As much as I love baseball cards/baseball history, I can't really latch on to any one team...

Estil

As you all know, my wife is a true Red Sox fan, born and raised (in greater Boston), and I'm a true blue UK fan born and raised (in KY; plus I hold two BA's from there). You see, my wife is so lucky to have been born and raised in a major league city where she has the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins (though she hardly cares for the last two if you can believe that). Now don't get me wrong, I most definitely feel lucky to have been born and raised in Big Blue Nation (the greatest college basketball team in the nation with unquestionably the best fans), but still, it would be so nice if Kentucky had a major league club of some kind to call our own. The last time we had a major league team was the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA in the 70s (before I was born) and we were on the short list to possibly get the Grizzlies but they chose to go to Memphis. Shoot, if I had been born and raised across the river (Indiana), they have two major league teams; the Pacers and Colts.

But above all else, I would absolutely love it if Kentucky got a MLB team (we haven't had one since 1899). Obviously there's virtually no chance of that happening. Now, when I was growing up, Don Mattingly was my boyhood idol (as he's from nearby Evansville, Indiana) and as such I did root for the team he happened to be on, but I was definitely not a true Yankees fan (I was clearly a "player first" fan). Shoot, if he had come out of retirement and played for the expansion Diamondbacks (as was rumored at the time), I would've cheered for them too! Also, when Benerick Pitino went to the Celtics and had at least a couple former Wildcats with him (most notably Antonie Walker), I actually wondered at the time if I should start rooting for the Celtics (though I never really did)! Again, I was clearly a "UK alumini first" fan.

Anyway, I'm not so much worried about finding a NBA/NFL team to call my own (the Wildcats cover those sports quite well, though I'll gladly be a die-hard fan of a future Kentucky NBA team if we ever do get one), though it would be nice to at least have a MLB team to call my own, but who? Now, where I live, the Cardinals are the most "local" team, and they do have quite a rich history (plus I met my wife in St. Louis). BUT, the Cubs are not much farther away and they have two things going for them; one, I LOVE their ballpark and think they have the best MLB ballpark (though my wife's Red Sox' Fenway Park is pretty historic too) and two, I also love underdogs (yes, I even like it when UK is the underdog; I was at Rupp when we upset #1 Florida at the time and me and my wife watched our football upset of #1 LSU in '07) and the Cubs are about as much underdogs as you'll ever find. Of course, since they're rivals, rooting for both is completely out of the question.

But above all else, I'm not sure it'd be quite the same. After all, aren't the most die-hard fans of a team typically born and raised as such (preferably in or near their city/state), such as my wife's Red Sox and my Wildcats? If was to say, "decide" to be a fan of any one MLB team, I'd feel like such a "wannabe". I most definitely would not want to be some "front-runner" (though in the Cubs' case that definitely would not be a problem!) fan either.

I hope the rest of you don't think this is a stupid topic.

TomGshotput

<< <i>After all, aren't true fans of a team born and raised as such (preferably in or near their city/state), such as my wife's Red Sox and my Wildcats? >>



No

Estil

I edited/clarified that sentence slightly.

SDSportsFan

I have similar feelings. I was born and raised in San Diego CA, and am a die-hard Padre and Charger fan. The problem I have is that I collect vintage cards, and have often wished I had been born/raised back east where my teams had more history. The Padres actually go back to 1936 in the Pacific Coast League, but that's after the Zeenut cards ended. I also collect Los Angeles Dodger cards, but that only takes me back to 1958. Football's a bit better, as the Chargers go back to 1960, and the Rams go back to 1948.

It just feels kind of empty collecting pre-WWII cards, since with the exception of Zeenuts and the T212 Obak set (PCL Los Angeles players), I have no team to hunt

On the other hand, it also means I'm not spread as thin money-wise

Still, it would be more fun with a team and players to search for.

Steve

Estil

Indeed, as far as cards go I'm very much a set collector, so it's far too late to make a team collection now, though at one time we did try to get a few Red Sox sets for my wife.

frankhardy

I was born and raised in western KY too. I have been a Cardinals fan since I can remember. I grew up listening to Jack Buck and Mike Shannon EVERY SINGLE SUMMER NIGHT. In my opinion, it is very hard to all of the sudden be a fan of a team if you haven't been one for a long time.

With that being said, I will make a case for the Cardinals (especially over the Cubs).

First of all, my case against the Cubs. I grew up knowing about the rivalry. However, I didn't experience it for myself until 2007. I had been to many Cardinals games at the old Busch Stadium and at the new Busch Stadium. In 2007 I went to my first Cardinals/Cubs game. My opinion of the Cubs and their fans changed forever. I took my son with me. There were 6 or 7 Cubs fans sitting right behind me and my (then) 6 year old son. Those guys were the most obnoxious, ill mannered, filthy mouthed guys I've ever been around. Finally, I had to turn around and get onto them telling them to watch their filthy mouth around my 6 year old son who was trying to enjoy a ball game. They did calm down just a little bit, but were still obnoxious. I will never go see a Cardinals/Cubs game again. (Sure, I know there are obnoxious fans of all teams. You just had to have been there).

Now, the case FOR the Cardinals. Just look at the uniforms. The classiest uniforms in the majors. They have history. Ten W.S. Titles and a bunch of more NL Pennants. They have the greatest player in the game who is off to the best 9 year start to a career in the HISTORY OF BASEBALL. They have the best fans in baseball (sorry NY and Boston). The Stadium is absolutely gorgeous. Plus, as a Cardinals fan, to get the best of a Cubs fan, all you have to do is say, "1908")

elsnorto

I never got that root for the "home" team thingy. I was born and raised in upstate (Rochester) New York and the "local" team was the Buffalo Bills... I never could stand them for some reason. Although, I was an Orioles fan when I followed baseball, and the Rochester Red Wings were their AAA affiliate, making them just as much the "home" team as the Yankees or Mets I suppose.

Snorto~

Blackborder

Grew up in the midwest and my favorite team was the LA Rams (70's). Go figure.

lanemyer85

First of all, my case against the Cubs. I grew up knowing about the rivalry. However, I didn't experience it for myself until 2007. I had been to many Cardinals games at the old Busch Stadium and at the new Busch Stadium. In 2007 I went to my first Cardinals/Cubs game. My opinion of the Cubs and their fans changed forever. I took my son with me. There were 6 or 7 Cubs fans sitting right behind me and my (then) 6 year old son. Those guys were the most obnoxious, ill mannered, filthy mouthed guys I've ever been around. Finally, I had to turn around and get onto them telling them to watch their filthy mouth around my 6 year old son who was trying to enjoy a ball game. They did calm down just a little bit, but were still obnoxious. I will never go see a Cardinals/Cubs game again. (Sure, I know there are obnoxious fans of all teams. You just had to have been there).

Always a good idea to broad-brush an entire fanbase on a handful of jerks. I've been to old dump Busch, and new mediocre Busch, breaking hews for you, meatheads are everywhere. Every fanbase everywhere sucks in some manner. Even as a Cubs fan you wouldn't catch me dead watching a game in the bleachers with the frat boys, tourists, and cup stackers. If I had kids I probably wouldn't take them to any pro stadium, but you're bagging on fans, how about the people you're paying to watch? Not many saints in that Cardinal clubhouse over the last decade or so you know...and no matter how much you folks adore Big Al...that's going to end in tears.

They have the best fans in baseball (sorry NY and Boston).

the ones who gave McLiar a standing ovation at their convention this year? These are the best fans? Yeesh, if nothing else at least we know Sosa isn't even getting invited to the Cubs Convention. If you want to state that Cardinal fans are the biggest homers, no one will argue that point. After all, Cardinal fans never bothered to complain when directly after building a new yard and winning a WS, management promptly cut payroll by 25%. So I'll give you guys the award for being the most loyal (to a fault), greatest and/or most informed...probably not. NY, BOS, Philly, and Chicago fans would crucify ownership if they pulled the Cardinal act....draw 3 million+ people a year every year, in a new yard, and feign like they're a small market team. That can fly in St. Louis, but not in a market where the media aren't total schills for the home teams. Anyway, yeah W-KY are usually Cardinal fans, E-KY is generally Reds country...but it can also differ because for years the AAA affiliate of the Cardinals was in Louisville, but since 2000 it's been the Reds AAA affiliate so more northern KY-ans are probably becoming Reds fans. In fact, they've been drawing record attendance over the last ten years since the new Louisville Slugger Park was built. Edited to add, if you decide to become a Reds fan wait until next season when Dusty Baker is gone...

I never got that root for the "home" team thingy.

it usually depends on one's dad or grandfather's affiliation. Either you follow the family tradition (which almost always includes the most local teams unless they were displaced) or you rebel against them. If they were casual fans, it seems to breed more of a situation where a kid just latches on to a certain team because of an individual favorite player (like all the kids who became Mariner fans in the 90's due to Griffey Jr). Or perhaps you can just be a total front-running flake like Lebron James types. Hey I grew up near Cleveland in the 90's but I just happened to be a huge Bulls, Cowboys, and Yankee fan. As we've seen by his act, he doesn't take losing very well. Also see President Obama. No ties to Pittsburgh, but just happens to be a big Steelers fan. I guess everyone is a front-runner at heart. Most teams' attendance figures point that out.

WinPitcher

I like the Mets and Jets but I too am more like you Estil I am more a fan of the games than
a fan of anyone team. I follow the above only because they are the local teams.

I get as much enjoyment watching two teams from two different cities as I do from watching a local team
play someone.


Steve

Estil

Well, like Fox News, it's so far fair and balanced (we've heard from a Cardinals fan and a Cubs fan).

frankhardy

We weren't in the bleachers. We were along the first base line. All I was saying was that I've been to a bunch of games and I've never saw out of Reds fans or Braves fans or Dodgers fans what I saw out of those Cubs fans. I know that they are not all like that. It just gave me an excuse to get in on the rivalry in a personal way.

Not many ball players are saints, but the ball players weren't acting like those morons in front of my son.

lanemyer85

I know that they are not all like that. It just gave me an excuse to get in on the rivalry in a personal way.

not a big deal other than broad-brushing a fanbase of millions on a couple of people on one given day. I've seen plenty of garbage from Cardinal fans here at Wrigley, including fights, but whatever...I dislike LaRussa and half of the Cards players more than the folks wearing their stupid #5 red t-shirts.

Clemaz

Come on and join my misery. Be a Pirates fan.

MCMLVTopps

my 2 cents...

I was born and raised just north of Boston, Red Sox, Celtics and then the Boston Patriots were the teams I grew up with. I think my prime association to being a rock solid Red Sox fan is the many games my dad took me to in Fenway and the memories I have of those wonderful Summer trips into Boston. I saw Mickey Mantle there and actually was within maybe 10 feet of him as he hustled for a deep fly ball by Jackie Jensen to the deepest part of Fenway just to the left of the Red Sox bullpen. Watching Ted Williams in left field just across from me and the many other Red Sox players was just great stuff back then. I truely treasure those memories, indeed priceless to me. Jimmy Piersall, Ike Delock, Frank Sullivan, Sammy White, Ellis Kinder, Leo Kiely and Mel Parnell were all favorites of mine as a kid. I've followed the team for a long, long time and have a substantial raw and graded collection of Red Sox cards. Needless to say, 2004 was beyond a joyous moment, the dry spell was painful!!

I now live just south of Atlanta, I wouldn't go to a Braves or Falcons game if the tix were free. I've gone to the Ted, but only when the Red Sox were in town. I was at the old Atlanta Braves stadium back when they won their division and chief nok-a-homa's teepee quickly disappeared as the field filled with fanatical fans. Took my son to Minnesota for game 6 of the '96 WS, with the Braves. Somehow I can't warm up to Bobby Cox's style, nor the Falcon team.

I enjoy the Cubs and other teams, I especially appreciated the athleticism of the players and even if it goes against the Red Sox, I applaud the effort of the player making a key play. Can't say I care much for the Mets or Yankees, but like to watch the Cubs. I hope the Cubs dream comes true one year soon.

If you grew up in an MLB environment like I did, it's probably pretty hard to not "root for the home team". And, if your travels ever take you near Boston, make every effort to catch a game in Fenway, you won't forget it.

GL to your team this year.

MantleMarisFordBerra

To the OP I kinda have a similar situation with the NFL. I don't really love and/or hate any teams. I guess if I had to pick one it'd be the Jags, but only cuz they're close. And even then, I'm just not THAT into it. My love for the New York Yankees on the other hand is a firm family connection I was born into. My grandfather (and everyone after him) are HUGE Yanks fans...we're originally from NorthEast PA so that explains that. Laynemyer85 was right, it's either local thing or you're born into it.