When & how did you become a baseball fan? (1 Viewer)

[ooofffaaa]

For me it was 1976 - Chris Chambliss winning the pennant with a HR and then barely being able to get around the bases because the fans had mobbed the field.

I was hooked then & there.

My Dad took me to a ton of games from 1976-1980. I remember walking up to Yankee stadium and there used to be some sort of jail/mental facilty about a block or two away. The inmates would scream all sorts of nastiness at the people that passed.

I remember being in the stands when Reggie flipped the bird to the fans in RF for getting on him.

I was at the 2nd game of a double header when Guidry struck out 19.

ESPN's "The Bronx is burning" brings back a ton of memories for me. Growing up in NYC at that time was interesting to say the least . . .

Reggie & The Yankees

The Son Of Sam

The NYC blackout

 

[guru_007]

You know, I don't think my dad and I ever went to a game by ourselves. I went to a number with my grandfather though.

I grew up in the mid-70's in Connecticut and played t-ball, little league, etc... It was a small town, and the games were a big deal. There was a mini-stadium and the stands were always full on game days. It was awesome. Where I grew up, we only got Yankee games and Red Sox games. Everyone hated the Yankees. I liked playing baseball a whole lot more than watching it though.

 

[The Man from Laramie]

You know, I don't think my dad and I ever went to a game by ourselves. I went to a number with my grandfather though.

I grew up in the mid-70's in Connecticut and played t-ball, little league, etc... It was a small town, and the games were a big deal. There was a mini-stadium and the stands were always full on game days. It was awesome. Where I grew up, we only got Yankee games and Red Sox games. Everyone hated the Yankees. I liked playing baseball a whole lot more than watching it though.

Gotta love the I-90 East/West border and its effect on baseball loyalties, although if you get as far north as Hartford, everyone is a Red Sox fan pretty much.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I was into sports before most people and I was keeping stat books on baseball in particular when I was six or seven (I kept them for all sports but hockey). I went to see my first Tiger game when I was five. It was the Twins and Tigers at Tiger Stadium and we sat in like the third row in the upper deck right about first. I remember Jack Morris pitched and Ron Leflore my Dad's favorite Tiger besides Fidrych hit a homer and had a huge game.

For me that first game was important because I saw my the guy who ended up being my favorite baseball player ever. A couple of years later I saw him hit a rare HR against the Tigers a team he always had good success against (hit more HRs vs the tigers than he did vs any other team).

 

[Please See Mine]

For me it was 1976 - Chris Chambliss winning the pennant with a HR and then barely being able to get around the bases because the fans had mobbed the field.I was hooked then & there.My Dad took me to a ton of games from 1976-1980. I remember walking up to Yankee stadium and there used to be some sort of jail/mental facilty about a block or two away. The inmates would scream all sorts of nastiness at the people that passed.I remember being in the stands when Reggie flipped the bird to the fans in RF for getting on him.I was at the 2nd game of a double header when Guidry struck out 19.ESPN's "The Bronx is burning" brings back a ton of memories for me. Growing up in NYC at that time was interesting to say the least . . .Reggie & The YankeesThe Son Of SamThe NYC blackout

I went to a minor league baseball game when I was much younger (probably Scranton WB or Reading, but really can't remember now). Chambliss was the 3rd base coach for the opponent. I called to him several times to get his autograph and he waved me off every time.

 

[The Man from Laramie]

I remember seeing both Dan Pasqua and Jay Buhner hit home runs as Yankees.



One of the coolest games I've been to was old-timers day at Yankee Stadium in '99 or so. Wade Boggs went yard.

 

[Frostillicus]

My dad played amateur ball, and I was going to his games since I was born.

I don't remember ever not being a baseball fan.

 

[The Man from Laramie]

I don't remember ever not being a baseball fan.

Same here.

 

[ThisGuy]

My dad took me to my first game when I was 5 (1978 vs the Twins) and I've been a Yanks fan ever since.

 

[greedygoat]

I've lived in South Florida my whole life so there wasn't a local team to root for until I was 20. But when I was 8 my parents bought a summer house in New Hampshire & I started watching Red Sox games on TV and became a baseball fan instantly when I went to my first game.

 

[Bob Henry]

Dad was a big baseball/sports fan and our family went to Florida when I was like 4 and we went to a Tiger spring training game against the Big Red Machine (1974).. got to see Johnny Bench, George Foster, Tom Seaver and gang up close.

Then I think the thing that really sticks out most in my mind after that was watching Reggie hit those HRs in the World Series.. and, of course, Bucky freakin' Dent.. hehe..

The thing that really clinched it was my friends and I collecting/trading baseball cards in 2nd/3rd grade.. which led me into baseball triva, stat geekdom and years later into becoming a Bill James follower and super-stat-freak.

Strangely enough, I didn't see my first home Tigers game (Tiger Stadium) until 1984. Went to the Yankees/Tigers game that was the Tigers' 100th win with Jack Morris on the mound. I grew up a little over an hour outside of the metro Detroit area, but spent all of my summers in Houston with my dad, so I went to a ton of Astros games (J.R. Richard, Nolan Ryan, Jose Cruz, etc).

 

[ooofffaaa]

J.R. Richard

This guys threw some serious GAS - 101-103 mph until he suffered a stroke.

 

[Bob Henry]

J.R. Richard

This guys threw some serious GAS - 101-103 mph until he suffered a stroke.

I was thinking of JR in the thread for best game pitched. I used to go see him all the time. My dad would get tickets everytime the Phillies came to town and it always seemed like it was Richard vs. Carlton. So, it was always a good game to go to.I remember watching Richard pitch in the All_Star game, clocking 101-102-103 on the radar, going 2 IPs striking out 3 and that was his last appearance in the bigs. He was like 10-4 with a sub 2 ERA at the break. Then BAM.. stroke.As a big fan of his and the Stros, I was floored.. he was Randy Johnson before Randy Johnson. Big dude who could flat out throw and intimidate hitters.

 

[Koya]

I don't remember NOT being a baseball fan. I played since I could walk. My dad and I would watch games, head to Memorial Stadium to watch Doug Decinces and Al Bumbry - and go nuts when ED-DIE Murray hit a game winning HR in the bottom of the ninth to cap a big ninth inning comeback.

In the summers, we would watch the Greensboro Hornets down in NC.

Not any defining moment because I can't remember not loving baseball.

 

[Please See Mine]

I've also been trying to remember by first moment as a baseball fan and can't really pinpoint it.

Played since as young as I can remember. 1986 was the first season I really remember. I remember watching the Mets and thinking how amazing they were and being perplexed as to how the Phillies could be pretty good yet be so far out of it.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

Went to a Cardinals-Expos game at Old Busch stadium with my Grandpa (RIP) when I was probably 5 or 6. Been hooked ever since.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

All joking, aside I watched the baseball bunch. I remember watching the 1985 World Series with St Louis and the Royals. I still don't remember who won. Then I remember Ozzie Smith Making crazy plays and doing flips and I became a bit of a Cards fan. I grew up 20 minutes outside of Boston, so I started going to games with my pops...Oil Can Boyd with the K's, Clemens, Dewie, Rice. As kids playing baseball we always pretended to be Oil Can when pitching.Then as a young teenager (12-13) I started taking the T into games because seats in the bleachers were only like $10. It was fun. Guys like Ellis Burks and Greenwell made it worth while along with Clemens and Dewie. Then I met Roger Clemens and Frank Viola on the Links. They were bigger than life. I started talking to them and they hopped in golf carts and skipped the 18th and drove straight for the clubhouse (Nashawtuc)...dirtbags. After that day I fell hopelessly into drug addiction.

That brought back a memory.My older brother and I would play wiffle ball in the back yard. I was the Cardinals and he was the brewers (1982 WS). We tried to emulate each player in the lineup, so if it was lefty you hit left handed. Back then the Cards had a bunch of switch hitters - you'd be amazed at the number of times they decided to bat right handed.

 

[Bogart]

1983 or 1984. Dad and grandpa taking me to Arlington Stadium to watch the lowly Rangers. The stadium was nothing more than a minor league park that had some seats added. The place was a dump, but to an 8 year old kid, it was heaven. Cheese nachos with peppers, huge cokes, etc. The grass looked perfect. My memories always seen to be of watching Charlie Hough loss another close one, and Pete O'Brien always make a nice snag in the dirt at first. If we went during the week, we would leave early (once the Rangers had no chance of winning), but during the weekend, we would stay the whole game and move down close in the late innings (of a game the Rangers had no chance of winning).

My dad would always tell the story of waiting out a rain delay so long that there were less than 500 people left, my grandfather would tell me not to tell my grandma how many big beers he had.

 

[Texas Football]

I would have to say I have been a baseball fan my whole life. My father was from Brooklyn do I am a Dodger fan forever. The hook that made me a real fan was Fernado. The dude was like a god to me in the day. I remember pitching little league games trying to do the whole close your eyes at the top of your motion.

Still, I am probably more a fan of the Dodgers over baseball as a whole. Glad to see we have a really good chance at the WS this year.

I hate the Yanks, Red Sox and Giants. This is what get's me through the Dodger down years. Plus it is a rare day when I get to see the Dodgers on the tube in Austin.

 

[On The Rocks]

I was 11 years old in 1975. And believe it or not, up until the '75 World Series, I have no memory of ever having watched a MLB game.

I was in the Boy Scouts at the time. I really didn't like the Troop leader. He was a mean guy who had made unkind comments directly to me about my older brothers who had a reputation as being trouble makers in our community. True or not, they are my brothers and the last thing I needed to hear when I went to Scout meetings in front of my friends, was the Leader telling me at the age of 11 that my brothers were bad guys.

In 1975 he let it be known to all of us Scouts that he was a Red Sox fan and anyone caught rooting for the Reds would have to dig the latrine hole at our next camping trip.

I would have dug a hundred latrines if it meant watching him be misearable over the Red Sox losing.

So....from that day on, I have been a die hard Reds fan.

Yeah. True story.

 

[curta269]

I can not remember not being a baseball fan. I have been my whole life and will continue to do so.

I'm a Cardinals fan because of my Dad and older brother. I just thank God they weren't Cub fans. I would have gave up on baseball a long time ago.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I was into sports before most people and I was keeping stat books on baseball in particular when I was six or seven (I kept them for all sports but hockey). I went to see my first Tiger game when I was five. It was the Twins and Tigers at Tiger Stadium and we sat in like the third row in the upper deck right about first. I remember Jack Morris pitched and Ron Leflore my Dad's favorite Tiger besides Fidrych hit a homer and had a huge game.

For me that first game was important because I saw my the guy who ended up being my favorite baseball player ever. A couple of years later I saw him hit a rare HR against the Tigers a team he always had good success against (hit more HRs vs the tigers than he did vs any other team).

No one read this or cared to ask who the player was I was talking about here. I'm hurt guys, seriously.

 

[Greco]

I was into sports before most people and I was keeping stat books on baseball in particular when I was six or seven (I kept them for all sports but hockey). I went to see my first Tiger game when I was five. It was the Twins and Tigers at Tiger Stadium and we sat in like the third row in the upper deck right about first. I remember Jack Morris pitched and Ron Leflore my Dad's favorite Tiger besides Fidrych hit a homer and had a huge game.

For me that first game was important because I saw my the guy who ended up being my favorite baseball player ever. A couple of years later I saw him hit a rare HR against the Tigers a team he always had good success against (hit more HRs vs the tigers than he did vs any other team).

No one read this or cared to ask who the player was I was talking about here. I'm hurt guys, seriously.

Rod Carew. And you call yourself a Tiger fan. The only 29 that I know was a fat lefthanded doughnut maker by the name of Lolich...ever heard of him?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I was into sports before most people and I was keeping stat books on baseball in particular when I was six or seven (I kept them for all sports but hockey). I went to see my first Tiger game when I was five. It was the Twins and Tigers at Tiger Stadium and we sat in like the third row in the upper deck right about first. I remember Jack Morris pitched and Ron Leflore my Dad's favorite Tiger besides Fidrych hit a homer and had a huge game.

For me that first game was important because I saw my the guy who ended up being my favorite baseball player ever. A couple of years later I saw him hit a rare HR against the Tigers a team he always had good success against (hit more HRs vs the tigers than he did vs any other team).

No one read this or cared to ask who the player was I was talking about here. I'm hurt guys, seriously.

Rod Carew. And you call yourself a Tiger fan. The only 29 that I know was a fat lefthanded doughnut maker by the name of Lolich...ever heard of him?

He's my favorite player in my lifetime. You said Griffey Jr was top five all-time and left Ty Cobb off so yeah, uh.....yeah.

 

[whoknew]

I've absolutely no idea when I fell in love with baseball. I was very young. Its the best game and when it gets into you, it won't let you go.

My first game was at Tiger Stadium -- Tigers v. A's. No idea how old I was. I loved watching Kirk Gibson growing up. He was always my favorite player.

There are people that love football or basketball -- but baseball fans are different. Its like a religion. Its part of you. Its the best.

 

[Greco]

I was into sports before most people and I was keeping stat books on baseball in particular when I was six or seven (I kept them for all sports but hockey). I went to see my first Tiger game when I was five. It was the Twins and Tigers at Tiger Stadium and we sat in like the third row in the upper deck right about first. I remember Jack Morris pitched and Ron Leflore my Dad's favorite Tiger besides Fidrych hit a homer and had a huge game.

For me that first game was important because I saw my the guy who ended up being my favorite baseball player ever. A couple of years later I saw him hit a rare HR against the Tigers a team he always had good success against (hit more HRs vs the tigers than he did vs any other team).

No one read this or cared to ask who the player was I was talking about here. I'm hurt guys, seriously.

Rod Carew. And you call yourself a Tiger fan. The only 29 that I know was a fat lefthanded doughnut maker by the name of Lolich...ever heard of him?

He's my favorite player in my lifetime. You said Griffey Jr was top five all-time and left Ty Cobb off so yeah, uh.....yeah.

Home Run reigns supreme....and for what it's worth Carew and Reggie Jackson were my two favorites growing up as a kid outside of KalineHortonCashStanleyNorthrup

 

[Darth Cheney]

I remember in 80 at my Aunt's wedding everyone was so happy because the reception was going on during the Phils WS. So I followed the Phils. By 84/85 I was watching every game I could (at the time we were getting the Braves,Phils,Mets,Orioles and Cubs feeds so I was watching alot). But they were showing alot of Yankees games on Saturday Game of the Week and that's when I saw who would become my favorite player......Donnie Baseball.

I just looked up my first game on baseball-reference today...... that was pretty neat as I remembered alot of what happened.

 

[Bogart]

I was into sports before most people and I was keeping stat books on baseball in particular when I was six or seven (I kept them for all sports but hockey). I went to see my first Tiger game when I was five. It was the Twins and Tigers at Tiger Stadium and we sat in like the third row in the upper deck right about first. I remember Jack Morris pitched and Ron Leflore my Dad's favorite Tiger besides Fidrych hit a homer and had a huge game.

For me that first game was important because I saw my the guy who ended up being my favorite baseball player ever. A couple of years later I saw him hit a rare HR against the Tigers a team he always had good success against (hit more HRs vs the tigers than he did vs any other team).

No one read this or cared to ask who the player was I was talking about here. I'm hurt guys, seriously.

I already knew the answer.DD -> <- Bogart

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I was into sports before most people and I was keeping stat books on baseball in particular when I was six or seven (I kept them for all sports but hockey). I went to see my first Tiger game when I was five. It was the Twins and Tigers at Tiger Stadium and we sat in like the third row in the upper deck right about first. I remember Jack Morris pitched and Ron Leflore my Dad's favorite Tiger besides Fidrych hit a homer and had a huge game.

For me that first game was important because I saw my the guy who ended up being my favorite baseball player ever. A couple of years later I saw him hit a rare HR against the Tigers a team he always had good success against (hit more HRs vs the tigers than he did vs any other team).

No one read this or cared to ask who the player was I was talking about here. I'm hurt guys, seriously.

I already knew the answer.DD -> <- Bogart

How's it going gb? Rooting for your Rangers tonight!

 

[Bogart]

I was into sports before most people and I was keeping stat books on baseball in particular when I was six or seven (I kept them for all sports but hockey). I went to see my first Tiger game when I was five. It was the Twins and Tigers at Tiger Stadium and we sat in like the third row in the upper deck right about first. I remember Jack Morris pitched and Ron Leflore my Dad's favorite Tiger besides Fidrych hit a homer and had a huge game.

For me that first game was important because I saw my the guy who ended up being my favorite baseball player ever. A couple of years later I saw him hit a rare HR against the Tigers a team he always had good success against (hit more HRs vs the tigers than he did vs any other team).

No one read this or cared to ask who the player was I was talking about here. I'm hurt guys, seriously.

I already knew the answer.DD -> <- Bogart

:( How's it going gb? Rooting for your Rangers tonight!

somebody needs to. This has been the most frustrating of seasons. If you want to rebuild fine, then do it. Young and Teixeria are starting to piss me off with their comments.

 

[prosopis]

You know, I don't think my dad and I ever went to a game by ourselves. I went to a number with my grandfather though.I grew up in the mid-70's in Connecticut and played t-ball, little league, etc... It was a small town, and the games were a big deal. There was a mini-stadium and the stands were always full on game days. It was awesome. Where I grew up, we only got Yankee games and Red Sox games. Everyone hated the Yankees. I liked playing baseball a whole lot more than watching it though.

Where?I grew up in Ct at the same time and my Grandfather took to tons of games in Oakville. I am not sure if it was single A, double A, or triple A?That is where I got to mee Joe Dimaggio one night. It was a special promotion thing at the park. My Grandfather loved the Yankees and we spent lots of summer nights listening to them on the radio while he got hammered on Schlitz. I think it was Schlitz? The beer can had three different colored circles on it?I have been to Yankee stadium and Fenway. I would say the games in Oakville were the best with Grandpa and uncle Speed. I loved the ice cream sammiches as a young kid.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

my godparents took me to the game 3 of the 81 world series. yanks/dodgers! my dad took me to fenway the next year. i was hooked.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Like some others have posted, I don't remember not being a baseball fan. I went to my first game when I was 6, at old Comiskey Park. My dad took me with a bunch of his buddies. I guess that really opened my eyes to the pro game - until then I had played wiffle ball with the kids on my street or catch with my dad. I didn't understand why the home team didn't get "first ups", and I wondered why my dad's buddies put a bottle of Coke into that large fishing net with their programs (I found out later they were providing "refreshments" for Harry Caray).

After that, I followed MLB closely. We moved out to Orange County in '77 and the following season my dad took me to my first Dodger game - game 1 of the '78 World Series. I was hooked after that - I bleed Dodger Blue, Reggie Jackson is the anti-Christ, and the Giants are scum.

 

[AmpLee]

1986 Mets....Daryl,Doc,Carter,Hernandez etc.....

I'll never forget Mets clinching the division with Dave Magadan playing first base I believe....Having the fear of god in me during Game 6 against the Astros. Game went into crazy extra innings and all I could think about was "we need to win because Mike Scott is pitching game 7" Mike Scott was absolutely nasty that year for the Astros...

And of course the greatest thing I ever saw, Game 6 against the Red Sox....

 

[On The Rocks]

1986 Mets....Daryl,Doc,Carter,Hernandez etc.....I'll never forget Mets clinching the division with Dave Magadan playing first base I believe....Having the fear of god in me during Game 6 against the Astros. Game went into crazy extra innings and all I could think about was "we need to win because Mike Scott is pitching game 7" Mike Scott was absolutely nasty that year for the Astros...And of course the greatest thing I ever saw, Game 6 against the Red Sox....

That Mets - Astros NLCS was one of the best of all time.