A Letter to Baseball Super Fans

Dear Baseball Super Fans,

I also want to enjoy the game, even if I don’t know the player’s name who is coming up to bat. I can also tell when something big is happening, even if I don’t know the exact terminology or what stat it relates to in the moment. I love my team, even if I don’t know the starting line-up, coach, or recent trades. I also love the game.

I can’t keep track of every team that a player I said I liked has ever played on. I don’t know his birthday, blood type, or why he decided to retire. I just know I grew up watching him play and that it was always fun because I could see his love for the game.

I don’t know the name of my team’s stadium and to be honest, our mascot confuses me. I don’t know when they’ll be on the road or when they’ll be at home unless I look it up daily. I don’t have the time to watch every game, but I still love the game.

So when we’re sitting next to each other at a game, or someone makes too simple of a comment for you online, remember the love of the game can be different. If you don’t want baseball to die, don’t push away people you don’t think are dedicated enough to the players or to their team. If you want more people to enjoy this game you love, or understand why it means so much for you, don’t ask them to learn every stat, every strategy, and every error a player can make. Be kind enough to answer a question someone asks without making them feel foolish for having to ask.

I may not know stat acronyms, who won the World Series every year of my lifetime, or be able to give you a good reason why I think my team will win every year; I just love baseball, and I like going to games when I can, and teaching my son to throw a ball.

I’m no baseball super fan, but I’m still a fan.

For the love of the game,

A Casual Fan

Submitted by Anastazia