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Cincinnati Reds pitchers wear 'Pham' shirts before series opener against Giants

SAN FRANCISCO – Managers David Bell and Gabe Kapler both said their clubs left the Slap Heard ‘Round Baseball in the past, but San Francisco Giants fans certainly didn’t forget about it.

Tommy Pham heard a loud chorus of boos during pregame lineup introductions and louder boos when he came to the plate for the first time Friday at Oracle Park. It’s the first time Pham has played the Giants since he slapped Joc Pederson during batting practice last month, an altercation that stemmed from their fantasy football league.

Most Reds pitchers wore red “Pham!” T-shirts during pregame warmups Friday, produced by Cincy Shirts, with the name styled like the old comic book “Pow!”

Neither Pham nor any of the Reds’ position players wore the shirts, which were sprinkled around the clubhouse during the team’s last homestand. The Giants wore T-shirts that read: “Fantasy Football 101: Stashing Players on the IR isn’t cheating” before one game earlier this month.

SLAP HEAR 'ROUND BASEBALL: Pham says that he has no regrets about what happened between him and Joc Pederson

DISPUTE: Pederson says Pham slapped him over fantasy football dispute

Cincinnati Reds pitchers Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle, right, walk toward the dugout after playing catch prior to Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants.
Cincinnati Reds pitchers Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle, right, walk toward the dugout after playing catch prior to Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants.

Pederson told reporters he hoped fans would keep things respectful with Pham throughout the three-game series.

“It’s not something – nobody around here has talked about that in a long time, so it’s behind us, for sure,” Bell said. “I’m confident in saying that.”

Said Kapler: “Our club is really moved past this. I echo Joc’s sentiments about we have some incredible, supportive fans, but we always want them to be respectful as well.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds pitchers wear Tommy Pham-style shirts before game vs. Giants