the Cardinals recently played the Royals, Stephen F. Austin State University’s club baseball team decided to head to the game. In the eighth inning of the close game, the team’s first baseman, Caleb Cummings, flung his shirt off and started twirling it.
Cardinals fans started to gather around Cummings in right field, joining him in the act. The group continued to spread as the game would enter extra innings.
The fans continued to go crazy as the game continued, fueling the team to a walk-off 5-4 win in the 11th inning. Players after the game said that the fans gave them the energy they needed to finish the game.
The trend started to spread around the league, with fans of the Tigers, Angels, and the Rays joining in.
St. Louis Manager Oli Marmol loved the movement so much that he decided to invite the club baseball team that started the trend to the team’s clubhouse to meet the players. He also decided to cover the cost of Loge seats for the games that were played that weekend so fans could come join the fun.
The Cardinals would win 4-2 on Saturday and lose 2-0 on Sunday. The group would return on Tuesday for St. Louis’ matchup against the Pirates. The team let Cummings throw the ceremonial first pitch. After the pitch, he naturally took his shirt off and swung it around.
In a high-scoring game, the section in right field was keeping the team motivated. With both teams tied at 6 in the 10th inning, St. Louis’ Iván Herrera hit a walk-off, three-run home run.
After the game, Herrera and the rest of the team would say that the past couple games were the most fun they have played in their careers. Marmol knew he had to do something to keep this around.
Marmol has since instituted a permanent section in right field for fans to twirl their shirts and have fun. The group showed up on the day of the section’s creation, packing the designated section. St. Louis fans feel like the movement is bringing them together and energizing the team.
