NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
You never know what you’re going to see at the ballpark.
During the ninth inning of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night at Busch Stadium, fans began migrating to an empty section in right field and took off their jerseys.
The game was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning when the group of fans came to the empty section. About 100 fans initially started the movement, and by the time the game went into extra innings, the entire section was packed with shirtless fans, according to St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
St. Louis Cardinals’ Yohel Pozo celebrates after hitting a walk-off single to defeat the Kansas City Royals in the 11th inning of a baseball game in St. Louis. Louis, Missouri, on May 15, 2026. (Jeff Roberson/AP Photo)
Caleb Cummings, a 20-year-old on the Stephen F. Austin club baseball team, came up with the idea.
“I looked at my buddy and said, ‘How about we go up there to the right-field bleachers and start waving our shirts?’ Cummings told St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “They’re like, ‘You know what, that’s a good idea’. We had no intention of it being this big – we were just going out there to have fun. We got up there and we’re all standing there and we’re like, ‘Who’s going to do it first?'”
Bryce Bradford was the first to remove his jersey and wave it, and it quickly drew a crowd.
“He started waving it around and going crazy,” Cummings said. “Then it just spread, and then there’s a couple of kids in the section next to us who came to join in. And soon I’m seeing people from 80 years old to kids doing it. Dads come over with their kids and run over with their shirts off.”
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
St. Louis Cardinals’ Yohel Pozo celebrates with teammate Masyn Winn after hitting a walk-off single to defeat the Kansas City Royals in the 11th inning of a baseball game in St. Louis. Louis, Missouri, on May 15, 2026. (Jeff Roberson/AP Photo)
When Yohel Pozo hit a pinch-hit line drive on a 100 mph fastball to win the game in the bottom of the 11th. inning, the shirtless crew in the right field stands went ballistic. It was the Cardinals’ fourth walk-off win of the season.
Cardinals manager Olli Marmol opened his postgame news conference by praising the energy the shirtless fans brought.
“Whoever started it in right field, I’m going to do whatever I have to do to make sure they get to every game,” Marmol said. “Because it was great. Not just them, but everyone who showed up today. It was a fun environment.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Gordon Graceffo celebrates after getting Kansas City Royals’ Maikel Garcia to ground out, ending the top of the 11th. inning in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 15, 2026. (Jeff Roberson/AP Photo)
The manager said the fans had a real impact on the game.
“It creates an environment where it not only fills up this place, it makes it a difficult place for other teams to come in and play,” Marmol said. “That was damn cool. I’ll sign up for that, every day.”
The Cardinals (26-18) will look to keep their momentum rolling when they play the Royals (19-26) again in the second game of a three-game series on Saturday.
