MLB: Ranking the Best Fanbases in Baseball
There are many different opinions, and many different rankings, and there may never be an official list. But today, we try to rank the MLB’s best fan bases.
Some have tattoos, some have every jersey known to man, and others have let it influence the naming of their children.
They are baseball fans. Some more drastic than others, and some more lackadaisical when it comes to rooting for their team.
It’s always been a heated debate over which fan bases rank amongst the best in the MLB. With the term “bandwagoner” becoming more popular, it can be hard to determine this. You have to take a lot of things into consideration.
Stadium attendance, merchandise sales, TV ratings, team success, home field advantage, and overall loyalty come to mind when it really comes to proving the best fan bases in the MLB.
However, it seems that no matter what kind of stat you try to back this debate up with, no one will ever agree. And why should they? Isn’t part of being the best fan base believing you’re the best fan base?
So although I will include stats and facts about teams and their fans, this will still be a subjective piece that I write. I know that even if I do back everything up, it’ll still be biased, and you the reader will still have your own opinion of which team has the best fans.
I believe that some fan bases deserve a spot on this list. Year after year, they never give up on their team, constantly battling it out with other fans, and reminiscing about the older and better days when their team was good.
However, others absolutely do not, looking at you Tampa Bay Rays fans…if they do truly exist.
So without any further introduction, here are my (probably subjective) 6 best fan bases in the MLB.
Next: No West Coast bias here
#6 Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have been one of the most storied franchises in MLB history, which certainly helps them on this list. There have been fans that watched the team back in Brooklyn. Their broadcaster, Vin Scully, has been with the Dodgers since they were in Brooklyn, and started in 1950.
They are constantly at the top of the MLB attendance list, and have plenty of fans that come on any given night. Although some come for the celebrities or leave in the seventh, they still fill the stadium night after night.
Current success of the team has helped the Dodgers. The ugly divorce that ended Frank McCourt’s days in LA certainly helped. In 2015, they had a game that brought in 53,518 fans, the most in the bigs. Between 2010 and now, the Dodgers rank second to only the Yankees in total attendance.
Not to mention, the Dodgers are finally good again. They have good players and a good team to root for. They brought in a fan-favorite guy in Dave Roberts, his old club’s fans seemed to always love the guy. And since 2010, they’ve had 22 All-Star players.
The Dodgers are a successful franchise, especially in revenue, so I would expect them to have good fans for years to come.
Next: Makes sense given their success
#5 New York Yankees
They may not be kind, and they may not be PG, but they are loyal. The Yankees have fans who would do just about anything for their team. Even if that means throwing stuff onto a field because their steroid using All-Star slapped a ball out of the hand of a pitcher.
The Yankees have had the best stadium attendance in the major leagues since 2010, drawing in over 365 million fans (to note: they have the third largest stadium in the MLB).
Their fans are notorious for being the toughest in the MLB, and during playoff time, they do create great home-field advantage.
Also, let’s not forget about the bleacher creatures. Their right field fans do a Roll-Call before every game. They shout the names or nicknames of every Yankee player, not giving up until the player acknowledges them. Not to mention, it’s lead by a guy named Bald Vinny. He’s no Fireman Ed, but it’s still a pretty cool job to hold down.
Roll call w/ a little help from our friends in town for #NBADraft @buddyhield @denzelvalentine @Dsabonis11 @Quese_22https://t.co/waduAugu5t
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 22, 2016
The Yankees also spoil their fans, giving them luxury seating, a brand new ballpark, and 27 World Series rings.
The Yankees also run the most popular Facebook page amongst all MLB teams. They have over 8 million fans…the MLB Facebook page has less than 7 million fans.
Next: The Lovable Losers
#4 Chicago Cubs
How could they not find themselves on this list? The fans that occupy the Friendly Confines are just good sports. I mean, they’ve literally been waiting since 1908 for their team to win a coveted World Series, and they may be getting close this year.
The Cubs have had great stadium attendance in the past few years. In 2015 they sold over 41,500 thousand tickets to a game, when their stadium only holds 41,160.
It’s extremely impressive that a team can consistently fill up a stadium or a bar at 1:20 in the afternoon to watch their lovable Cubbies. The fans have had to live through a lot of anguish over the last 108 years, so it seems fair they land on this list.
They have a great tradition with “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”. Yes, every stadium plays it, but the Cubs do it better than anyone.
They usually bring in a famous Cubs fan or an old player, and just let them tear it up from the PA announcers’ booth.
Oh, and don’t forget, they probably have the most notable fan in the world. Although he may not be personally loved in Chicago, he may just be the most famous fan that will ever live. For god’s sake, ESPN gave him a documentary.
Next: A San Francisco treat
#3 San Francisco Giants
It’s hard not to be a huge fan of your team when they’ve won three World Series rings in six years.
Giants fans are some of the best traveling fans in the MLB. In their most recent series at Fenway Park, writers and Red Sox fans marveled at how many Giants fans filled their stadium. Multiple times through the game there were “Lets Go Giants” chants…a rare occurrence at Fenway.
I've been to a lot of Yankee games at Fenway, but I've rarely heard a crowd as lively as it is tonight. Lots of SF Giants fans in the house.
— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) July 21, 2016
Fans love AT&T Park, and rightfully so, it’s one of the coolest parks in Major League Baseball. In 2014, they set a sell-out record at AT&T after selling out 258 straight home games.
They also have the coolest right field in baseball. Backed up against McCovey Cove, plenty of fans love to sit out in the water in canoes and kayaks, waiting for a home run ball to splash down.
A “Splash Hits” ticker occurs on the right field wall, counting the number of times a Giants player hits a ball into the Cove. Barry Bonds hit the first one in 2000, and Denard Span hit the 70th and most recent one this year.
Although Pablo Sandoval left the Giants in a bit of a backstabbing way, the fans made him a sensation. The “Panda” became on of the most popular nicknames in the MLB, and a trademark around the globe.
Next: They'll even tell you as much
#2 St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are a small-market team with a die-hard fan base. A big reason they rank number two is due to their TV rankings. They are the most popular program to watch in their regional area, and have lead all other teams in rankings for years.
In 2014, they were reaching 95,000 homes a night with a ranking of 7.76 according to Sports Business Daily.
The Cardinals have created the buzz that they are the “Best Baseball Town in America”, and it helps them that they have one of the most popular ballparks to come visit. St. Louis draws in an average of over 43,000 fans.
The Cardinals have some of the most loyal and genuine fans in baseball. It is often noted that most fans in their upper ages still keep score every night at Busch Stadium. If you watch a Cardinals games you’ll see that their fans literally cheer on every play, even if it’s for something their player didn’t do.
The fans especially love their players. When a player leaves, they are almost guaranteed to receive a standing ovation as soon as they come home. Joe Kelly of the Red Sox was an average pitcher for the Cardinals at best, and received a huge applause just weeks after being traded away in 2013.
The fact that Cardinals fans live in such a small market, but have such a successful revenue and franchise speaks volumes.
Next: Red Sox Nation
#1 Boston Red Sox
They waited 86 years, and have now been paid off in the best way possible. Since 2004, the Red Sox have enjoyed three World Series titles, and the fans have been a big part of that.
Starting in 2003, the Red Sox went on a steak where they sold-out 794 consecutive regular season games, the most in sports history. The sell-out streak finally came to an end in 2013.
Boston fans are loyal to their Sox, as most local’s side with the Red Sox over any other New England team.
They have great traditions at Fenway such as hanging out on Yawkey Way, Sweet Caroline in the eighth, and Tessie after a win. Local fans even created a popular band named the Dropkick Murphy’s who perform their hit, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” live at Fenway every year.
The fans come to the oldest and smallest stadium in the MLB game after game. Although Fenway has had upgrades done in years past, many of the seats are still original, and very uncomfortable. This doesn’t stop their fans…this year, the Red Sox rank first amongst all American League teams in attendance.
Next: Pomeranz has rough debut
Red Sox fans constantly brag about the Green Monster, Pesky Pole, Fenway Franks, the Patriot’s Day Game, and a pretty great stadium soundtrack. They most definitely have the most loyal fans in the MLB, and it shows all the time.