Does anyone remember the "free agent fan" Michael Volpe from 1997-98?
Estil
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in Sports Talk
Free agent fan divorces Giants; sends letters to all other teams asking why he should be their fan
Sports Illustrated article about the "free agent fan"
I very much remember this and I thought it was quite an interesting story. He had supported the Giants for 36 years, but got really upset when they traded away his favorite player Matt Williams. So he sent back all his Giants stuff back to the Giants along with a "Dear John" letter of sorts, and then sent letters to ALL the remaining 27 teams at the time asking why he should become a fan of that team.
Several of the teams sent responses, and some (especially the Orioles) gave him a tour of their ballparks. The most important criteria for Mr. Volpe was the presence of good role models for his two kids, and naturally, the Orioles responded by pointing out that you don't get much better of a role model than Cal Ripken, Jr. Also, the Yankees even promised him they'd let him throw out the first pitch of next season if he picked them!
After much consideration however, the team he chose was *drum roll please*..........
The Philadelphia Phillies!
As they had the role models and the fan loyality he was most looking for.
Not sure exactly what made him choose the Phillies, but I bet he must've been happy when they won the World Series in 2008!
As you may know in my previous topic, I too am looking for a MLB team to call my own (not my wife's Red Sox; that's HER team), though in my case I only have two real competitors; the Cardinals and the Cubs. The problem is that I've very much been into baseball cards and baseball history (and growing up I did really like Don Mattingly; but that's being a "player first" fan) but I've never really latched on to any one particular team. I am leaning towards one already but I want to wait until I make a final decision (and in fact, I wonder if deep down I was a fan of that team all along). Still, it won't be quite the same as my love for the Kentucky Wildcats; remember I was born and raised in Kentucky AND hold two BAs from UK.
Or should I hold out and wait for a MLB team to come to Kentucky?
Sports Illustrated article about the "free agent fan"
I very much remember this and I thought it was quite an interesting story. He had supported the Giants for 36 years, but got really upset when they traded away his favorite player Matt Williams. So he sent back all his Giants stuff back to the Giants along with a "Dear John" letter of sorts, and then sent letters to ALL the remaining 27 teams at the time asking why he should become a fan of that team.
Several of the teams sent responses, and some (especially the Orioles) gave him a tour of their ballparks. The most important criteria for Mr. Volpe was the presence of good role models for his two kids, and naturally, the Orioles responded by pointing out that you don't get much better of a role model than Cal Ripken, Jr. Also, the Yankees even promised him they'd let him throw out the first pitch of next season if he picked them!
After much consideration however, the team he chose was *drum roll please*..........
The Philadelphia Phillies!
As they had the role models and the fan loyality he was most looking for.Not sure exactly what made him choose the Phillies, but I bet he must've been happy when they won the World Series in 2008!
As you may know in my previous topic, I too am looking for a MLB team to call my own (not my wife's Red Sox; that's HER team), though in my case I only have two real competitors; the Cardinals and the Cubs. The problem is that I've very much been into baseball cards and baseball history (and growing up I did really like Don Mattingly; but that's being a "player first" fan) but I've never really latched on to any one particular team. I am leaning towards one already but I want to wait until I make a final decision (and in fact, I wonder if deep down I was a fan of that team all along). Still, it won't be quite the same as my love for the Kentucky Wildcats; remember I was born and raised in Kentucky AND hold two BAs from UK.
Or should I hold out and wait for a MLB team to come to Kentucky?
WISHLIST
D's: 54S,53P,50P,49S,45D+S,44S,43D,41S,40D+S,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 37,38,47,151,193,241,435,570,610,654,655 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings,Rising Stars
D's: 54S,53P,50P,49S,45D+S,44S,43D,41S,40D+S,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 37,38,47,151,193,241,435,570,610,654,655 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings,Rising Stars
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