Brewers to bring Thames' Korean cheer song to Milwaukee
Eric Thames will now be rounding the bases in Milwaukee to a familiar tune.
The Brewers revealed Saturday that the club is bringing Thames' popular Korean cheer song - that was created for him during his three-year stint with Korea's NC Dinos - to Miller Park.
Unlike in the majors, it's quite common for baseball stars in both the Korean and Japanese leagues to be given their own rally songs by fans and/or their teams.
After the catchy number - set to the famous strains of "Colonel Bogey March" by Lt. F.J. Ricketts - was discovered by the Internet this week, fans began petitioning the Brewers to import the song to America, where Thames has become an overnight sensation after hitting a major-league high 11 homers for the Brewers in his first month of big-league baseball since 2012.
Even Thames' new teammates in Milwaukee are on board with the tune, and judging by their reactions they can't wait to hear it over and over again the rest of this season.
Yes, @EricThames had a cheer song in Korea.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 29, 2017
Yes, it WILL get stuck in your head all day.
And yes, you will hear it at Miller Park. pic.twitter.com/x63baaLx28
According to Brewers director of new media Caitlin Moyer, the song's Korean lyrics roughly translate to "Eric Thames, crush that ball! Eric Thames, crush that ball! Eric Thames, home run!" in English.
The 30-year-old Thames resurrected his previously stalled career and caught the attention of the Brewers by hitting .348/.449/.715 with 126 homers over his three seasons in Korea. His Ruthian numbers in the KBO made Thames a bona fide celebrity in the country, and prompted Korean supporters to give him the nickname of "God."