Very entertaining read, Patrick! I especially liked the sly wink with the "affairs" angle! Sucked ME in! As for my wandering horsehide eye, I can admit to an occasional flirtation with the Angels....twice! Once, in 1969 (I was 14...hey, can you blame me at that age?), my fam vacationed from Houston to L.A., and took in Anaheim Stadium the night the game premium was the boxed Strat-O-Matic game!
Mom couldn't tear Dad, my bro, and I away from that computer-generated (and annually updated!) card'n'dice game all thru high school! But, what memories and bonding! When I moved to L.A. in '80, I was much more likely to root for the Angels than the hated Dodgers (the Astros' NL West rivals!).
Although, I must reveal my decade-long autograph hobby began at Dodger Stadium in about '91, when Darryl Kile was walking right toward me as I had positioned myself, pre-game, in the front row, at the end of the dugout, armed with card and Sharpie! He smiled right at me, and happily signed (bless his heart), and that started a fun decade collecting autographs, both in person, and thru the mail! A collab on that topic sounds rife for contemplating, Patrick! I assume you've got some autographin' stories!
Thanks, Brad. Interesting that you went with the Angels, though your explanation makes perfect sense. I never really liked the Angels much back then, mostly because they were competing against the Royals and later the A's in the AL West pennant races, but I've kind of softened on them in recent years, mostly because of Trout and Ohtani. Unfortunately, even with the two best players in the world, these Angels teams are a lot less competitive than the ones from my childhood. Plus, I lived in LA briefly about two decades ago, and though baseball wasn't in the forefront of my mind at the time, I totally get Angels over Dodgers thing, even without being a lifelong Astros fan. I regret not getting out to see the Big A when I was there. But I wonder if you'd make the same choice if you were growing up now, since it's been swapped and now the Angels are in the Astros division. Maybe you would have flirted with the Dodgers, although they definitely have some World Series heat with Houston, so who knows?
That's a very cool story about Darryl Kile. I always really liked him and it sucked that he passed away so young. But I have to admit that I've never been a big autograph guy. I don't know why. I have nothing against it. It just never seemed to take with me. Although, two weekends ago, I was able to get Willie Wilson's autograph on a souvenir ball I got at my first Royals game in 85, which was a very big deal for me. So who knows, maybe it's not too late for me to become an autograph hound yet!
Well, it's never too late....let's get that out there straight away! As for Angels/Dodgers, I think, all things being equal, I'd have sided with the Angels, anyway. As with music, I seem to always be attracted to an artist/team who maybe DIDN'T have the billions of fans!
That maybe an artist or team "needed" me to follow/like them (to fill out their dozens or hundreds), and I wouldn't go anywhere near as unnoticed as I'm sure I'd be if I were just another Bon Jovi or Dodgers fan!
Clearly borne out of getting all those promo albums from Dad, late '60s thru mid-'70s, then my OWN promos being in radio and retail records thru early '80s! Hearing virtually everything ever released in that 15-year period made me appreciate "the little artist"--the ones who didn't/couldn't manage getting the airplay that would lead to mega-sales!
If a Tir-Na-Nog or an M. Frog (Warner Bros. ca. '72) made it onto regular rotation on MY home turntable, that was a hit on "K-BRAD radio," whether or not the AMs or FMs on the planet ever set tonearm on 'em! That rationale might help explain my pools of "ink" spilled on "obscure" faves like Starjets (Epic/CBS '79) or The Bantams (Warners '66), instead of The Eagles or Journey, neither of whom need, or would even care about my coverage!
I'm glad you're here, in other words, Patrick! You get it!
Loved the Bash Bros! They were my baseball love affair as well! Still a Royals fan at heart, but I did stray to the Braves a little in the early to mid 90s. It was an easy choice for a pre teen baseball fan. They were on tv almost nightly, and the best pitching staff I have seen in my lifetime. Plus Ron Gant, the Crime Dog, Deion, Dave Justice, Chipper Jones...I could go on and on.
I had three backup teams! At some point around age 12 I decided it would be fun to have a favorite team in each division, and I already had a healthy dislike of the Yankees, so I chose the Red Sox in the AL East and the Dodgers in the NL West. For the NL East, the Cubs were an easy choice--enemy of the Cardinals, on TV all the time, and Ryne Sandberg. Of course, if any of them had faced the Royals in the postseason, I would have been rooting for KC all the way. But one of them was the Cubs, so not much chance there.
That's not a bad system to multiply your interest in the season, especially if the Royals weren't contending. Wish I'd thought of that back in the day.
Liked the article Patrick. I took liked the A's but followed them in "72-74" while playing baseball at Emporia State. Living in the South now, I enjoy following the Braves. Still following the Royals as well. Hope they can continue this improvement for several years to come.
Yeah, I had a guy on Facebook call me a fair weather fan for liking the A's too when I was 10, as well as Griffey and the Braves, etc. He also seemed upset I wasn't suitably upset over the A's leaving KC, even though it happened well over a decade before I was born. I figure I've stuck with the Royals through many years of bad baseball, so I don't have to justify my fanhood to anybody. I reposted it as a tribute to the A's and their fans who are getting royally screwed over by a greedy owner. It sucks for those fans and it's ridiculous the A's are going to be playing in Sacramento for three years and may never even get to Vegas, but that's how it goes. Hopefully, it's something us Royals fans will never have to worry about, regardless of how this stadium stuff works out. Thanks for reading!
I'm young so I have never ever drifted from the Royals fandom and gone to another MLB team, however I guess you could say my affair was in 2020 where i payed way less attention to the Royals and focused more on the NBA playoffs and even the Chiefs upcoming season then I did on the Royals.
Understandable. I'll always advocate going to the park- it's still a fun thing to do, even if it's pricey and the team sucks- and I'm probably a glutton for punishment too. I continue to follow the Royals no matter how terrible they are these days. But nobody owes any money or attention to the team. They have to earn it, and nobody can argue that the Royals have done anything to earn it the last 5 years or so.
Blasphemy! Haha. I sort of picked the Brewers as my NL team but I'm a sicko and a masochist so I still watch almost every A's game. MLB.TV gives me a chance to skip around so it's convenient when the green and gold is predictably stinking up the place.
Very entertaining read, Patrick! I especially liked the sly wink with the "affairs" angle! Sucked ME in! As for my wandering horsehide eye, I can admit to an occasional flirtation with the Angels....twice! Once, in 1969 (I was 14...hey, can you blame me at that age?), my fam vacationed from Houston to L.A., and took in Anaheim Stadium the night the game premium was the boxed Strat-O-Matic game!
Mom couldn't tear Dad, my bro, and I away from that computer-generated (and annually updated!) card'n'dice game all thru high school! But, what memories and bonding! When I moved to L.A. in '80, I was much more likely to root for the Angels than the hated Dodgers (the Astros' NL West rivals!).
Although, I must reveal my decade-long autograph hobby began at Dodger Stadium in about '91, when Darryl Kile was walking right toward me as I had positioned myself, pre-game, in the front row, at the end of the dugout, armed with card and Sharpie! He smiled right at me, and happily signed (bless his heart), and that started a fun decade collecting autographs, both in person, and thru the mail! A collab on that topic sounds rife for contemplating, Patrick! I assume you've got some autographin' stories!
Anyway, well done!
Thanks, Brad. Interesting that you went with the Angels, though your explanation makes perfect sense. I never really liked the Angels much back then, mostly because they were competing against the Royals and later the A's in the AL West pennant races, but I've kind of softened on them in recent years, mostly because of Trout and Ohtani. Unfortunately, even with the two best players in the world, these Angels teams are a lot less competitive than the ones from my childhood. Plus, I lived in LA briefly about two decades ago, and though baseball wasn't in the forefront of my mind at the time, I totally get Angels over Dodgers thing, even without being a lifelong Astros fan. I regret not getting out to see the Big A when I was there. But I wonder if you'd make the same choice if you were growing up now, since it's been swapped and now the Angels are in the Astros division. Maybe you would have flirted with the Dodgers, although they definitely have some World Series heat with Houston, so who knows?
That's a very cool story about Darryl Kile. I always really liked him and it sucked that he passed away so young. But I have to admit that I've never been a big autograph guy. I don't know why. I have nothing against it. It just never seemed to take with me. Although, two weekends ago, I was able to get Willie Wilson's autograph on a souvenir ball I got at my first Royals game in 85, which was a very big deal for me. So who knows, maybe it's not too late for me to become an autograph hound yet!
Well, it's never too late....let's get that out there straight away! As for Angels/Dodgers, I think, all things being equal, I'd have sided with the Angels, anyway. As with music, I seem to always be attracted to an artist/team who maybe DIDN'T have the billions of fans!
That maybe an artist or team "needed" me to follow/like them (to fill out their dozens or hundreds), and I wouldn't go anywhere near as unnoticed as I'm sure I'd be if I were just another Bon Jovi or Dodgers fan!
I'm kinda the same way, and in general, I don't think that's a bad way to be.
Clearly borne out of getting all those promo albums from Dad, late '60s thru mid-'70s, then my OWN promos being in radio and retail records thru early '80s! Hearing virtually everything ever released in that 15-year period made me appreciate "the little artist"--the ones who didn't/couldn't manage getting the airplay that would lead to mega-sales!
If a Tir-Na-Nog or an M. Frog (Warner Bros. ca. '72) made it onto regular rotation on MY home turntable, that was a hit on "K-BRAD radio," whether or not the AMs or FMs on the planet ever set tonearm on 'em! That rationale might help explain my pools of "ink" spilled on "obscure" faves like Starjets (Epic/CBS '79) or The Bantams (Warners '66), instead of The Eagles or Journey, neither of whom need, or would even care about my coverage!
I'm glad you're here, in other words, Patrick! You get it!
Loved the Bash Bros! They were my baseball love affair as well! Still a Royals fan at heart, but I did stray to the Braves a little in the early to mid 90s. It was an easy choice for a pre teen baseball fan. They were on tv almost nightly, and the best pitching staff I have seen in my lifetime. Plus Ron Gant, the Crime Dog, Deion, Dave Justice, Chipper Jones...I could go on and on.
I had three backup teams! At some point around age 12 I decided it would be fun to have a favorite team in each division, and I already had a healthy dislike of the Yankees, so I chose the Red Sox in the AL East and the Dodgers in the NL West. For the NL East, the Cubs were an easy choice--enemy of the Cardinals, on TV all the time, and Ryne Sandberg. Of course, if any of them had faced the Royals in the postseason, I would have been rooting for KC all the way. But one of them was the Cubs, so not much chance there.
That's not a bad system to multiply your interest in the season, especially if the Royals weren't contending. Wish I'd thought of that back in the day.
Liked the article Patrick. I took liked the A's but followed them in "72-74" while playing baseball at Emporia State. Living in the South now, I enjoy following the Braves. Still following the Royals as well. Hope they can continue this improvement for several years to come.
Yeah, I had a guy on Facebook call me a fair weather fan for liking the A's too when I was 10, as well as Griffey and the Braves, etc. He also seemed upset I wasn't suitably upset over the A's leaving KC, even though it happened well over a decade before I was born. I figure I've stuck with the Royals through many years of bad baseball, so I don't have to justify my fanhood to anybody. I reposted it as a tribute to the A's and their fans who are getting royally screwed over by a greedy owner. It sucks for those fans and it's ridiculous the A's are going to be playing in Sacramento for three years and may never even get to Vegas, but that's how it goes. Hopefully, it's something us Royals fans will never have to worry about, regardless of how this stadium stuff works out. Thanks for reading!
I'm young so I have never ever drifted from the Royals fandom and gone to another MLB team, however I guess you could say my affair was in 2020 where i payed way less attention to the Royals and focused more on the NBA playoffs and even the Chiefs upcoming season then I did on the Royals.
Understandable. I'll always advocate going to the park- it's still a fun thing to do, even if it's pricey and the team sucks- and I'm probably a glutton for punishment too. I continue to follow the Royals no matter how terrible they are these days. But nobody owes any money or attention to the team. They have to earn it, and nobody can argue that the Royals have done anything to earn it the last 5 years or so.
Blasphemy! Haha. I sort of picked the Brewers as my NL team but I'm a sicko and a masochist so I still watch almost every A's game. MLB.TV gives me a chance to skip around so it's convenient when the green and gold is predictably stinking up the place.
As a Royals fan, I identify with that way more than I would like to. So it goes.