Crab Grass Band brings unique form of fan support to Tiger Field

There's one thing that's more rare than an unassisted triple play, and fans who went to the Colt .45s' final 2009 home game on Tuesday saw it.

It was a pep band for a baseball team.

The Crab Grass Band brought a nine-member noise brigade to Tiger Field to cheer on the Humboldt Crabs and its unconventional method of baseball fan spirit sounded like it belonged in a basketball or football game. Complete with baritone and alto saxophones, a piccolo, two tubas, two trumpets, a trombone and a snare drum, the Crab Grass Band had a blast as it consistently roused the large contingent of Crabs fans who made the trek from Arcata.

It's something that's rarely, if ever, seen at baseball games. But that doesn't mean it doesn't belong, said Gordon Thompson, who was the facilitator for the evening.

"Secondary entertainment is important in baseball, and live music really isn't the antithesis of baseball," he said, mentioning that the organ is a part of baseball fan culture. "Arcata is a true music town. There's always a drum circle somewhere."

It's also a town that loves it Crabs. The oldest summer collegiate league team in the nation has a steady and faithful following, and the band boasts 30 to 40 different people who have played at one time or another in the group. The Crab Grass Band has been playing its tunes since 1983 and boasts a playlist on its Web site of 112 songs - everything from "All Right Now" to the theme song from the video game Zelda.

It's more about music and fun, not baseball.

"The idea is that it's a true community band," said John Miller.

Reasons for the band's name are extremely simple, according to its Web site.

"The Crab Grass Band is sort of like crab grass - you can just never really make it go away. It just keeps showing up every year."

Music is the main draw. Having and sharing fun is the ultimate goal. Tuba player Megan McTavish said she's not a baseball fan but participates because of the enjoyment she gets. Supporting the Crabs is easy to do, she said, because it's also supporting Crabs fans in their efforts to let loose and enjoy the game.

"We just add great spirit," she said. "Wherever we go we have a blast."

Umpires, opposing players and Redding fans may not have had such a blast if they couldn't take a little ribbing. The group heckles and pokes fun consistently, without vulgarity or crossing lines of decent behavior, and finds ways to let everyone know it's there. Colt .45s manager Ryan Watson said it's not a factor for the guys on the field.

"I don't think it distracts the players," he said. "I've never seen a band at a baseball game. I guess it belongs in Humboldt but everywhere else it seems out of place."

A man who called himself Eddie Eagle said the verbal aspect is just another aspect of being a fan who wants to have fun.

"Heckling is part of baseball and we do it in the spirit of the game," he said.

It was diverse playlist Wednesday. Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4" was a between-inning selection, and Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" entertained fans during a pitching change in the first game.

Van Morrison's "Domino" helped pass the time between games, while the group went into the ragtime classic "A Hot Time in the Old Town" after a Crabs home run in the top of the fifth of the first contest.

To say that the group was completely on key every time would be a lie.

It's certainly not a conventional addition to a baseball game, and it's one baseball purists are guaranteed to scoff at. The Crab Grass Band, however, just wants to share the enjoyment of Crabs baseball. And Wednesday, there was no doubt that it accomplished its goal.

Reporter Leland Gordon can be reached at 225-8263 or