As a good St. Louisan (all loyal fans are good...there is not any "best" one), it's time to get excited! Why? Last week, baseball came back. And while I can't wait to see where the Birds on the Bat go this year, just having every team back and hearing the crack of the bat makes me excited.
In my years as a fan, I've learned quite a bit about how to best enjoy the season. So here are a couple pointers to anyone trying to get their head in the game.
1. Always stay loyal to your team.
Every team has good seasons. Unfortunately, every team has bad seasons as well. No matter how your season plays out, however, be the best fan you can be! Wear your gear and be proud that you have a team to cheer for. It could be worse...you could have been an Expos fan (sorry, Montreal).
2. Don't be afraid to go to other stadiums.
Last summer I went to Kauffman Stadium, home of the reigning World Series champs, the Kansas City Royals (congrats to all my KC friends). And while the sea of blue was an unfamiliar sight, it was still a fun change of pace to watch a game there. Different stadiums and teams have different traditions, cheers and animosities. It's exciting to take that all in as an outsider, and it really promotes cultural awareness (nice work, Anthropological Inquiry!).
3. Watch other players from around the league.
As a lifelong Cardinals fan, I have been raised to dislike the Cubs. That being said, I'll be the first to admit that their team this year is really really good. They're young, they're hip, they're...gah! What am I saying? Although I acknowledged earlier that you need to be loyal to your own team, this shouldn't prevent you from appreciating when other teams and players on opposing teams do something well. Clayton Kershaw is a monster of a pitcher, and from my perception one of the best teammates ever. Andrew McCutchen is a phenomenal hitter and apparently an even better person. And yes, even I have to admit...the Cubs have a pretty good shot this season.
4. When you eat at the ballpark, don't be afraid to go a little crazy.
Hot dogs are good. Popcorn is good. The Atlanta Brave's Burgerizza (a hamburger with two pepperoni pizzas as buns) is...interesting. The social acceptability of some of the bizarre foods available at stadiums (certainly not acceptable anywhere else) is still up for debate. Yet sometimes in life, you gotta take some risks. I'm not saying I endorse this food necessarily. But if you think it would positively contribute to your ballpark experience and watching of the game, then go crazy, folks.
Everyone experiences baseball differently. Whether this is your first season as a fan or the first time in recent memory your team has been a serious contender, just enjoy the season! It means that summer is near and the nights are getting longer. So buckle down for the end of the school year, set your score notifications and when the semester ends, make it to the stadium to enjoy the great game!
