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Washington Nationals' Obsession With Baby Shark Drives MLB Store Sales During World Series

MLBShop.com adult and children’s Baby Shark products have totaled more than $100,000 in online sales

What to Know

  • In the last 10 days, MLBShop.com has sold more than 4,500 various adult and children’s Baby Shark products
  • In popular jersey sells, Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is No. 1.

Major League Baseball’s online sales from the postseason and the World Series featuring the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals have been strong — and the “Baby Shark” craze is adding to that, according to data from the league. 

In the last 10 days, the MLBShop.com has sold more than 4,500 various adult and children’s “Baby Shark” products, totaling more than $100,000, the league said. 

The popular children’s song became a MLB phenomenon when Nationals outfielder Gerardo Parra started using the song as his walk-up music to break out of a hitting slump earlier in the season. 

The superstitious Parra, 32, who signed with the Nationals in May following 30 games with the San Francisco Giants, told NBC Sports his 2-year-old daughter Aaliyah “loves” the “Baby Shark” song. So, he made the switch. 

Following a 0-for-23 slump, Parra went 2-of-4 at the plate, hit a home run and knocked in two RBI to help the then 34-38 Nationals to a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on June 19. 

“Before the game, I tried merengue, reggaeton, hip-hop, then I said, ‘You know what, I want to put in ‘Baby Shark,’” Parra told NBC Sports. “I’m happy for that.” 

Parra kept the song as his walk-up, finished the season with a .262 batting average and the Nationals won the National League title. Fans caught on to the “Baby Shark” craze, contributing to the MLB’s retail sales. 

“It’s amazing, the energy the fans bring to me and to my teammates,” Parra told the Washington Post. “But I think the more important [thing] is all the kids jumping, clapping, enjoy that. It’s great when I see other guys do that. … Right now, it’s amazing. It’s working for us.” 

Astros and Nationals’ jersey sales are also hot. The best-selling jersey belongs to Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, followed by third baseman Alex Bregman. Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer has the third-most popular jersey, and shortstop Trea Turner’s jersey is fifth. 

Since the postseason began, the Nationals have four players, while the Astros have six in the top 30 most popular jersey sales. 

Before the World Series, American and National League champions apparel online sales increased 32% year-over-year, according to data provided by the MLB to CNBC. Sales on National and Astros locker room caps and tee shirts increased 78% year-over-year.

This story first appeared on CNBC.com. More from CNBC: 

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