It’s true that football, basketball and hockey have their fans, but the sports year begins in February and ends in October – preferably the end of October. And even during the other three and a half months, the hot stove league consumes the city’s consciousness, even eclipsing the Jets and Giants playoff runs.
This love for the game of baseball dates all the ways back to the 19th century as baseball was played throughout New York in its earliest forms. The birth of the National League in 1876 eventually brought the city the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants and when the American League set up shop in 1901, the New York Yankees soon set up shop.
Rooting for a baseball team in New York wasn’t about what team was better, it was an absolute birthright. People were born into a fan base and there was no switching side. As the Yankees established themselves, their fans came from the Bronx and also attracted the corporate visitor and tourists.
The Dodgers and Giants were different. Working class, blue collar fans in the first half of the 20th century tended to back one of the two National League teams. Giant fans were generally from Manhattan, while the city’s largest borough had their beloved Dodgers. Much like the class system of the early 19th century, which broke down people by nationality and religion, New Yorkers were identified with the teams they followed.
The best example of that came in 1951, where the Dodgers and Giants finished tied after the 154 game season. A three game playoff was ordered by the National League, which culminated with “The Shot Heard Around the World” by Giants’ Bobby Thompson. Fans fought with each other and until this day old Brooklyn Dodger fans still feel the pain.
After the Giant win, they proceeded to be swept by the Yankees, who had a young and talented Mickey Mantle in the outfield.
The Dodgers had their day in 1955, giving Brooklyn their only championship, but the days of the Boys of Summer ended two years later when the Bums and Giants upped and left for the West Coast.
With only one team in town, the fans of the Dodgers and Giants left behind did not back the Yankees, rather they followed their teams from afar or stopped watching all together. Only when the New York Mets were formed in 1962, did these spurned New Yorkers find a team.
Much like the their predecessors, the Amazins’ quickly established themselves as a people’s team. Although they were inept, fans flocked to the old Polo Grounds – and eventually Shea Stadium – to watch the Mets and root against the Dodgers and Giants when they came into town.
The Yankees, meanwhile, just kept winning. Champions in 1961 and 1962, they lost the Fall Classic the next two years. Then the bottom fell out. They finished close to the bottom or last for the rest of the decade, as the team aged and the mighty farm system went barren.
That gave the Amazing Mets a chance to take the city. And in 1969 they won the World Series against insurmountable odds. Led by young pitchers like Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman, the Miracle Mets won their first the Series 4-1 over the Baltimore Orioles.
They stayed in contention for the next seven years, but never got back to the top.
The Yankees resurged after George Steinbrenner bought the team and through free agency built the 1977 and 1978 champs. But the Boss’s hands on approach eventually cost those Bombers due to too many bad moves.
As the Yankees went down, the Mets came back and in 1986 won the Series again, beating the Boston Red Sox in seven games. Much like the team of a generation before, these Mets were competitive until 1991, but never won the big game.
But like before, when the Mets faded, the Yankees came to the forefront. This time winning four crowns in five years (1996, 1998-2000). Unlike past teams, these Bombers were built from within, while cheery-picking the other talent through free agency and trades. Led by future Hall of Famers Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, the Bombers remain a force in the American League.
The Mets enjoyed a resurgence in 1999 under controversial manager Bobby Valentine and catcher Mike Piazza. They even went to the Series in 2000, only to lose to the cross town Yankees. Then, after five years of mediocrity, the Mets came back in 2006 behind young stars David Wright and Jose Reyes and were one strike away from the World Series, losing to the eventual champion St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.
What makes baseball in New York unique these days is the rivalry between the Mets and Yankees. The teams didn’t play each other in non-exhibition games until 1997 and the Subway Series is the highlight of every season. Both Shea and Yankee Stadiums get a mixed but behaved crowd when the two teams play each other. As both the Met and Yankee fans root for their teams, you can hear chants for both clubs back and forth for all nine innings.
And that’s unlike any other sport in the city. Hockey games tend to have more violent outbursts in the stands, while games between the Knicks and Nets and Jets vs. Giants matches could be played anywhere, since the intensity just isn’t there in comparison.
And that’s why New York, first and foremost, is a baseball town.
Jason Oconnor
http://www.articlesbase.com/baseball-articles/why-new-york-city-is-a-baseball-town-96896.html
June 20th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
What is the best baseball town in America?
In my opinion, New York of course. Yankees games have baseballs best atmosphere. The stadium is loud and the chanting of Lets Go Yankees and Role Call send chills up your spine! When the Yankees take the field everybody claps along to "You ready for this" and everybody sings along to New York, New York when they win. The city comes to life when the Yankees do well. The city is in a slump when the Yankees do bad. New York is the best baseball city in America!
Oh and we have another team but they dont really count.
June 20th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
New York, New York.
By the king of the hill, top of the world…
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June 20th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Ill give you one answer. Cleveland. They hold the all time record for attendance at a single game. They sold out over 400 consecutive home games in the late 90's, early 2000's. The fans are intelligent and polite at games. If every one that claimed to be a Yankee's fan actually was, they may have a chance. Ask the next guy you see wearing a Yankee cap who the starting lineup is…bet they dont have a clue.
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June 20th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
new york city
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June 20th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Detroit
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June 20th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
San Francisco !
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June 20th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
St. Louis is, and has been for many decades.
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June 20th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
I'm aYankee fan living in Boston and I'd have to say Boston. Even though the Patriots went on incredible run of Super Bowl victories, it paled in comparison to the 2004 Red Sox World Series victory.
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June 20th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Boston Sox!!
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June 20th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
It's in New York but it's not NYC. It's Cooperstown.
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June 20th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Detroit. Unlike NYC, when our Tigers play bad we still go the ball park and root. New Yorkers only like winners. Fair weather fans can go to hell.
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I think Boston – the red sox own that town.
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
C'mon. Everybody knows its Boston. GO SOX!!!! St. Louis is #2.
Cleveland, Detroit..? Where were those Indians fans 4 years ago? Detroit has seen its share of empty seats prior to 2005. Even in the worst (post 1967) years, the Sox fans showed up in good numbers.
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
New York
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
I would also say New York.
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
That one's easy. Go to St. Louis. They are great fans. They even applaud the other team when they do something to appreciate. St. Louis fans rule. Not my team, mind, but the town is # 1 in my book.
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
I can't wait for tonight's series to start. Do you realize that if the Sox take 2 of 3 they will have a 9 game lead on the bums of the league. Seriously with the talent on the Yanks and their beloved Joe Torre they should be completely and utterly embarrassed about where they stand. Best baseball town has to be Beantown. Good luck
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Ive been to games in twenty different cities, and seen more games than I can count from teams all over the US..
IT certainly isn't New York. While NY has some great fans, they also have some terrible ones. NY fans relish in booing players on their own team that don't meet their standards. In fact, one fan even through a bowie knife onto the field, nearly missing Don Mattingly's head.
Great fans know that consistent booing of your own team, aside from being utterly classless, is counterproductive. The list of strong players that wilted under the unfair spotlight of NY is a long one, recent history including Ed Whitson, Jeff Weaver, or even Randy Johnson.
That factor alone prevents them from being the best (not to mention their ability to turn on the team when they fail). Yankee fans don't love baseball — they love winning.
The best fans are in St. Louis. They have the die-hard loyalty of Yankee fans without the classlessness or overly-lofty expectations.
They respect the game EVEN when it means respecting those in another uniform, which New Yorkers just can't fathom.
They also don't get into fights with fans who choose to cheer for another team visting St. Louis.
After St. Louis comes Boston, NY, Chicago, and then it gets tougher.
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Aw come on, Chicago hands down. There are no fans like Cubs fans anywhere, and there is no stadium like Wrigley Field. We get the highest percentage of sell out games, our attendance is great even when we're losing. Wrigley is very small and our attendance is still about 4th in the league. There really is no question at all. New York is all about spending money to buy a winning team. When they lose those people aren't fans anymore. Last on my list would be New York.
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Saint Louis.
Almost every city has excited fans, but New York fans can be rude and oh so obnoxious. Try going to Yankee Stadium and root for the visitors. Same with Chicago. Cardinal fans, on the other hand, are not only civil in the way they treat all ballplayers, they are as knowledgeable as any in the game.
In case you're wondering, I live in the NYC area and have been to both Yankee and Shea stadiums more times than I can remember. Generally speaking, it's not a pleasant experience – and that's a shame.
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Los Angeles.
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
New York!
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Boston Boston Boston We have the best chants and most intelligent fans. Guess New York must be in a really big slump after the debacle in Detroit, hmmmmm?
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Salt Lake City, Utah
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