1️⃣ Exhibit Name
Cheerleader Name Board (Taiwan)
A sign displaying the name of a favorite cheerleader (啦啦隊員) from the official squad. Unique to Taiwan’s highly popular cheerleader culture.
2️⃣ Collection & Image
Figure 1 – Cheerleader Name Board – Camera Photo Style
A fan holding a heart‑shaped sign with a cheerleader’s stage name (e.g., “妮妮” – Ni Ni), decorated with hearts and team colors.
3️⃣ Gallery Location
Fan Culture Wing › Signs Hall › Taiwan Gallery
4️⃣ Exhibit Background
The Cheerleader Name Board is a uniquely Taiwanese fan sign that displays the name of a favorite cheerleader (啦啦隊員) from the official CPBL cheer squad. Unlike other fan signs (which focus on players), this sign celebrates the dancers and emcees who lead fan chants and perform between innings. The tradition emerged in the 2010s as CPBL teams invested heavily in professional cheer squads (e.g., Rakuten Girls, Fubon Angels, Uni‑Lions Girls). Cheerleaders often use stage names (e.g., 妮妮 Ni Ni, 琪琪 Qi Qi, 菲菲 Fei Fei) that are easy for fans to chant. The name boards are typically heart‑shaped, pink, and decorated with glitter – a visual style distinct from player signs.
5️⃣ Period & Location
- Period: 2010s – present
- Location: Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) stadiums, especially Taichung Intercontinental, Taipei Dome, and Taoyuan Baseball Stadium
6️⃣ Material & Dimensions
- Material: Cardboard, foam board, plastic sheet – often decorated with glitter, stickers, and team colors
- Dimensions: Typically 12″ × 12″ (30 cm × 30 cm) – square or heart‑shaped
- Lettering: Bold Chinese characters, sometimes with English name, hearts, and sparkles
Figure 2. Cheerleader Name Board – Pop Art Style
A vibrant pop‑art rendering of the name board, with halftone dots, bright pink, and comic‑style sparkles.
7️⃣ Narrative Story
The Rise of Professional Cheer Squads
In the early 2010s, CPBL teams realized that cheerleaders could boost attendance. The Lamigo Monkeys (now Rakuten Monkeys) pioneered the “cheerleader as celebrity” model. Fans began making signs for individual cheerleaders – not just for the team. By 2015, cheerleader name boards were a permanent fixture.
The Visual Aesthetic
Cheerleader name boards are colorful, feminine, and playful – often pink, white, or team‑colored, with hearts, stars, and glitter. Fans write the cheerleader’s name in bubble letters or cursive script. Some signs include a polaroid photo of the cheerleader or a hand‑drawn portrait. Unlike player signs (which are often bold and aggressive), these signs convey affection and admiration.
Social Media and Fan Clubs
Cheerleaders have their own fan clubs, Instagram accounts, and merchandise. Fans compete to create the most creative name board. During the 2022 CPBL season, a fan’s LED‑backed sign for a Rakuten Girl went viral, leading to the cheerleader herself reposting it. The signs are also used in post‑game photo sessions where fans pose with their favorite cheerleaders.
Cross‑Cultural Comparison
While cheerleaders exist in Japan (e.g., Nippon Ham Fighters’ “Fighters Girls”) and Korea (KBO cheer squads), the name board tradition is strongest in Taiwan. Korean fans wave light sticks; Japanese fans follow choreography. Taiwanese fans create personalized name boards – a unique blend of fan art, idol culture, and baseball.
Think About It
- Why do Taiwanese fans create signs for cheerleaders, not just players? What does this say about the role of cheerleaders in CPBL?
- How does the visual aesthetic of a cheerleader name board differ from a player sign? What does that difference tell us?
- Is this a celebration of the cheerleader as an athlete, or as an entertainer? Where is the line?
8️⃣ Current Status & Applications
- Status: Cheerleader name boards are a beloved tradition in CPBL, especially among younger fans and families.
- Applications: Teams sell official cheerleader photo cards, and fans create digital name boards for social media. The hashtag #啦啦隊 is trending every game day.
- Suggested companion exhibits: Display alongside Player Caricature LED Sign and “An la!” Hit Cheer Sign.
9️⃣ Significance & Educational Value
- Significance: The cheerleader name board represents the convergence of baseball, idol culture, and fan art in contemporary Taiwan. It shows that fandom extends beyond the players to the entire game experience.
- Educational value: Encourages visitors to consider how gender, performance, and spectacle shape modern baseball – and how fans express admiration for non‑player personalities.
🔟 References
- The rise of CPBL cheer squads. Taiwan Baseball Culture Journal, 2018.
- Cheerleader fan clubs and name boards. China Times, 2019.
- Lamigo Monkeys and the cheerleader revolution. United Daily News, 2015.
- “Lala” culture in Taiwanese baseball. Rakuten Monkeys official fan magazine, 2021.