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A tradition at all baseball games is the “seventh-inning stretch.” Where did the tradition begin?

According to the book, “The Baseball Timeline,” the New York Giants played an exhibition game against Manhattan College on Aug. 17, 1882. With his team coming to bat in the bottom of the seventh, Manhattan Manager Brother Jasper instructed the student body to stand up and stretch, which had been a tradition at all Manhattan baseball games.

When the Giants returned to the regular-season schedule, they instructed their fans to do the same and soon every major league team adopted the policy.

To this day, Manhattan College’s teams are known as the Jaspers, in honor of their former manager.