The Wave

Summary

Snap Judgment Podcast Summary: "The Wave" Episode

Podcast Information:

• Title: Snap Judgment
• Host/Author: Snap Judgment and PRX
• Description: Snap Judgment blends real stories with compelling beats to create cinematic, dramatic radio experiences. Their raw, musical storytelling encourages listeners to view the world through different perspectives—it's storytelling... with a BEAT.
• Episode: The Wave
• Release Date: April 10, 2025

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1. Introduction to "The Wave"

In the episode titled "The Wave," Snap Judgment delves into the intriguing origins and cultural impact of one of sports' most iconic phenomena—the Wave. The story intertwines the journey of Crazy George Henderson, a charismatic cheerleader credited with popularizing the Wave, and Merritt Riley, a passionate Yankees bat boy whose encounter with baseball legend George Brett adds a dramatic twist to the narrative.

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2. Crazy George Henderson: The Creator of the Wave

Early Life and Transformation into Crazy George

George Henderson's transformation from a shy individual to the exuberant "Crazy George" begins during his college years at San Jose State University. Initially known as Mike, George struggled with shyness and limited social interactions. However, his introduction to cheerleading marked a pivotal change.

• George Henderson: "I wasn’t shy anymore. I started using my personality, carrying the drum... I can change the face of a game." [09:07]

Invention and Introduction of the Wave

George's innovative approach to cheering culminated in the creation of the Wave during a pivotal playoff game for the Oakland A's against the New York Yankees. Faced with a tense, low-energy atmosphere, George introduced a sequential cheering technique that mimicked the movement of a wave across the stadium.

• George Henderson: "I wanted to try the Wave... if I pull it off here, this could be big." [20:07]

As sections of the crowd began to follow his lead, the Wave took shape, sweeping through the 47,000-strong stadium in a spectacle never before seen.

• George Henderson: "The Wave... just like a locomotive, it ripped by and they loved it." [23:54]

Rise to Fame and Spreading of the Wave

Following its successful debut, the Wave became George's signature cheer, leading to nationwide recognition and numerous professional opportunities. His role with the Oakland A's during their resurgence in the 1981 season solidified his status as a beloved figure in sports entertainment.

• Crazy George: "I could take the fans and get 10 times more reaction than they ever saw before." [18:13]

Controversy Over the Origin of the Wave

Despite George's claims, the Wave's origin became a subject of debate when the University of Washington asserted they were the true inventors. George contended that his October 15th debut preceded their October 31st claim.

• George Henderson: "I invented it on October 15th... They did it two weeks later." [27:05]

This dispute was further fueled by media coverage, including Sports Illustrated and appearances on major broadcasts, which often credited the University of Washington instead.

• Daniel Barbarisi (Reporter): "He invented the wave." [31:02]

Legacy and Final Farewell to the A's

The episode culminates with George's heartfelt participation in the Oakland A's final game at the Coliseum. As the city bids farewell to its beloved team, George leads one last Wave, symbolizing the enduring connection between the fans, the team, and the cultural phenomenon he helped create.

• Crazy George: "When I'm gone, they will be talking about the Wave. It means a lot to me." [34:34]

Notable Quotes

• George Henderson: "I’m hella mad. And today on Snap, that's not all we're setting the record straight on." [02:07]
• Crazy George: "Crazy George Henderson gets them all going and it's amazing. Think he's not pumped up?" [18:05]
• George Henderson: "I just like to laugh about it. But everybody calls it outside of this country, it's the Mexican wave. They invented it." [30:13]

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3. Merritt Riley: The Yankees Bat Boy Incident

Early Life and Becoming a Bat Boy

Merritt Riley's journey as a bat boy for the New York Yankees began with a childhood ambition fueled by his love for the team. Despite initial rejections due to age and experience, Merritt's dedication eventually earned him the coveted position.

• Merritt Riley: "I'm kind of making fun of myself here... All of a sudden, everybody wanted to be my friend." [38:08]

The Infamous Pine Tar Game Incident

On July 24, 1983, during a high-stakes game between the Yankees and the Kansas City Royals, Merritt found himself at the center of a dramatic controversy involving George Brett. As Brett prepared to bat, Merritt hesitated to return a bat, leading to heightened tensions and accusations of cheating.

• Merritt Riley: "I'm not afraid to say that I was scared." [45:15]
• Crazy George: "George Brett looking around, wanting to know what's going on." [43:35]

The situation escalated when the Yankees' manager, Billy Martin, demanded the bat be checked for pine tar—a restricted substance. Amidst the chaos, Brett was initially called out, igniting further frustration among fans and players.

• Merritt Riley: "This is the biggest thing ever that's happened to me." [47:05]

Aftermath and Reflection

In the locker room aftermath, Merritt encountered George Brett, who surprisingly diffused the tension with humor and understanding. The incident left a lasting impact on Merritt, who reflects on his hero worship and the unforeseen consequences of his actions.

• Merritt Riley: "I still have not gotten that high five I was looking for." [50:27]

Eventually, Brett's controversial swing was overturned, reinstating his home run and shifting the narrative from accusations to admiration.

• George Henderson: "The umpires are gonna get together. Brett is out." [45:19]

Notable Quotes

• Merritt Riley: "You gotta keep it going." [26:10]
• Daniel Barbarisi: "This is going to be an interesting call." [44:35]
• Crazy George: "Now Brett is out. Look at this. He is out." [50:19]

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4. Conclusion

"The Wave" episode of Snap Judgment masterfully intertwines two compelling narratives that explore the creation and cultural resonance of the Wave, as well as a personal anecdote from the world of baseball that underscores themes of passion, controversy, and reconciliation. Through engaging storytelling, dynamic quotes, and a seamless flow, the episode offers listeners a deep dive into the lives of those who left an indelible mark on sports culture.

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Additional Resources

• George Henderson's Memoir: Still Crazy After All These Cheers—for an in-depth look at George's life and the true story behind the Wave.
• Further Listening: Explore Snap Judgment’s latest series, Fire Escape, which dives into the world of incarcerated women firefighters battling flames in California.

For more information and to read Merritt Riley's full story, visit snapjudgment.org.

Transcript

[Glenn Washington]

SNAP Studios.

[Natalie Moore]

I'm Natalie Moore. I fell in love with soap operas when I was just five years old, and I still watch them. They're television's longest scripted series and have zero reruns. Now let me tell you, soap operas aren't just some silly art form. They are significant in this season of making stories without end from WBEZ Chicago. Join me as I share how the genre began, their social impact, and why these stories endure. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Glenn Washington]

Snap Judgment is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates Price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states. Okay, so it's time the world knew the truth. And I know I'm gonna get the angry letters. The Furious Reprisals. Please send any and all complaints to the snap judgment complaint department. Joe [e-mail] But I gotta tell my truth. Because back in the day, I move from Michigan to the San Francisco Bay land in lovely Oakland, California. Good people, good times. I instantly feel this sense of kinship, a sense of home, some of the same foods. And someone needs to explore the relationship between Michigan pasties and Bay Area empanadas. Got the same pride of place. And I even hear similar slang in the Bay. Catch folk walking down the street saying, that car hella fast. That girl dances hella whack. My mom's is hella crazy. I just smile with pride, catching echoes of my former home and my new home. Imagine, then my surprise, my chagrin to learn that these Bay Area people have the gall and the audacity to say they invented the term hella. The Bay Area hip hop, the skateboarders, the hyphae movement, all laid claim. Which is odd, because I know who started this worldwide trend. We did. And by we, I mean the good folk of East Kentwood High School, right outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Hey, it's gonna be hella cold up north. Chad Kim, how a good party you missed. In fact, I wanna go out on a limb and say the specific person who started this phenomenon is a guy who sat behind me in Mr. Vandermullen's geometry class. A fellow by the name of Shawn Webb. That's right. No longer can I just sit silent while this giant of modern American English vernacular goes unheralded. I'm hella mad. And today on snap, that's not all we're setting the record straight on. Snap uncovers the real story of a generations long mystery. Snap Judgment proudly presents the Wave. My name is Glenn Washington. It's a hella good show when you're listening to Snap Judgment. Now, every high school superstar knows that the roar of the crowd, it has to fade eventually. But Snap producer Bo Walsh brings us a tale about one guy who left behind something that will live on forever. Our story begins right here in Oakland, California.

[Crazy George]

In just a few hours, the A's are gonna play their final game at the Oakland Coliseum. Thousands of fans expected to attend, showing their support for the team A they've loved for years. In fact, decades for some.

[Bo Walsh]

This past fall, close to 47,000 people sold out the Coliseum to bid farewell to one of baseball's most storied franchises before the A's abandoned the city of Oakland. In their 56 seasons, the Oakland A's went from triumph to to tragedy. A once dynasty which included four World Series titles, followed by years of fielding baseball's lowest payroll. The Oakland A's were more than just a baseball team, though. They were a symbol of Oakland, a source of pride that unified a city. And while the rundown Coliseum may have earned a reputation for its small crowds, sewage overflows, and even possum infestations.

[Crazy George]

Get me out of here.

[Bo Walsh]

It was home to a loyal fan base.

[George Henderson]

This is Crazy George sending A's off. It's a terrible day, but a great day.

[Bo Walsh]

One of those fans was a man named Crazy George, who saw all of the ups and downs and would create one of the team's most iconic and lasting legacies. He was asked by the A's to be at their last game, to see them off and share in this final memory.

[George Henderson]

This is the best part of the game for me. I just have fun making people smile. All right, thank you. Hey, I was there. How you doing? Well, I can tell you I was shy. Well, I'm still shy. I really am. If I'm out of my element and people don't know, I'm Crazy George. And you see me across the room and nobody knows me. I am shy. I'm the quietest person in the room. And that's the way it's always been. But once I become Crazy George, I change my Persona. And I'm not shy anymore. All right, you got it.

[Bo Walsh]

As a young kid, George was not crazy. His voice was not always graveled by his strange line of work. And his name wasn't even George.

[George Henderson]

All through high school, I was called Mike because My middle name is George Michael and my dad was named George, so I went by Mike. So all my friends through high school, through junior college called me Mike. And it's quite a difference between crazy George and Mike. I mean, the world of difference. Mike was quiet at high school. I don't think I ever talked to a girl. I never went to a dance. I probably didn't know a girl's name in high school, except if it was one of my best friend's sisters. I mean, I didn't have a date till I was 21 years old. I had like four, three or four intimate friends in high school. And I still keep in touch with two of them. And they really are amazed that I transformed myself like this. Almost everybody didn't expect it. And then they go, now you're crazy. George.

[Crazy George]

George, can I get a photo with you?

[George Henderson]

Why, sure.

[Crazy George]

Oh, frickin honor, man. You're a legend.

[Glenn Washington]

Thank you so much.

[George Henderson]

All right.

[Bo Walsh]

It was in college, as a student at San Jose State, that one day something was unlocked. Something deep inside that George never knew he had.

[George Henderson]

Don Bogdan, my best friend back then, one day he said, let's go to a football game. Nuts and a sushi. I'd love to go. And we went and he brought a drum and a bugle. How did that happen? What do I do with a bugle? A bugle takes talent to play. I couldn't play the bugle, so he hands me the drum. Well, anybody can play a drum. And I start hitting it. Okay, Spartans, let's get going. This is gonna be a great game. And I was having fun. And I was getting a few people cheering with me. And by the first half I had like 40 people cheering in that section. Is everybody ready? San Jose? Is everybody ready? By the third quarter, I had the whole section cheering. And they're all laughing and enjoying it. And we stood out. San Jose. San Jose.

[Bo Walsh]

George kept showing up to the Spartan football games. And soon, with that drum in his hand, he wasn't so shy anymore.

[George Henderson]

When I'd hit the drum like three times in a row, I would look up in the stands and 5,000 people would be looking at me. That's what the drum did. I got their attention. Get up, everybody. I adopted the idea that I liked being noticed. I've always wanted to be an extrovert, I guess. And that gave me the perfect excuse. So I started using my personality, carrying the drum. I get up close and personal in the stands with the fans. And that's why they cheer for me. Defense. I'm with them. Defense. Defense. I found out the impact I made on fans. I can change the face of a game.

[Bo Walsh]

George became a fixture at San Jose state game and a bit of a local celebrity. But cheerleading wasn't gonna pay his bills.

[George Henderson]

I needed a job. A job comes along at bookstore high school. So now I was a regular full blown teacher. And I tell you, that was not my forte, but I was teaching. I don't know if they knew I wasn't cut out to be a teacher or not, but I wasn't getting a lot of joy out of it.

[Bo Walsh]

At school. He could never seem to find that same control over the classroom that crazy George had over the crowd.

[George Henderson]

The image of who I am, and then I have to be a strict teacher. And I was a terrible disciplinarian. So he's like right below out of control. That's the way I felt. It was chaos in the class. The kids just went nuts. And I'd lose control almost. I had nightmares about teaching sometimes. I was just not born for that. And I was born for cheerleading. Oh, there he goes. Oh, you big turkey, you ding a link.

[Crazy George]

This might be the real George Henderson, alias Crazy George cheerleader have tambourine will travel from the seals to the earthquakes to the San Jose State spring Spartans. The fans not only love his act.

[George Henderson]

They obey his crazy demands.

[Bo Walsh]

George was moonlighting on the weekends as a local cheerleader when he started getting calls from bigger teams.

[George Henderson]

And that's when there was an indication I might be able to make some money at cheerleading. And I go, well, I'm going to have to gamble. I'll try it. I just went in and I said, you know, I'm quitting teaching. I'm gonna resign my post. And I started cheering. And then I became professional.

[Merritt Riley]

Hello, everybody. I'm crazy George and this is what I do now.

[Bo Walsh]

Crazy George was traveling all over the country, banging his drum at games.

[George Henderson]

It was a dream. I was having more fun than anybody. They pay me to do what I was doing for seven years for nothing and having fun with it then. And they start paying me, and they started paying me more and more, way more than I would ever make teaching. And I'm just loving it. So I was happy. But between the uniqueness of my occupation being so unique that nobody else I think in the world's ever done it, My Persona, my personality fit.

[Crazy George]

This is Crazy George, Mr. Insanity. His ability to instigate fans has captured the imagination of spectators and sports teams alike. Back up for the hockeys.

[Merritt Riley]

To center ice.

[Bo Walsh]

A quick pass one Night. Shortly after going pro, George got a gig working a hockey game for the Colorado Rockies of the NHL, who desperately needed his help to get the crowd.

[George Henderson]

Into the game that night. It was a smaller crowd. They hardly ever do more than 7,000 a game. They were just a struggling franchise in the NHL. And, you know, of course, we were probably being beat.

[Bo Walsh]

So he wanted to start a cheer with three sections of fans to try to wake up the sleepy building.

[George Henderson]

And so there was three sections that had a lot of people in it. So I took these three sections and I said, okay, I want to start here, and I want you to stand up and sit down as I point to you. And I said, I want everybody to just yell, go. This section starts. I just want you to stand and yell, go. Go. Go.

[Bo Walsh]

When George felt it was time to rally the crowd, he pointed to the section he wanted to stand. Stand first.

[George Henderson]

Are you ready? Physically, I have the whole section stand up. And as they stand up, they yell, go. And then the next section stands up and yells, go. And I started it. And now a dog. I was on a curve.

[Bo Walsh]

Suddenly, as the fans followed George's lead, it was contagious. Butts started to rise up out of the city seats. The sections next to them saw what they did and did the same.

[George Henderson]

I didn't have to talk to the next section all at once. When I went, they go, go, go. I stopped. But the next session stood up and yelled, go. And they would just throw up their arms and it kept going and it got bigger and louder as it went. And it's going now. And I thought, all right, this is good.

[Bo Walsh]

The sections of fans standing up to cheer and sitting down one section at a time in sequence sort of looked like waves in the ocean.

[George Henderson]

That cheer, after it died or stopped, the place went nuts because they'd never seen anything like it. Neither did I. I was happy too. I knew right then, I knew that's a sure I would keep doing. I knew that. So I had that new cheer in my arsenal.

[Bo Walsh]

Crazy George started what everyone would soon be calling the Wave.

[Glenn Washington]

When Snappy turns Georgia's new little cheerlexide with a few thousand fans. But how about a sold out stadium style? Stay tuned. Welcome back to Snap Judgment. The Wave episode. Last we left, professional cheerleader Crazy George started a never before cheer at an empty hockey game that sparked a crowd reaction unlike anything he expected. But can George pull it off in prime time? Snap Judgment.

[Bo Walsh]

Crazy George debuted the Wave in Colorado and would break it out at smaller events like high school rallies. But he never Showcased it in a big stadium.

[George Henderson]

And that's when the time came to go to the Oakland A's game.

[Crazy George]

Of course, when it came to cheering, no one could ignore the A's 10th man, Crazy George Henderson.

[Bo Walsh]

During the 1981 season, the Oakland A's hired George to come cheer for 25 of their biggest home games.

[George Henderson]

I've only done one major league baseball team and that's the Oakland A's.

[Bo Walsh]

The Swingin A's dominated baseball in the 70s, winning three straight World Series titles.

[Crazy George]

Oakland has won the 19, the 1972 World Series. The Oakland A's have won their second consecutive World Series championship. And the A's have done it. The championship by the Oakland A's.

[Bo Walsh]

But as the 80s approached, they hit a post dynasty slump. And the once proud A's were now a last place team. With rumors spreading that they might leave Oakland. When new owner Walter Haas bought the team in 1981, he knew of Crazy George and his reputation for stirring up Bay Area crowds and thought he could help revitalize the atmosphere at the Oakland Coliseum.

[George Henderson]

I showed up and after I did one game, they just loved it. Let's go Wade. I'd do a cheer, then I'd run up the row. I'd run to the next thing in 10, 20 seconds, 30 seconds and I'm in the next section ready to do a cheerleader back and forth cheers, four quarter cheers, clapping, you name it.

[Crazy George]

Crazy George. Crazy George Henderson gets them all going and it's amazing. Think he's not pumped up?

[George Henderson]

When I would walk in, I could take the fans and get 10 times more reaction than they ever saw before. And the owners, in the general manner everybody players loved, was game changing.

[Crazy George]

The A's win the West.

[Bo Walsh]

George controlled the crowds in Oakland as if he'd been there for years. And during that 1981 season, the A's returned to their winning ways, finishing with the best record in the American league. So on October 15, in a sold out nationally televised playoff game against the rival New York Yankees, with 47,000 fans in attendance, Crazy George felt it might be time to introduce the Wave to the world.

[George Henderson]

I knew at the start, I knew I wanted maybe to try the Wave, but I just didn't know if I could do it. But when I walked into that stadium, we're playing the Yankees. Such rivalry and it's just we wanted to beat them so bad and we'd already lost two games away, so we had to win or we're out of the playoffs. So I thought that Wave, it was needed And I knew what it could do. The energy could add to a stadium. But I'd only been doing it for like six months or a year before that in little venues. But I said, if I pull it off here, this could be big.

[Crazy George]

It is 72 degrees here in Oakland. A good crowd on hand. In the background, I hear. I'm sure you hear the Oakland fans reacting to their Oakland A's. They love them here. The Yankees want to nail it down tonight and go on to World Series. But the Oakland A's say, not just yet.

[George Henderson]

That was an important game. Big, important game. And it was a nationally televised game. I wanted to win that game at.

[Crazy George]

The Coliseum in Oakland. The game is scoreless. Numerous threats by each team. Nobody's been able to push one across the plate.

[George Henderson]

So the game starts and we just are not scoring. It's a low scoring game. It's depressing. And I go, well, I've got to pull this off, because I have a feeling it really could do something. So I'm going, I'm gonna try it now. Remember, nobody had ever seen it before. And so I went into this one section and I said, this is the time. It's about the third inning. I could feel that atmosphere going down at inevitable. We're gonna get eliminated. They're the Yankees. So I get to three sections. I wanted three sections to park to. And I talked to the three sections and I told them what I wanted. And I said, first you guys stand up, you sit down, then you're going to stand up and you say, but I scream. And I was mean.

[Crazy George]

These fans are really enthusiastic. And I'll tell you, the way it's been going, it's like it's been boiling and bubbling a. A Mount Helen feeling here where something's going to erupt.

[George Henderson]

And then I knew that when we start this, the first, fourth and fifth section down there, probably could hear me easily yelling at them. And I started with these three sections and the energy that's just then was great. And they were having so much fun doing it. And then it went about seven sections. The three were great. The next one was pretty great. And then and just died because everybody's watching the game. And boy, on cue, when that died, everybody booed. And everybody's looking over what's going on.

[Crazy George]

His crown really reacting. Just saw one of the most amazing sights. Joel, as we looked at the mezzanine, each section, as they said go, got up all the way from behind home plate, completely around the stadium through the bleacher. Looked like it was Orchestrated.

[George Henderson]

I do it a second time and it starts off and now it's like eight, nine sections, really strong. Gets behind home plate.

[Crazy George]

Here we go again, around yokel, elevated mezzanine section. Okay, that was driving.

[George Henderson]

And it starts to die. And it died. And I'm screaming, I'm yelling, just keep it going. They said, okay, George, we got it, man.

[Crazy George]

You just saw in the picture the man who orchestrates that. Well, you got to believe that's all I know about George and crazy George.

[George Henderson]

Now one third of the stadium has done it. At that point, I think everybody knew what I wanted.

[Crazy George]

Under the direction of crazy George out here having themselves a good, good evening and enjoying baseball, enjoying the coliseum and not hurting anybody. And this guy really works it. I mean, such power he has. He just directs section by section. And you see it. It's a marvelous thing.

[George Henderson]

The third time, this was it. I started it.

[Crazy George]

Down below, they're off on Bonkers. He really loves it. Look at him. He's got a ball going.

[George Henderson]

I turned around and I'm watching it. And all three decks are doing in unison. All three sweeps all the way around, comes back through the outfield and comes to where we are and the place where nuts.

[Crazy George]

Crescendo rising here.

[George Henderson]

Now every deck is doing it and they're screaming as it's coming by. And it's like the most intense thing you ever saw. Sounded like a locomotive. It really did. And I mean, they coming towards you massive locomotive at noise level and just picks up and so you can visually shut your eyes and listen and know where the wave was in the stadium. Just hear it. You could hear it on the outfit you heard coming year out. And it just rips by it. And he kept going and they loved it.

[Crazy George]

In the background, you can hear the organized cheering of the eighth fan. Well, they've got a new gimmick here. They start in section, they raise up, throw their arms in the air and yell, go. Then just as they start to sit down, the next section gets up and they go all, all the way around the ballpark. Doing that's quite a sight.

[George Henderson]

It impressed me. Even I was unbelievably happy watching it go because I had no idea if I could get 47,000 fans to do it. It was the biggest crowd I'd ever worked with. Once it got going, oh boy, I just felt it, you know, I just sit there watching it and I'm just taking it in. It was really a nice feeling. In the back of my mind. I was hoping they would have it filmed it's never been on video. The game was excruciating towards the end. I mean, the fans were just so loyal, and they were cheering and yelling and supporting the A's. At the end of the game, it would sound like we were winning the game and we were behind, and it was tough, A tough loss. But the joy after the game, the fans reaction to me, they were coming up to me and going, what was that? We loved it. People had never seen it before, and I didn't know it at that time. I debuted it to the world because I didn't know it was gonna go around the world. Okay, stand up. You gotta keep it going.

[Crazy George]

Keep it.

[George Henderson]

Sorry. That's a beautiful wave. It's going on the other side.

[Bo Walsh]

After showcasing the Wave to a national audience, Crazy George started using it regularly at games as his signature cheer.

[Crazy George]

I like when he has the A's wave going around. Yeah, that's the best.

[George Henderson]

That cheer was the staple of me hitting the pinnacle of power. That is what I know. I've got the stadium in the palm of my hand.

[Bo Walsh]

The big debut of the Wave instantly led to more jobs and bigger contracts for Crazy George, and his celebrity status grew. At first, it seemed like his golden ticket.

[Crazy George]

His name is George Henderson, Although to most sports fans around North America, he is best known as Crazy George.

[George Henderson]

Yes, he has fun, but when you take a look at his annual income.

[Crazy George]

You realize that this man is not crazy at all.

[Bo Walsh]

But not long after George unveiled it at the A's game, the unthinkable happened. George was questioned by a reporter in Canada about whether or not he was actually the original creator of the cheer.

[George Henderson]

I never heard of it, never thought of it. When I heard a team was trying to challenge me. Inventing the wave.

[Bo Walsh]

The reporter told George that the University of Washington was claiming that they were in fact the founders of the Wave. After fans did it at a football game right around the same time George pulled it off in Oakland.

[George Henderson]

And so he told me that they were taking credit for it and they were claiming they did it on. On the 31st. Two weeks after I did it and after it was nationally televised during the game I did October 15th. They did it on October 31st. So two weeks later, they did it. But I didn't hear they were cleaving it. That's when I called up the University of Washington to find out was really. I got. I got mad and I wanted to correct it, and I figured it'd be really easy. I call them up and I called the University of Washington. Their athletic department And I was talking to the guy and I said, well, when did you start this? And they gave him the date and all that. And I'm going, no, I invented it. I say, I know I invented it. And it took a long process, and I invented it on October 15th. I have a video. He says, no. I said, well, I did it two weeks before you. And we get this argument.

[Bo Walsh]

George reached out to newspapers, radio shows, anybody that would listen. But the claims kept coming in Sports Illustrated.

[George Henderson]

You know, they're supposed to be like the premier great experts on sports. So somebody in Sports Illustrated did some little article on it and gave Washington credit. And then I heard somebody on Monday Night Football say that Seattle created the wave. I couldn't believe it.

[Bo Walsh]

The story of the birth of the wave was getting retold across the country and now had a life of its own.

[Crazy George]

That is the originator of the wave.

[Bo Walsh]

So he claims.

[Merritt Riley]

So he claims, right, that that is greatly debated.

[George Henderson]

We're doing the wave. We're doing the wave. Are you ready?

[Bo Walsh]

Even though his claim to fame as the inventor was being questioned, Crazy George kept leading the wave, and it kept spreading.

[George Henderson]

I did it at the olympics here at 84, and then Mexico saw it, took it down there, started doing all their venues. Then the World cup comes along. And in every game in the World cup, all the Mexicans did the waves.

[Crazy George]

And the Azteca Stadium is a mess of flags and jubilant faces.

[George Henderson]

Now it's televised around the world. So now the whole world sees the wave for the first time, and everybody calls it the Mexican wave. Well, I could fight the University of Washington, but I can't fight Mexico. I'm under guns. So I said, I just like to laugh about it. But everybody calls it outside of this country, it's the Mexican wave. They invented it.

[Crazy George]

As they get the wave moving around here, boy, they've got a full house. They can get it rocking.

[George Henderson]

When it finally became like a standard of the world, I mean, I think every sport, every team that's professional, no matter what it is, probably did a wave at their stadium, and it's just gone around the world.

[Glenn Washington]

This is a legend. He invented the wave.

[George Henderson]

I invented it.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

He invented it.

[George Henderson]

How old were you in 1981? That's what I thought. The guy that invented the paperclip, he invented that. It's a little thing, but he's walking around, he's going by some office, and somebody is slipping that paperclip onto a five pages of something. He gets something out of that. He gets an enjoyment that he invented. That and they're using it and they're happier for it. It's better than having five sheets of paper flying all over the room and you can't figure out what order they're in. And that's what I do. When I see that wave going anywhere, I just, I feel great about is really my claim to fame. Let me see it again. That's the highlight film.

[Crazy George]

More than 47,000 fans of the Oakland A say goodbye to an incredible season.

[George Henderson]

Look at that.

[Bo Walsh]

Throughout the 43 year debate over who invented the Wave, the Oakland A's always stood by George.

[George Henderson]

The A's were great. And when they heard about the controversy, kept back at me. I'm part of the Oakland A's. I'm supporting you guys. I'm part of you. And I'm showing you how much we love you by interconnecting with all the other fans to show the support.

[Bo Walsh]

So last September, for the A's final game in Oakland, the last in the Coliseum, the send off for the whole city saying goodbye to its baseball team, former president Andy Dolich reached out to George personally and asked him to be a guest of the A's, perhaps the.

[Crazy George]

Most popular A's fan of them all. The Coliseum is where Crazy George invented the wave during the 1981 playoffs.

[Merritt Riley]

So he had to be here today.

[George Henderson]

It's a happy, sad day. Oh, my gosh, I cannot believe it. The last Ace game. I said, well, I'll bring my drum, but I don't know what I'll do. And, you know, and then I pull into the parking lot, my drum's there. I get my drum out of the back and we're sitting in the middle of the parking lot. And within like 10 seconds, there's 15 people around me. And I'm looking around and they're just going crazy, Crazy Georgia. And it's so sad and they're so unhappy, but they all want to support the A's, the team itself. The A's are the greatest baseball team in the world. Why A's? I hope you're fast. Go A's.

[Merritt Riley]

You invented the wave.

[George Henderson]

I started doing little cheers. I pounded my drum. And the place just all looked up and I'm screaming, yelling. They're screaming, yelling back. And it's getting more and more fun.

[Bo Walsh]

And then for one last time, Crazy George led the way in the place. He introduced it to the world.

[George Henderson]

When I'm gone, they will be talking about the Wave. And so it means a lot to me.

[Crazy George]

Let's make Crazy George proud.

[Glenn Washington]

A huge Snap Judgment. Thank you to the man, the myth, the legend, Crazy George Henderson for sharing your story with the snap. At 80 years young, George is still banging the drum at his alma mater, San Jose State for the Spartans. And George just celebrated his 50th season cheering professionally for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Sports. To read more about the life and times of George, check out his memoir, Still Crazy after all these cheers. You can find the link to the book as well as all things social media for crazy [e-mail] this piece was edited by Anna Sussman. The original score is by Dirk Schwarzoff, is produced by Bo Walsh. Oh, don't go anywhere, cuz. After the break, from behind the dugout, a real life bat boy. Stay tuned. Welcome back to Snap Judgment Today. Everyone wants the dream job, but it always goes to someone else. That is the rule. But what happens when that someone else is you? Now this story does contain explicit language. Sensitive listeners are advised.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

This story starts back in the early 70s New York, when Merritt Riley was the Yankees biggest 11 year old fan.

[Merritt Riley]

I was hardcore. Well, actually my mom and dad were big Yankee fans. So I really didn't have a choice, to tell you the truth. It was always extra special to be at a game, smelling the grass and smelling the popcorn. You know, I always sought to get autographs and meet the players, but at the games, I'd be sitting there watching the bad boy retrieving foul balls and I'd I always wondered, how in God's name can I become that kid? I figured, you know, what the hell, I'll give it a shot. And I wrote a letter to Yankee Stadium. I didn't address it to anybody in particular, just hoping it would get a response.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

And he did pretty quickly from a bat boy named Joe.

[Merritt Riley]

Being the kid I was, I got the letter and I was so excited. It was written on Yankee letterhead stationery and I was like, wow, this, you know, this is it. I showed my mom and dad batboy.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

Joe wrote back and said in order to join the bat boy club, you.

[Merritt Riley]

Had to have good grades, athletic ability, be 16 years old.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

Merritt only met one of these requirements. He was a smarty pants.

[Merritt Riley]

Yeah.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

But over the next five years, Merritt set his little mind and body to it and bada bing, bada boom, Joe hooked him up and Merritt became a Yankee bat boy. And even before he did any bat boy things, it changed his life.

[Merritt Riley]

I'm kind of making fun of myself here. When I was in high school, I was like a little nerdy Kid, you know, I wasn't really, you know, one of those popular kids, you know what I mean? All of a sudden, everybody wanted to be my friend. Kids that I thought would never talk to me because they were the cool kids, they were the jocks, you know, it's funny because a lot of those kids are friends still today. Best part of the job was being around players that, you know, a year or two before, I was watching on TV and only dreaming that it would be like a dream to, you know, to meet these people, you know, and now I'm in the same locker room as them.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

Being a bat boy's no easy work. Merritt shined all the players cleats, did the laundry, and during practices, he'd shag fly balls. But his most important job was during the game.

[Merritt Riley]

During the game, you have one responsibility. Once that player that's at home plate hits the ball, whether it's a base hit or an out, your main and only responsibility is to get that bat and get it right back to the dugout.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

Once in the dugout, all Merritt had to do was return the bat to the bat container where the other bats hung out during the game.

[Merritt Riley]

The Yankees were very, very strict about not being part of the game, you know, being invisible, really.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

Now, Merritt was planning the rest of his life and career from his gig as a bat boy. If he did a good job, his plan was to become an umpire. Well, that was the hope, at least until July 24, 1983, Yankee Stadium. Merritt's beloved Yankees were facing one of their biggest rivals, the Kansas City Royals.

[Merritt Riley]

It was a Sunday afternoon in July, and back then, the Yanks in Kansas City, they saw each other a lot in the playoffs. And it was a packed house. You know, it was hot, it was a loud, you know, boisterous crowd.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

Now, this game was extra special in merit, not because the heated rivalry, but because of one player on the Royals, the superstar hitter, George Brett.

[Merritt Riley]

For whatever reason, George Brett took a liking to me. Even though he was a superstar, he was like a regular guy. He'd clown around everybody in the clubhouse. He'd always be breaking my chops about one thing or another. You know, kidding around not mean. He had a nickname for me, and it was Spaulding from Caddyshack, Spalding Smails.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

Not the coolest nickname. Spalding from the movie Caddyshack is a spoiled brat infamous for picking his nose and eating it.

[Merritt Riley]

You know what? It wasn't like I liked a nickname. I just liked that he noticed me enough to have a nickname for me, you know, he made you feel important. That made me like him. You know, he definitely became my favorite Yankee fan.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

Listeners, don't worry about it. His allegiance is still with you.

[Merritt Riley]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, George Brett was one of those guys that I would secretly root for. As long as the Yankees would win the game, I was rooting for George Brett to do well. There weren't other players I could say that about that were not on the Yankees.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

All right, so back to the game.

[Merritt Riley]

First inning, second, third, four. The game didn't stand out for any reason. Seventh inning, eighth inning. All right, here we are on the top of the ninth inning. The Yanks are up 4, 3.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

And it's a very close game with the Royals at bat with two outs and a runner on base.

[Merritt Riley]

You know, you figured the Yanks are going to win this game. You have the Yankee closer, Goose Gossage, who basically was lights out once they brought him in. But play from Kansas City gets on base. And none other than my favorite player in baseball, George Brett. The crowd's on its feet. George Brett is known as the Yankee Killer, but also well known as the hemorrhoid guy.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

Back in the 1980 World Series, George had to leave a game early because hemorrhoid pain. Since then, every time he came up to bat, he was the butt of all jokes and jeers.

[Merritt Riley]

The crowd is going wild, jeering at George Brett, cause of a hemorrhoidal issue. I got a big conflict going on in my head. You know, I'm rooting for this guy, George Brett, to get the big hit, but at the same time, I want to see my favorite team win the game. So George Brett's at bat, and Goose Gossage leans in and delivers a pitch.

[Crazy George]

Uh oh, uh, oh.

[Merritt Riley]

I could tell just from the sound of the ball hitting the bat, this thing was gonna leave the ballpark. There was a very quick moment of silence, and then all of a sudden, the place went crazy.

[Crazy George]

And now the Royals have the one run lead.

[Merritt Riley]

So right away, I get up the home plate, I grab the bat. At the time, I know that I have to get that back to the dugout, but I said, you know what? I know I'll probably get in trouble, but I'm gonna wait there. I'm gonna wait there with the bat, and I wanna high five him when he comes around because he was such a good person to me. I wanted to show that I'm a Yankee fan, but I'm a George Brett fan. While I'm standing there at home plate waiting For George Brett to round the bases. The manager of the Yankees, Billy Martin, is on the top step of the dugout. The veins of his neck just like protruding from his neck. Cause he was screaming for his catcher to check the bat. Check the bat. Right after that, the catcher of the Yankees rips it out of my hand. And he begins to inspect the bat for cork. When players cork their bats, makes the ball travel further. It's cheating. The catcher checked it for cork and then saw that there was no cork and he just dropped it on the ground right next to him. Gotta be honest, I didn't know what was going on at this time. George Bretton now crossed his home plate and just went right to the dugout. I did not get to high five him because now I was so caught up in what was going on. Right after that, the manager ends up at home plate screaming, I want that bat checked. I want it checked for pine tark.

[Crazy George]

Is that he's got too much pine tar. And the umpires are going to get together. George Brett looking around, wanting to know what's going on.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

And the umpires Pine tar is a sticky substance that players put on their wooden bats. Basically it helps them grip the bat, swing the bat and hopefully hit a home run.

[Crazy George]

That pine tar up that far on the bat, first time in a long, long time. I've seen the umpires huddle this long and have a meeting over it. They're feeling it, see to see if there's some sticky stuff around there.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

But there is a limit to how much pine tar one can use. 18 inches from the tip of the handle, about the width of home plate.

[Merritt Riley]

The umpires take the bat, they lay it down against home plate to determine if the pine tar was too far up the handler than that.

[Crazy George]

I've never seen this. I never have either.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

The umpire struggle to make a call. And that's because the pine tar rule, it's one of those obscure rules that's rarely enforced. And here the crafty Yankee manager was waiting until the pine perfect moment to bring this tiny rule down on George's head.

[Merritt Riley]

I'm thinking if I would have just picked up the bat and got it out of there instead of waiting at home play for the high five. None of this be happening.

[Crazy George]

That's Nick Bremmigen with the this is going to be an interesting call. Brett isn't sure whether he has a home run yet or not.

[Merritt Riley]

At that point I stopped slinking away, back towards the dugout, walking backwards. And the players were angry. And at one point, George Brett, who's now pacing up and down the dugout like a raging bull. He says, all I know is that if they call me out, you're going to see four dead umpires. Four dead umpires. Four dead umpires. And almost right after that, almost immediately after that, the whole paid umpire looks towards where the Kansas City Royals were and makes the out sign.

[Crazy George]

They might be going to call George Brett out. Well, he out. Yes, sir, is out. Look. Look at this. Brett is out.

[Merritt Riley]

George Brett just charges out of the dugout like a maniac. First couple buttons on his shirt were, like, open. You know, his hair was a disaster. Yeah.

[Crazy George]

Forcibly restrained from hitting plate umpire Tim McClellan.

[Merritt Riley]

Oh, it was crazy. It was crazy.

[Crazy George]

The Yankees have won the ball game. 4, 3. Brett is called out for using an illegal bat.

[Merritt Riley]

Now I position myself inside the dugout, at which point the players from Kansas City are yelling at me, why the hell didn't you get the bat? I was. You could. You could edit this. I was. My pants. 50,000 people and all these big baseball players. And I was scared. I'm not afraid to say that I was scared.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

At this point, all hell breaks loose.

[Merritt Riley]

Yankee Stadium security. The guys in suits and ties are out on the field, and one of them comes up behind the umpire and swipes the bat out of the umpire's hand and makes a beeline for the dugout. At which point, a pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, Gaylord Perry, sneaks up behind the Yankee Stadium security and swipes the bat out of his hands.

[Crazy George]

Well, a Yankee security person and one of the umpires quickly are chasing whoever has the bat. Jose Martinez is holding bread. Bobby. I've never seen this in my life.

[Merritt Riley]

It was somewhat of a movie, really was. It kept getting worse for me. It was like a bad nightmare. Kept getting worse.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

The game ends. Yankee fans celebrate as they leave the stadium while the Royal fans are still stunned.

[Merritt Riley]

The players are gone. The umpires are gone. The whole swarm of people is gone. I'm in the dugout by myself. One of the clubhouse managers comes down and says, you don't want to go up into that locker room right now. The Kansas City Royals don't want to see you. They're pissed off at you.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

So Merritt begins his post game duties. Knocking the mud out of spikes, cleaning up the Yankee locker room.

[Merritt Riley]

At that point, I thought it was the end of the world. This is the biggest thing ever that's happened to me. The manager of the clubhouse where the Royals were came down and said, look, it's safe to go back down to the locker room. The guys that were angry are gone, so come on down. All I could tell you was I was real nervous. I entered the locker room very, very timidly. And I opened the door to the locker room. On the left hand side is a swarm of reporters.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

And guess who's in the center of this swarm? You guessed it, superstar George Brett.

[Merritt Riley]

The one guy I don't want to see. And he's one of the only ones left. So I try to make my way towards the back of the locker room. I figured he wouldn't see me because there were so many reporters around him. And I go walking through and, you know, you couldn't have planned it any better. The reporters move out of the way and all of a sudden he locks eyes with me and I'm thinking, holy. You gotta be kidding. I thought I was dead. Yeah, yeah, I figured my heart was broken already. He's so. He's like Spalding. And I stopped dead in my tracks. And I didn't expect that at all, that he would be in the mood where he's calling me by my nickname, you know. And I was like, yeah. And he looks at me and says, why didn't you get the back? And I'm like, holy Christ, what do I say? What do I say? You know, I'm speaking to a major league baseball player. I'm 17, 16, 17 years old. And before I could answer, he. He just started laughing. He said, I'm only, I'm only kidding around you. He goes, don't worry about it. And then he said, but you do owe me. And I remember saying, as clear as day, whatever you want, whatever you need. So he says to me, do you want me to tell you what he says tonight? He says to me, the next time I'm back here in New York City, he goes, you're gonna get me laid. And I said to him, you want me to get you laid? And I started laughing, you know, and he laughed. And that was pretty much it.

[Daniel Barbarisi]

After the pine tar game, people called George Brett a cheater for using a special bat. But George, he got the last laugh. Eventually, the pine tar ruling was overturned. George got his home run back, and the Royals won the game. Oh, and remember the hemorrhoids nickname that was now behind him?

[Merritt Riley]

As a result of the pine tar game, that nickname was forever gone. People don't even know about it, really. I know this whole incident could be blamed on my hero worship of George Brett. You know, any other player. I went up and retrieved bats probably thousands of times. The one time I didn't do it, this baseball history was made.

[Crazy George]

He's out. Yes sir. Brett is out. Look at this. He is out. Bobby. I've never seen this in my life.

[Merritt Riley]

And still to this day I still have not gotten that high five I was looking for.

[Glenn Washington]

Thank you Merritt Riley for sharing that story with a snap. Merritt still considers himself the Yankees biggest fan and a big shout out as well to Daniel Barbarisi from the Wall Street Journal for bringing us that story. Have a link to his story on our website, snapjudgment.org Original sound design by Renzo Gorio and that piece was produced by Davey Kim. Ooh, Snappers. If you missed even a moment, know that an entire world of SNAP storytelling awaits. In fact, we recently dropped a brand new series diving into the world of of incarcerated women firefighters battling the flames in California. Hosted by our own Anna Sussman. It's called Fire Escape. On podcast platforms everywhere. Right now, KQD in San Francisco is SNAP's orbiting hall of Justice. SNAP is brought to you the team that always executes perfect timing whenever we celebrate with the wave. Acceptable, of course, for the uber producer, Mr. Mark Ristage. He always goes up when you're supposed to go down. He goes down when you're supposed to go up. Now there's Nancy Lopez, Pat, Vasili Miller, Anna Sussman, Renzo Gorio, John Facilio, Shayna Shealy, Taylor Ducat, Flo Wiley, Bo Walsh, Marisa Dodge, David Exume, and Regina Periaco. And this is not the news. No racist news. In fact, you get hella mad and hella hot when there's hella traffic on the way to the spot. And you would still not be as far away from the news as this is. But this is prx.