You've done it countless times—after a last-minute goal, a job promotion, or a perfectly timed joke. Slapping palms high in the air feels instinctive, but this gesture is surprisingly young. Its history is a puzzle of baseball, basketball, and cultural identity that still divides experts.
The Dodgers Claim: 1977
Most sports historians point to October 2, 1977, at a Los Angeles Dodgers game. Player Dusty Baker hit his 30th home run, and as he rounded the bases, teammate Glenn Burke raised his hand. Baker, on impulse, struck Burke's palm. Though not captured on TV, those present remember it as the first high five. Baker later told ESPN it felt like "the right thing" to do. Burke is credited with popularizing the move in professional leagues.
Louisville's Vertical Leap
But baseball isn't alone. During the 1978-79 season, the University of Louisville Cardinals—known for their aerial style—introduced their own version. When Wiley Brown tried a low hand slap, teammate Derek Smith corrected him: "No, up high!" The logic was simple: if they spent the game jumping above the rim, their celebrations should match that height. For the Cardinals, the high five was an extension of their dominance on the court.
Deeper Roots
Beyond sports, evidence suggests older origins. Some researchers note U.S. military personnel in Japan used similar gestures after World War II. Others spot it in French New Wave films from 1960. The strongest theory links it to African American Vernacular English—the phrase "gimme five" existed long before the mid-air clash. It likely evolved from a low greeting in jazz-era urban culture to a raised celebration of collective joy.
Today, the high five belongs to everyone—whether born in a Los Angeles dugout or a Louisville gym. It's become the universal language of victory, transcending borders and generations. For more on how gestures and traditions shape our world, check out our piece on Latino cuisine making Los Angeles a global gastronomic capital or explore the cultural impact of Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz's cross-media love story. And if you're curious about how financial habits affect relationships, read about financial future faking among young Latinos.
