If you've attended a Major League Baseball game recently, you may have noticed a curious abundance of exposed skin among fans. We're talking about the "tarps off" trend that is spreading across MLB ballparks.
While the occasional shirtless fan during summer months is nothing new, seeing throngs of shirtless fans is something different. That's "tarps off" — a spontaneous (and occasionally blinding) fan engagement trend that may have staying power.
What Does 'Tarps Off' Mean?
The phrase "tarps off" appears to be a mild corruption of "tops off." In the world of sports fandom, it originated as a celebration gesture in soccer, particularly on the international scene.
The removed shirt is wielded like a rally towel and spun around in the air with taxing regularity. It's not about standing idly — it's about dozens or hundreds of fans removing their shirts as one, waving them in unison.
How It Made Its Way to MLB
The current boom began at Busch Stadium in St. Louis during the Rivalry Weekend series between the Cardinals and Kansas City Royals.
The prime movers were a club baseball team from Stephen F. Austin State University. The SFA team was in town for the Club Baseball World Series in nearby Alton, Illinois, and they attended Friday night's game at Busch.
As the story goes, one member of the SFA team, Caleb Cummings, suggested they take their shirts off. Another member, Bryce Bradford, uttered the words that will one day be etched in granite:
"Screw it. I'll do it."
Others followed suit, and soon shirts were off and towels were waved. The moment wouldn't have been what it became without Yohel Pozo's walk-off pinch-hit single that concluded that Friday contest.
The Aftermath
Cardinals manager Oli Marmol posted to social media for the first time in more than six years, responding to the abundance of vibes. According to plan, tarps were off again for Saturday's matinee, and the Cardinals accommodated with another close win.
This time, shortstop Masyn Winn, following a game-ending 4-6-3 double play, made the "tarps off" gesture to the lads from SFA and all the others without shirts in the right field seats.
Inspired by the atmosphere that had been lacking at Busch since at least 2022, Marmol invited the SFA players to the clubhouse after the game. Such was the bond between Cardinals fans and the tarps off squad that a few even showed up to watch SFA's final game in nearby Alton.