Texas A&M consistently has one of the best atmospheres in college baseball, and that should stay true for the Aggies’ upcoming super regionals matchup with Oregon.
With a big series vs. Oregon headed to College Station, there’s always potential for a viral moment, especially with the Aggies faithful set to bring their A-game for the home team: The Ducks will definitely want to avoid becoming the latest team to be on the short end of Texas A&M’s “Ball 5” chant.
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Aggies baseball fans are infamous for one of the most well-known fan traditions in the sport, with nearly each patron chanting “ball five” as soon as the opposing pitcher throws their fifth consecutive ball. The chant continues for each ball in the streak, naturally growing louder each time until the pitcher finally throws a strike.
The tradition has led to multiple viral clips, most of which came in postseason matchups. Texas A&M will certainly hope for the same again as it looks to get back to the College World Series for the second time in three seasons.
Here’s everything to know about the “Ball 5” chant and how it started:
What is Texas A&M baseball’s ‘Ball 5’ chant?
Texas A&M baseball has a top-tier fan atmosphere at Blue Bell Park, and it’ll likely arrive in full force for the Aggies’ super regionals matchup with Oregon.
In fact, once an opposing pitcher starts to throw a streak of balls, starting at the fourth in a row, fans will start chanting “Ball 5” until the next ball is thrown, increasing the number each time until the streak is over. The result is an extremely loud ballpark, aiming to rattle the opposing arm.
The antics are typically so loud that it’s usually picked up by the microphones on the broadcast.
How did Texas A&M baseball’s ‘Ball 5’ chant start?
According to multiple reports, including a recent story by MLB.com, many close to the program aren’t exactly sure as to when the chants were first created.
MLB reported some sources suggested it started in the early 1990s, others in the late 1990s, with some mentioning it could’ve started in 1989 when Texas A&M had the No. 1-ranked team nationally at one point.
Texas A&M baseball ‘Ball 5’ chant video
Here are multiple clips of Texas A&M’s “Ball 5” chant in action:
Perhaps the most famous rendition of the chant came against TCU in the super regionals in 2016:
One edition of the chant lasted nearly 12 minutes, in a conference matchup with Mississippi State in 2017:
The chant has even ventured into other stadiums beyond Blue Bell Park, as Texas A&M fans were loud in an early season matchup against USC at Globe Life Park earlier this year:
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: What is Texas A&M’s ‘Ball 5′ chant? Explaining Aggies’ infamous crowd