1️⃣ Exhibit Name
“Home Run Fireworks” Count Sign (Taiwan)
A numbered sign (1st, 2nd, 3rd) that fans hold up after each home run, mimicking the real fireworks that launch from the outfield after every home run.
2️⃣ Collection & Image
Figure 1. “Home Run Fireworks” Count Sign – Camera Photo Style
A fan holding a sign with a large “2nd” (or “2”) after the second home run of the game, with stadium fireworks in the background.
3️⃣ Gallery Location
Fan Culture Wing › Signs Hall › Taiwan Gallery
4️⃣ Exhibit Background
The “Home Run Fireworks” Count Sign is a uniquely Taiwanese fan sign that appears immediately after a home run. The sign displays a number (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) corresponding to the team’s home run count for that game. It is a direct response to the real fireworks that CPBL teams launch from the outfield after every home run. Fans raise the sign while the fireworks burst overhead, creating a synchronized celebration – the sign counts the blast, and the fireworks echo it.
The tradition began in the 2010s when CPBL teams (especially the Rakuten Monkeys and Fubon Guardians) invested in pyrotechnics. Fans wanted to participate in the count, so they made hand‑numbered signs. Today, the sign is common in cheering zones and is often passed from fan to fan after each home run.
5️⃣ Period & Location
- Period: 2010s – present
- Location: Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) stadiums, especially Taichung Intercontinental, Taoyuan Baseball Stadium, and Taipei Dome
6️⃣ Material & Dimensions
Figure 2. “Home Run Fireworks” Count Sign – Woodcut Print Style
A hand‑carved woodblock print of the count sign, with rough black lines and the stark contrast of fireworks against a dark sky.
- Material: Cardboard, foam board, plastic sheet – often with team colors and sparkle stickers
- Dimensions: Typically 12″ × 18″ (30 cm × 45 cm) – large enough to be visible against the fireworks
- Lettering: Bold numbers (1, 2, 3 or 1st, 2nd, 3rd) often with the word “HR” or “全壘打”
7️⃣ Narrative Story
The Fireworks Arms Race
In the early 2010s, CPBL teams began competing to have the most spectacular post‑home‑run fireworks. The Rakuten Monkeys (then Lamigo Monkeys) set the standard with colorful aerial bursts synchronized to music. Fans loved the spectacle. Soon, fans started holding up hand‑drawn count signs – “1,” “2,” “3” – as if to say, “We’re counting along with you.”
The “First Home Run” Sign
The most exciting moment is the first home run of the game. Fans scramble to hold up the “1st” sign before the fireworks fade. In the 2019 CPBL season, a fan’s “1st” sign appeared on television for 15 seconds after a walk‑off home run, becoming a meme. The sign is now a prized possession – the person who holds it after a home run is considered lucky.
The Number Race
If a team hits multiple home runs in a game, the count signs become a race: who has the “2nd” sign ready? Who has the “3rd” sign? Some fans bring a stack of numbered signs (1 through 5) and flip them in order. In a 2023 playoff game, the Rakuten Monkeys hit 4 home runs; a single fan successfully flipped through four signs, impressing the crowd.
The Digital Version
Younger fans have adapted the tradition to mobile phones – they hold up tablets or phones showing a large “3” on the screen. The digital signs can be animated (flashing, color‑changing). However, traditional cardboard signs remain popular for their authentic, handmade feel.
Think About It
- How does the “Home Run Fireworks” count sign differ from the American “Home Run” count sign? What role do the real fireworks play?
- Why do fans enjoy counting home runs with a physical sign rather than just watching the scoreboard?
- What does the sign’s connection to fireworks tell us about the sensory experience of baseball in Taiwan?
8️⃣ Current Status & Applications
- Status: The “Home Run Fireworks” count sign is a standard feature in CPBL cheering sections, especially on weekends when fireworks are guaranteed.
- Applications: Teams have sold official count signs as promotional items. Fans also use the hashtag #全壘打計數 on social media.
- Suggested companion exhibits: Display alongside “Hōng bù hóng” question sign (pre‑home‑run anticipation) and “An la!” hit cheer sign.
9️⃣ Significance & Educational Value
- Significance: The sign represents fan participation in a multimedia spectacle – counting the blasts while the fireworks roar. It turns a passive experience (watching fireworks) into an active, collaborative counting game.
- Educational value: Encourages visitors to consider how technology (fireworks, lighting) and fan creativity combine to create new traditions.
🔟 References
- Fireworks and fan signs in CPBL. Taiwan Baseball Culture Journal, 2019.
- Lamigo Monkeys’ pyrotechnic revolution. United Daily News, 2014.
- The “1st” sign meme. China Times, 2019.
- Digital fan signs in the smartphone era. Rakuten Monkeys official fan magazine, 2022.