Bleacher Creatures

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

In 1996, New York Daily News columnist Filip "Flip" Bondy was asked to write a story from the fans' perspective. In that regular column, he took on the persona of "the Bleacher Creature," coining the nickname in relation to the Yankee Stadium inhabitants. The term "bleacher creature" has been used in reference to dedicated fans and supporters since the early 1980s. The founding of the Yankees Bleacher Creatures is often credited to Ali Ramirez. Ramirez rang a cowbell to inspire the fans to cheer, much like Freddy Sez's efforts in the Stadium's main grandstand, during the team's limited success in the early 1980s and 1990s. In 1986, a New York Daily News article stated that Ramirez went to almost every home Yankees game for more than 20 years. Ramirez died on May 8, 1996, and was given a tribute by the Yankees front office before the May 14 game against the Seattle Mariners, a game in which Yankees pitcher Dwight Gooden threw a no-hitter. There was a plaque where he sat, in section 39, row A, seat 29 which read "This seat is taken. In memory of Ali Ramirez, 'The Original Bleacher Creature.'" A similar plaque was added to the new stadium. Because of the rowdiness of the fans, and the fact that many families began sitting in the more affordable bleachers, alcoholic beverages were banned from the bleachers in 2000. Yankees Stadium vendor Ted Banks commented that "There wasn't any special reason for that, it just got out of hand. Those people used to get wild when Jose Canseco played for the A's. A few people threw things at Ken Griffey Jr." Canseco asked Oakland Athletics manager Tony La Russa to move him from right field due to the continued chants and jeers from the Creatures. The Yankees have instituted rules for the bleacher sections to help control potential disruption. In 2000, alcohol sales were banned throughout the bleacher sections. However, in the new Yankee Stadium, beer vendors do serve the bleachers, allowing fans to purchase alcoholic beverages there. In addition, anti-profanity rules have been in place for fans throughout the stadium. Lonn Trost, the Yankees chief operating officer, stated the team want to foster a "fan-friendly environment".

In Their Own Story

The Creatures' most famous and long-standing chant is known as the roll call. During one game in 1998, the fans, led by Ramirez, started chanting the name of Yankees first baseman Tino Martinez. Martinez responded to the chanting fans with a wave, shocking the cheering fans; this started the tradition of roll call where the Bleacher Creatures chant the name of each starting fielder (except the pitcher and catcher). The roll call starts in the first inning after the pitcher throws the first pitch of the game. Former Yankee third baseman Scott Brosius was notorious for not responding immediately to the roll call, sometimes waiting as long as a minute to respond. In a 2009 press conference, former Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi said that "The biggest thing I miss is (the Bleacher Creatures') roll call. There's no doubt about it, it's the best thing in baseball." On July 16, 2010, the Bleacher Creatures elected to not do the roll call out of respect for the recent passing of both public address announcer Bob Sheppard and principal team owner George Steinbrenner.

Reader's Guide

The Bleacher Creatures currently sit in section 203 of the right-field bleachers at Yankee Stadium. Their most famous chant is the roll call, which starts in the first inning after the pitcher throws the first pitch of the game, with the Creatures chanting the names of Yankees players in the field until the players acknowledge them. The roll call began in 1998 when fans, led by Ali Ramirez, chanted the name of Tino Martinez, who responded with a wave. Notable exceptions include chants for former or deceased members, such as David Wells in 1999, and for players returning as opponents, such as Johnny Damon in 2012. In 2001, some Creatures learned Japanese so that they could yell obscenities at former Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki. Japanese curses were chanted whenever Ichiro came to town. Ichiro was traded to the Yankees in July 2012. During his first game as a Yankee he was unaware of the roll call and did not respond to the calls. On May 15, 2011, the Bleacher Creatures chanted Jorge Posada's name after his recent feud with Yankee management, despite Posada not playing in the game. Posada acknowledged them from the dugout. On September 22, 2013, both Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera were included in the roll call, despite Pettitte being the starting pitcher and Rivera being a relief pitcher.

Did You Know?

• The term "bleacher creature" has been used in reference to dedicated fans and supporters since the early 1980s, predating Filip Bondy's 1996 column.
• Ali Ramirez, often credited as the founding figure of the Bleacher Creatures, rang a cowbell to inspire fans and died on May 8, 1996; a plaque in his memory reads "This seat is taken. In memory of Ali Ramirez, 'The Origi
• Alcohol was banned from the bleachers in 2000 due to rowdiness, but the ban was lifted in 2009 in the new stadium, though no beer vendors come through the bleachers.
• Former Yankee third baseman Scott Brosius was notorious for not responding immediately to the roll call, sometimes waiting as long as a minute to acknowledge the chants.
• In 2001, some Bleacher Creatures learned Japanese to yell obscenities at Ichiro Suzuki when he played for the Mariners; Japanese curses were chanted whenever he came to town.