A wave of shirtless enthusiasm is taking over baseball stadiums nationwide as fans embrace what’s being called the “Tarps Off” phenomenon.
The movement involves groups of predominantly young male fans gathering in stadium sections, removing their shirts, and spinning them overhead while engaging in soccer-style chants and singing. The energetic displays are bringing a new level of excitement to a sport sometimes criticized for lacking stadium atmosphere.
The phenomenon originated in St. Louis last Friday and has rapidly expanded to ballparks in Detroit, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Anaheim, California.
“It’s hard not to have fun when the fans are like that,” Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn said. “We’ve got the best fans in the world, but it seems like the younger generation makes it more like a college atmosphere.”
The movement began when a club baseball team from Stephen F. Austin State University attended a Cardinals game while in Alton, Illinois, for the National Club Baseball Division II World Series. The Cardinals had provided tickets to the team, and 17 players showed up.
Those players initiated the celebration, which attracted dozens of additional participants and eventually grew to include several hundred fans creating an uproar in right field. The energy contributed to the Cardinals’ 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals in 11 innings. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was so impressed by the atmosphere that he purchased tickets for the enthusiastic fans to return for Saturday’s game.
The Cardinals’ mascot Fredbird even participated in the festivities.
The trend appears to be establishing itself as a regular occurrence, with more shirtless supporters cheering during Tuesday’s matchup against the Pirates. The home field energy seems to be paying dividends, as Ivan Herrera delivered a three-run homer that secured a 9-6 victory in 10 innings for the Cardinals.
Similar displays emerged at Tampa Bay Rays games on Monday and Tuesday. A smaller group celebrated in Philadelphia during a rain-soaked game between the Reds and Phillies. Angels fans combined their shirtless celebration with frustration, chanting demands for owner Arte Moreno to sell the franchise.
Major League Baseball likely welcomes the increased attention, as stadium attendance has improved this season with approximately 1,000 additional fans per game compared to last year through Monday’s games.
Should this upward trend persist, baseball could reach an average of 30,000 fans per game for the first time since 2016.
An increasing number of those spectators may simply be without shirts.
