Nationals Shortstop Ian Desmond Asks Fans Not to Have 'White Out' Behind Home Plate So He Can See Ball

Nationals Shortstop Ian Desmond Asks Fans Not to Have ‘White Out’ Behind Home Plate So He Can See Ball

by Dan Duquette Jr. on Wed, Oct 10, 2012 at 1:46PM

Washington Nationals fans are fired up to welcome playoff baseball back to the nation's capital, but at least one of their players is worried that they might be a little too enthusiastic.

Ian Desmond, the team's shortstop, was worried about fans all wearing the same shirts in a sign of solidarity, as teams have been doing quite often during these MLB playoffs.

Not that he doesn't like the idea, just that he was worried about its execution. If those behind home plate chose to wear white in the attempt of providing a "white out" effect, he wouldn't be able to see the ball.

If your sitting behind home plate field level I would appreciate it if you wouldn't wear white shirts. For those of u thinkin white out.

— Ian Desmond (@IanDesmond20) October 10, 2012

It makes sense, because finding a baseball in a sea of white would not only be difficult, but also dangerous. That's the same reason that balparks build "batter's eye" backdrops in center field, and why Fenway Park covers up seats in the batter's line of vision during day games.

Luckily for Desmond, Nationals fans were prepared to borrow a tradition from the Capitals and prepared to "rock the red."