Since 2018, Brewers fan Ed Creech hands out Ding Dongs to surrounding fans in the stands for every home run

It started just as a fun tradition among friends that has grown into a side celebration in the stands of American Family Field.

Ed Creech was a big fan of Milwaukee Brewers infielder Travis Shaw, who fans knew as “The Mayor of Ding Dong City," and who played for the team from 2017-19 and 2021.

Ding Dongs is a baseball slang term for home run as well as a well-known treat.

So, starting in 2018 every time a Brewer hit a home run Creech and his friend would eat a Hostess Ding Dong. Then he started passing them to other nearby fans celebrating a home run in the club level.

“You do make friends,” Creech said. “Not because of the Ding Dongs but just because it really doesn’t make a difference how wealthy you are, if you’re right, left, conservative, liberal, it doesn’t make a difference because you’re right here, you’re a Brewers fan. ... Whether you know their names or not, you’re with friends. And I think the Ding Dong thing kind of goes with that.”

On Tuesday night when Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Tyrone Taylor smacked a two-run home run during Game 1 of the National League wild-card series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Creech was ready and ripped open a box of Ding Dongs and started passing them around to celebrating fans.

He tossed one over to people he knew in the section across the aisle. Then he scooted out of his row and ran to find a couple who were sitting about five sections over and handed them Ding Dongs. And on the walk back he handed out more to fans who held out their hands with glee.

“Here to me, this is my little patch,” Creech said. “To me, it’s a little tradition. If I could pass out a little happiness and put a smile on a fans’ face whether it’s an old, middle-aged guy, or young kid, that’s just part of what baseball means to me.

“The cares of the world are gone for these three hours.”

On this night his goddaughter Tess McGowen-Henderson was sitting with him.

“My sisters and I think it’s hilarious,” McGowen-Henderson said. “I hated coming to baseball games but ever since I started going with Ed and going to professional baseball games, it became so more fun for the environment, especially that special touch he brings, it makes it much better and much more fun to watch.”

Making friends one Ding Dong at a time

Bryan and Jessica Greisch, the couple sitting five sections over from Creech who got a Ding Dong delivered to them, normally sit right in from of Creech, but postseason tickets mean some ticket packages get shuffled around.

Regardless of the seat, the Greischs say it’s nice to be around someone who adds their own flavor to the live fan experience.

“I consider him a really good friend now,” Jessica Greisch said. “We’ve been getting along with him for so many years, he knows baseball inside and out, so it’s really nice to have someone near you that you can talk to about things.”

Creech isn’t sneaky about his Ding Dongs and has brought as many as four unopened boxes into American Family Field.

“The screeners always make a joke, ‘We only have a one Ding Dong box policy, so we’ll have to confiscate the others,’” Creech said. “The Brewers have a very generous policy as far as bringing in food and beverage, so I think it’s not a big deal for the screeners. ... Most screeners find it hilarious.”

Creech gives out the entire box of Ding Dongs, 10 in total, for each home run.

But what happens if there are Ding Dongs left over? They go in the fridge for next game.

“I love Ding Dongs, but I have remarkable willpower. I do not eat them at home,” Creech said. “Ding Dongs are sacred in that they are only to be eaten at (American Family Field) with a Brewers home run. I don’t even eat a Ding Dong when I see (a home run) on TV. It’s only for here.”

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers fan hands out Ding Dongs to surrounding fans for every homer