Are Baseball fans more inclined to be fans of a certain team or of certain players?

Question

Do you find yourselves cheering for certain players regardless of whether they play on your team or not. If so, who are/were they. I'll give you an example. Although I'm a Yankee fan I've always followed the careers of players like John Smoltz, Todd Helton as well as others. I was always a big
Carl Yastrzemski and Dwight Evans fan. Do you do the same?

Answer 1

I know I do. I'm a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, but I like following players like Dave Roberts, John Smoltz, Curtis Granderson, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, James Loney, Kahlil Greene, Ichiro, and Trevor Hoffman among others. To me, the aforementioned players represent hard work, clean play, and good morals.

Answer 2

I think the best way to answer this is it's up to the individual --- either answer is very viable when it comes to baseball or any other sport. I have always been a fan of my team for roughly 50 years --- ever since I could grasp the concept of the sport. But, about 20 years ago, I got into sports collectibles and memorabilia, and especially baseball cards. I even did this for a living for a number of years.

My focus shifted slightly from the team concept to the player concept from a monetary standpoint. Once I stopped doing that as a source of income, I started looking at the individual players from a talent standpoint versus the monetary one.

I say to each his own. If you're a true fan of that team and it works for you, then stay that way. If however, you can put that to the side and seek the player from a talent aspect then go for that. There is no right or wrong here, only speculation.

Baseball in general has suffered ever since the strike in '94 when the season ended in August and there was no World Series that year. So anything that brings renewed interest to the sport and breeds a love for the game is okay by me.

Answer 3

For the most part I am a team guy, though there are certain players that strike a nerve for better or worse. I am a Sox fan, but I never liked Rodger Dodger Clemens so I found myself booing the Blue Jays a little louder when he signed with them. I have always been a big fan of Yaz and Dewey as well. I still follow Tom Gordon and wish he would find his former game.

Answer 4

I root for the team (the Yankees of course) no matter who the players are. I am a huge Thurman Munson fan but I cant honestly say if he had been traded I would have still felt the same way. I have had certain players I kept an eye on after they left the Yankees, like Graig Nettles or Chris Chambliss but I didn't ever sway in my team loyalties no matter who is in or out, or how unhappy I am about those decisions

Answer 5

Older fans seem to have a tendency to follow their home town teams ans stay with the stars who leave. For instance I am a Phillies and Yankee fan, mostly Phillies. I have watched the careers of players who have left both teams. Robin Roberts was a good example. When he went to the Orioles and the later the Astros. I still followed him.Yes I will follow my favorites.

Answer 6

Absolutely!
A-Rod is my #1 fave player no matter what team he is on.

But I also cheer for a lot of the Detroit Tigers
and Nick Swisher from the A's.
I also luv Garciaparra from the Dodgers
and even David Ortiz from the RedSux!!!!!!!.
Even though my #1 team will ALWAYS be the Yankees,
I like all the teams except the Red Sox.
Sorry Sox fans, just being honest.
:-) he he he.

Answer 7

I am a fan of baseball first and tend to pull for those players that give back to baseball the respect that the game deserves. I am not a Seattle fan but I am an Ichiro fan, and I am not an Indians fan but I am a Sizemore fan. Of course I always pull for the Dodgers because I grew up with them but I will cheer for anyone that gives it their all every game.

Answer 8

I liked Frank Thomas from his early White Sox days, because I can appreciate great players on any team.

I'm also a fan of Manny Ramirez, Roger Clemens, Chase Utley and the Rockies' shortstop, Tulowitzki. I just enjoy watching great players, and I don't really have one thing I can point to that draws me to certain players.

Answer 9

I use to find myself doing that quite often, but not so much anymore.

I'm a huge Randy Johnson fan. He's my 2nd all-time favorite pitcher (behind Roger Clemens) and I would not necessarily root for the diamondbacks, but I would always root for Johnson.

Not too many people can make me do that when they're on the opposing team.

Answer 10

Sure. Both. I respect the Cardinals but I'm not a particular fan, but Albert Pujols RULES. I've always like Alex Rodriguez. I guess most fans are like us.