Being a 'fan' sure is getting complicated

I really don't think it will go away. If the players remain in the pro's that is.

I find myself rooting for players instead of teams. I'm not a fan of the Pirates. But when Duke is pitching I will root for him. That goes for any player that has been a memeber or a parent whose son plays in the pro's.

I find myself "rooting" for many teams now simply because they have a friend or poster's son on them. This also goes for college - several teams that I will follow because they have a player I'm following and want to watch him succeed. I'm finding it quite enjoyable!

Justbaseball,
Good post.
Part of the rewards from the HSBBW, for me, is "rooting" for your sons, even when they are on the opposing team.

I forgot to mention college and high school. Our HS team has a bond with a team in another region and we root for them and vice versa. Now when they play us it's different.

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Good post JB...

Right you are....So much easier to enjoy a game when you know the stories of the participants and a little background and a little personality...gives you a personal interest.

It's my personal excuse for why pro ball just isn't as captivating for me anymore. Players move too much.

JB....These names rings any bells for you? Jimmy Ray Hart? Ray Sideki? Willie McCovey? Tito Fuentes? Career SF Giant Guys. I KNEW them they were my friends, year after year after year....even if it was only on the radio. So IMO Yes, knowing the players, having a personal conection - even if it is only a percieved one - changes MY experience. I am REALLY looking forward to college ball and knowing the players my son plays against. Got Texas, and Cal on his schedule this year and four kids that I have watched since Mustang. Got those dates circled...will root for all those players to get it done, and my son's team to win! Especially against the "evil empire" in the regionals.

The other part...and this is more esoteric...is that IMO you eventually learn to watch games for more than the simple win/loss. You begin to watch for the "magic". A WOW! play. And for a player at any level, mustang on up who has "it".


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This complication started with summer teams/hs ball. My son's hs coach could never understand why we knew guys on pretty much every other hs ream we played. That's when you start rooting for opposing players, just not the team!

I do the same in pro ball as well, though --- speaking of the Giants and as a Cards fan, I'll root for Matheney to do well until the guy retires. I enjoyed the love handed out by Mike Shannon, the Cards' color man, to our own Zach Duke when Zach was about to pitch against us: "Let's hope the kid keeps throwing well....and let's win it afer he's out and he doesn't have to take the loss".

I root for players...not unis.

And observer44, Ray Sadecki spent longer with the Cards than with the Giants...we loved him, too.

Justbb, with the amount of time and energy you generously devote to youth baseball, I have a hard time envisioning a time when you "don't know any of them," no matter what the level of play.
Just back from watching the last 5 games of the MWL season and your post seems very timely. Yesterday was fan appreciation day. After the game, every "Lugnut" went to his position and signed autographs for an hour. As I watched kids from 5-??? stand in line to have just about everything imaginable signed, I got to thinking about a side of Minor League baseball that doesn't happen during the 9 innings.
I have always loved the paintings of Norman Rockwell. To me there is a "Rockwell" quality to the image of a 6 year old with their hat pulled down holding a newly autographed ball/hat/card/glove while gazing admiringly upwards at a player who is signing. Nothing complicated when you are a "fan" at age 6. I wonder if there is something about images like that which makes every one of us remember when it was just a "game" and why we love the "game" so much.

Orlando and Observer,

Yep, even on this side of the state (Missouri) we think of Ray Sadecki as a Card. His family still makes the best polish sausage in town(Kansas City). Well did make the best, I think they may have closed the shop in the last few months as I believe Mrs. Sadecki passed this year.

But I agree the sentiment also and miss the days when players were identified with just one or two teams. Of course that all changed with Mr. Flood.

Good thread that shows the closeness of being part of the "baseball family" across the country.

Another interestng twist on this is cheering for players on your son's team who were once the competition ... especially found this at the minor league level as our son keeps meeting up with former conference foes on his own team.

I'm a team fan. The Yankees are the best no matter who's in the stripes. Hopefully jeter will be for a while.