Two weeks ago, Miguel Cabrera stood in front of the Kansas
City faithful as they gave him a standing ovation. As we are all aware, Cabrera
had just accomplished the incredible feat of baseball’s Triple Crown. Despite
doing so in front of an opposing crowd, it was awesome to see the fans at
Kauffman Stadium give him his due.
Unfortunately, the national media, instead of patting Kansas
City’s fan base on the back, will choose to continue to perpetuate the idea that
Royals fans unfairly booed Robinson Cano for not selecting a Royal to take part
in the home run derby. The same national media members won’t take the time to
understand that Royals fans weren’t booing that evening because Billy Butler
had been left out by Cano; Royals fans were booing because Cano outright lied
about including Billy Butler in the Derby. If you believe that isn’t a booable offense
that is fine, but at least provide the rest of the country with an accurate depiction.
I don’t think that is too much to ask, after all it is your job.
Fast forward to Thursday night in Oakland, when another
awesome gesture was put forth by the home crowd. If you were watching the game, you’ll know
what I am talking about. Following the final out of a 6-0 game 5 loss to
Detroit, what appeared to be virtually every A’s fan in attendance began
chanting ‘Let’s Go A’s!’. I may be wrong,
but while the camera panned across the stadium, there were only a handful of
people making their way toward the exits.
It isn’t that uncommon for a team to play its final game of
the season and the home crowd to give a courtesy clap as they walk on the
field, but what happened on Thursday in Oakland was special. The Oakland crowd clearly
knew that they were playing with house money. Did they want to win the World
Series? No doubt. But were they able to stand back and truly appreciate what
they had just witnessed? Yes, probably better than any fan base I’ve ever seen.
It was an incredibly classy gesture put
forth by a fan base that is often spit on by those around baseball including
people within the A’s own front office.
Of course, what made the A’s fans’ class even more noticeable
was the timing. Just a few hours prior to the A’s defeat, the Cardinals had fallen
on a walk off home run by Jayson Werth. Now I may have a poor sample of the
Cardinal Nation, but it was amazing how harsh Cardinals’ fans were on Lance
Lynn. Let’s just be blunt, without Lance Lynn’s spectacular first half there is
the possibility that the Cardinals wouldn’t have reached the postseason, but
apparently the self-appointed best fans in baseball have short term memories.
We also shouldn’t forget about the ridiculous manner in
which the Cardinals’ fan base attempted to vilify Albert Pujols last offseason.
Instead of wishing him well as he took what was clearly a better offer in Los Angeles, they acted as if their wife
had just cheated on them. I understand the frustration, but do not act like he
was obligated to stay in St. Louis. Baseball was a business, is a business, and
will always be a business. Oh, and if you are going to root for him to fail,
keep it to yourself. The antagonistic, self-interested vendetta isn’t a good
look on anyone, let alone an organization that low balled the best player in
baseball and then acted as if he was the party at fault.
There may have been a time when St. Louis Cardinals fans
attended games and supported, not just their team, but the game of baseball
with the utmost class. There may have been time when their fan base didn’t rub
their success in the faces of the rest of the baseball world. There may have
even been a time when Cardinals fans were humble and proud of their success but
also aware that it wasn’t a given. If these days did exist they have long since
passed.
Instead, an entire generation of Cardinals fans have been
socialized in a different way than their predecessor. I don’t blame their arrogance
on the fans themselves. Baseball has socialized the Cardinals fan base to be
who they are. We may have to accept it, but let’s not continue passing along
the notion that Cardinals fans are better. We can at least do this for their
own good.
Imagine trying to raise a child while the entire world told
them that they were not only the best, but that they were more intelligent than
anyone else and that they could never be outclassed as well. Of course that
child is going to grow up to pretty much be the opposite of all those things. This
is the exact socialization process that Cardinals fans have undergone. It
should be no shock to anyone that the youngest part of the fan base is
arrogant, entitled and looks down on every other fan base in baseball,
preaching about the game to others.
Even on top of the socialization aspect, it hasn’t helped
that over the last two decades, the Cardinals have lived an incredibly charmed
life. It is as if the Baseball Gods determined that after enduring Don
Deckinger’s call in 1985, every pivotal moment forward would go the Cardinals
way. I think that the last twelve months have been evidence enough, and I can’t
help but wonder how long before the pendulum swings the other way.
Don’t get me wrong, I am absolutely jealous of the Cardinals
success. Every time they reach the postseason, I can’t help but envy the
feeling of getting to root for my team in October. Do I root against the
Cardinals in most situations? I will admit that I do, but I will also applaud
them when Jon Jay makes a spectacular catch or David Freese does his thing in
crucial situations. But let me be perfectly clear, I love Kansas City, I love
the Royals, and I love our fan base. We don’t need a self appointed title to love
our team and to love the game of baseball with class.
