They call baseball “America’s pastime,” but maybe more accurate is that every ballpark is a fan’s paradise. Each fan passing through the gates brings their own vibe to the park. Keep reading for a few of our favorite kinds of fans, and see where you fit in.
1.) The Sign Guy
Guy or gal, this self-described baseball expert prides themselves on their deep knowledge of the game. Think of them as the educational element in your section.
True to their name, they’re always predicting the next pitch. But they’re also ordering the outfielders to head in for this at-bat or ride the warning track to stop a sac fly. They’re quoting sabermetrics. They keep a scorecard. There’s one in every row. Is it you, coach?
2.) Mr. Old School
This baseball fan is pretty good company. But unlike the more verbal Sign Guy, they quietly know more than everyone else: calmly sitting there like their paid seat is their own living room.
Because Mr. Old School carries with them the sound of yesteryear. A radio or smartphone streaming the play-by-play from the broadcaster’s booth behind home plate. If you have 9-volt batteries in your pocket or a gameday streaming subscription, this may be you.
3.) The Talker
I mean, you know who you are, right? Can’t stop? Won’t stop? The jokes, the patter, the “hey, batter-batter”? If you’re The Talker, that’s you in a nutshell.
Now, that acknowledged, The Talker is probably the person most responsible for the “pastime” part of baseball. To them the whole game is just a giant hang with twenty or thirty thousand of their closest friends.
Look, does anything more need to be said? Not really. You keep doing you. We need social butterflies for this thing to work. But watch a few pitches once in a while, okay?
4.) The Glove
The Glove is in many ways the very best of baseball fandom. They’re a pure spirit. A dreamer. A believer in miracles…especially the miracle that slices a perfect foul ball right at them so they can snag a souvenir.
The Glove is still a kid at heart. Still tensed up with every swing. They only leave their seats when they have to, and they stick around until the end. (Which also means The Glove is the fan most likely to jockey for a better seat when less-devoted fans head for the exits early.)
Is this you? If so, from one baseball fan to another, thanks for keeping the dream alive—at the old ball game.
