an ostentatious play, as in a sport, overemphasized deliberately to elicit applause from spectators.
2.
any action or attempt designed to win approval or to make a strong impression:
His going to work on Christmas was another of his grandstand plays.
Origin
1890-95, Americanism
Slang definitions & phrases for grandstand play
grandstand play
noun phrase
A play made with special brilliance and brio, esp in order to impress the spectators
Any action, speech, tactic, etc, designed to appeal to spectators; a tour de force: The President's pronouncement's just a grandstand play(1888+ Baseball)