Their well-documented clubhouse camaraderie is usually pointed to for guiding the Houston Astros to their 2017 World Series championship. Debatable as that might be, there’s no question that these guys not only have fun, but love having fun.

Alex Bregman? His post-homer camera glare has turned into an out-of-control social media thing.

Related: Move Over Mike’n’Mookie! Alex Bregman Set For Final AL MVP Push

Most teams seem to have some dugout celebration after a big play or four-bagger. For example, the Chicago White Sox, for some reason, have recently taken to festooning home run hitters with what appears to be a bike chain with a hood ornament attached.

Cute, I guess, but more than just a little impractical. I’m guessing there’s only one, so you don’t get to keep it. Plus, if no one hits a homer before your next at-bat, wearing it to the plate might interfere with your swing.

But, a hug is forever, as the Astros have demonstrated with the Tony Kemp-inspired “Hugs for Homers” post-dinger embrace. And, a stare into the camera doesn’t have to be given back. It’s yours to keep.

You Talkin’ To Meme?

Chronologically, after Bregman did a few post-homer stares into the TV camera, the team choreographed the above glare-in-unison following a Tyler White tater in Seattle, August 22.

That did it. On the 23rd, Harris County’s imaginative Precinct 5 constables fashioned their own group stare tributes, replete with a K-9 unit and cooperative pooch, as well as a shackled perp, no less cooperative:

Drawing Bregman’s approval, the man himself took to Twitter to offer the “Blue Steel” challenge (as it’s been called because of Breg’s ice blue orbs) to others:

“I wanna see everybody’s best stare down. Send me a video of your best camera stare with the hashtag # DugoutStareChallenge tag me in it!!!!”

Houston’s Majic102 Radio picked up the challenge and issued this offering:

Schools have responded, as classrooms have already tweeted Bregman their glare-ready videos, with students starting off their school year with Astros on their minds.

La Cara del Béisbol?

Even MLB has gotten into the act, ’cause I guess that’s what they do. On the eve of Players’ Weekend, as if they didn’t have enough publicity and marketing to do for that splash of crazy nicknames and wacky colors, they have taken to anointing Alex Bregman the face of baseball!

Well, they’re at least floating the notion with a pic that smacks of the birth of a campaign (somebody call Mike Trout‘s agent):

Actually, Bregs and the Astros can thank Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez for uttering the words, via Twitter, “Alex Bregman is a five tool player, he does it all, his IQ of the game takes him to another level. I think he can be the face of baseball, no doubt.”

Dugout hugs and camera stares: As social media fads go, they sure beat getting a bucket of ice thrown on you.

Related: Apogee Approaching: Big Numbers Propel Bregman Past Stars