HOUSTON, TEXAS — The St. Louis Cardinals announced the upper right-field bleachers at Busch Stadium will become a dedicated section for fans participating in a shirt-waving tradition on June 3, 2026. This section will be accessible to fans regardless of their initial seat locations within the stadium.
This fan tradition first emerged during a St. Louis Cardinals game against the Kansas City Royals. Fans in the right-field stands removed their shirts and waved them overhead during the game. The Cardinals won that initial game on a walk-off hit.
Cardinals manager Oli Marmol purchased tickets in the right-field stands the day after the tradition started and invited the college baseball students who originated the activity into the team clubhouse. The shirt-waving fan tradition originated in college football when a fan stood shirtless in an empty section at an Oklahoma State game. It later appeared at college football games involving programs such as Indiana.
The tradition has since spread to other Major League Baseball teams. Dozens of Houston Astros fans removed their shirts and waved them on June 3, 2026, during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Daikin Park. This fan activity has also been observed at games involving the Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, and Philadelphia Phillies.
No independent assessment was available for this report.