Last year, the Claw and Antlers were all the rage in Texas during the postseason.
During the first two games of this year's World Series in St. Louis, the rally squirrel took center stage.
Now with the Series in Texas, another form of wildlife is in vogue.
Rangers players have been seen making a sign they call the "sitting duck." It's done by forming a duck bill with one hand and cupping the other hand under the elbow. The duck may not be as powerful as a bear's claw or as fast as a deer with antlers, but it's something different the Rangers faithful.
Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki rocked the duck after throwing out the first pitch before Game 3.
Season ticket holder Linda Passmore of Athens, Texas, was sporting one of the blue duck T-shirts Sunday night at Game 4.
"I liked the claw and antlers better last year," she says, "but whatever they want to do is fine with me."
The origin of the phenomenon is a little cloudy. Outfielder Nelson Cruz says it can be traced back to former Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock, who played in Texas from 2002-09. But the players just started making duck signal this year.
"We try to have fun. That's all," Cruz says. "Whatever it takes to enjoy the game."
When asked what the gesture means, many fans aren't exactly sure. The most common answer is that it's in reference to the old baseball phrase "ducks on the pond," which means there are runners on base.
But not so, according to Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus. It began as an expression of the razzing that goes on in the clubhouse every day.
"We got him -- that's the real answer," Andrus says. "When you got somebody, you ask him something and he didn't know and you know the answer, that's when you do the sitting duck … You got him."
Rangers catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli, whose locker has a shelf filled with tiny toy ducks, generally gets the credit for hatching the sitting duck.
"As a whole team, we are doing it," Andrus says. "Just one day we started doing it in the game."
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