Are you or were you ever a baseball fan?

[GwinnettNole]

Can you watch a 9-inning game on TV from start to finish?

I grew up as a baseball fan first. I lived in NJ and then we moved to south Florida. The summer months were baseball central-- I would stay up every night watching the Yankees from first pitch until the end. In my really younger days the first thing I would do is check the newspaper box score (I attribute to becoming a numbers guy because of the box score/ nevermind that my dad was a math teacher). Something changed when I became introduced to other sports like football, bball and soccer.

Nowadays I'm still a baseball fan but it's clearly not my favorite sport. With the constant troubles that some sports are having with the head injuries I'm trying to return. For whatever reason, the game is not the same as when I was a kid watching it. I can't watch a full game on TV.

My son gave up baseball for soccer and bball 5 years ago... maybe that has something to do with it? The interesting thing is the sport is still a very popular game--- between attendance numbers and TV contracts it seems to be doing well. The excitement of the "loveable losers" winning the series last year also helped with the ratings.... What is your baseball story?

 

[LesClaypool]

Used to be a die hard Yankees fan from age 7 until 29. Don Mattingly was my idol as a kid.

Then in 2004, after they signed A-Rod, Randy Johnson & Kevin Brown to overpriced mega-deals...I had to admit that everyone else was right. The Yankees (despite winning all those titles in the 90's w/genuine Yankee products - Bernie Williams, Andy Pettite, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada) were indeed the Evil Empire that everyone accused them of being.

At that point my love of the team and the game evaporated almost overnight.

 

[GwinnettNole]

Exact same regarding Don Mattingly. Even loved him before he became Donnie Baseball... He was a God send at 1B for the Yankees in the mid/late 80's...

 

[Scalp'em Nole]

A-Rod's 250 Million dollar contract, M McGwire and Sosa p.e.d scandal ended baseball for me. Could care less about baseball and their overpriced Athletes

 

[DanC78]

I was big Braves fan in the early 90s. I watched just about every game in 91 and 92. I slowly started tappering off; now I couldn't tell you one player on the team.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Used to be a die hard Yankees fan from age 7 until 29. Don Mattingly was my idol as a kid.

Then in 2004, after they signed A-Rod, Randy Johnson & Kevin Brown to overpriced mega-deals...I had to admit that everyone else was right. The Yankees (despite winning all those titles in the 90's w/genuine Yankee products - Bernie Williams, Andy Pettite, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada) were indeed the Evil Empire that everyone accused them of being.

At that point my love of the team and the game evaporated almost overnight.

I was a diehard baseball fan as a kid and teen back when I was playing it and collecting baseball cards. I could have given you stats from any back second baseman's rookie season and knew the going price of every iteration of a vet journeyman's baseball cards. I even followed the minors to an extent.

But after I stopped playing it I lost interest. Not 100% but I usually just go to a Spring Training game, maybe one or two MLB games during the regular season and very occasionally make it to an FSU game about every third year or so. I actually usually end up seeing more hockey than mlb mainly because the Lightning games are usually pretty fun while the MLB games are pretty boring.

But it's not just baseball. I haven't seen a single NBA game since Shaq left the Magic (I do usually go to a game or two of FSU and will watch March Madness and some key regular season games that are big like Duke/UNC). I haven't watched a single NASCAR event on tv since Dale Jr croaked (I did go to some live events after that as a friend was in the pit and engineering crew for Hendrick Motorsports and always had several hot pit passes and owners box seats available but I "lost" that connection when he became a driver in the pickup series and more of his family started coming out to see him plus he no longer had access to passes on non truck days). I only watch the NFL for the Bucs and only when the Bucs are decent.

So I just no longer care for sports in general.

 

[HilltopperNole]

I enjoy going to about 4-5 Spring Training games every year. Follow the Braves and get MLB.tv so I can watch them over the Summer when nothing is on. Can't watch a complete 9 inning game on TV if it is two random teams.

 

[SeaPA]

I've been a fan dating back to when I was a kid, watching the Saturday afternoon Game of the Week on NBC and watching TWIB because it was the only time to see highlights of the past week's games.

I still enjoy it, but very rarely do I watch an entire game - pretty much just in the playoffs and then only IF one of my two favorite teams is playing (Red Sox, Rays - and yeah I'm aware that is an odd combination as the typical Rays fan, for some reason, hates the Red Sox more than any other team).

I watch far more football and hockey than I do baseball.

 

[GoNolesTX]

Still a bigger baseball fan than anything non-FSU football. Getting tough with the Rangers management doing Ranger things lately, but it's a better product still than when I was growing up in the 80s/90s.

Professional sports are starting to lose me though. I haven't watched any NBA in over 3 years. The integrity of the game is lost on me when your organization allows for 5 teams to lap the rest of the 24 teams by forming super teams and pay one player on your team 25% of the "cap."

Hockey is my cup of tea after the Rangers, if even just from an evolution standpoint since the Stars came to Texas in 93. They're starting to make it difficult with all the new fangled ways to slow the game down though.

The NFL is getting close to losing me even from a FFL perspective, but I won't get in to those reasons since this can be a fun thread.

 

[Nole Daddy]

I was a huge baseball fan, a Braves fan. Growing up the Braves held Spring Training in West Palm Beach, and I went to so many of those games. I watched countless games each year on TBS even though the Braves sucked every year other than 1982. Then 91 came and the Braves were relevant and it was fun even though they only had 1 World Series title. I made it through the strike, but the steroid era did me in for good. I don’t follow the game at all now, and they lost me forever.

 

[ponchfrog]

Huge baseball fan! I played it into my younger adult years. Love the Indians(AL) and Mets(NL). Every year a I swear I wont fall for the banana in the tailpipe aka FSU Baseball only to get sucked back in year after painful year.

I can watch a baseball game because I enjoy the "game within the game" that takes place. Live baseball is the best. Throw in a dog and a beer and its even better!

 

[Nole Lou]

I was a huge baseball fan in my youth. Toronto Blue Jays fan. We got two games a week on TV in the 80s, Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon. Never missed a game. Listened to all other games on the radio. Box scores every morning. Was into highlights and watching random baseball games too.

Lost interest through college. I haven't watched a whole baseball game on TV in 20+ years probably. Watched a decent chunk of maybe 3-4 games in that span, world series or playoff games.

I go to a few minor league games a year and enjoy that immensely. No problem sitting at the park for nine innings.

I have more than a little guilt not raising my son as more of a baseball fan, seems like it's something a boy should be into, but I just haven't.

 

[TexSkills]

I was a huge Rangers fan growing up. Everyday during summer break as a kid, I would break out the Dallas Morning News and read the box score or watch Sportscenter highlights. The team sucked but the silver lining in it was that we had Nolan Ryan. I was in attendance when he pitched his last home game in a Rangers uniform and I also was in attendance for Kenny Rogers's perfect game. It never sank in until many years later that I saw a perfect game.

Now, I follow the Rangers but I rarely watch baseball anymore. The scandals in the early 2000s kinda put me off the game.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

I was big Braves fan in the early 90s. I watched just about every game in 91 and 92. I slowly started tappering off; now I couldn't tell you one player on the team.

This.

I used to stay up listening to Braves games on the radio after my parents told me to go to bed. Was pretty "diehard" from 1991-1994 or so. Then I got to high school and way more into basketball. Haven't looked back. You couldn't pay to watch a full baseball game, even in the world series I only watched like the last hour of game 7.

So I just no longer care for sports in general.

I'm getting there. Went from all football all Saturday and Sunday to only watching FSU games and Bucs if it's convenient / nothing else going on. I'm an avid fantasy football player and keep up fairly aggressively. Just not burning my time on games, largely due to understanding CTE impact.

 

[Noleguy06]

More of a fan now then when I was a kid. Indians are doing well and also in a very competitive Fantasy Baseball league /w friends from high school so I have to keep up to date on what's going on as well as minor leaguers. Still can't watch a whole regular season game but I'll watch 50%-75% of an Indians game if it's on ESPN/MLB Network.

 

[FSUTribe76]

I'm getting there. Went from all football all Saturday and Sunday to only watching FSU games and Bucs if it's convenient / nothing else going on. I'm an avid fantasy football player and keep up fairly aggressively. Just not burning my time on games, largely due to understanding CTE impact.

The only sports I would say I'm still fairly passionate about is college football and to a lesser extent mma. Every other sport I'm either interested enough especially in small doses like going to a live event periodically but don't really follow it (NFL, college baseball, MLB, NHL, boxing, college basketball, arena football, tennis, horse racing, Olympics, NASCAR) or don't care for it and never follow it at all (NBA, golf, soccer of any kind excluding FSU women's soccer in the playoffs, winter sports, x-games, American Ninja Warrior, and a ton of others).

 

[ReliableOstrich]

The only sports I would say I'm still fairly passionate about is college football and to a lesser extent mma. Every other sport I'm either interested enough especially in small doses like going to a live event periodically but don't really follow it (NFL, college baseball, MLB, NHL, boxing, college basketball, arena football, tennis, horse racing, Olympics, NASCAR) or don't care for it and never follow it at all (NBA, golf, soccer of any kind excluding FSU women's soccer in the playoffs, winter sports, x-games, American Ninja Warrior, and a ton of others).

I've become a bigger NBA fan over the last few years as my interest in football has gradually started to diminish. The quality of the NBA and caliber of its top players has been impressive. Add to that that most of the top players are genuinely decent and socially involved people.

I'll schedule my life around FSU football and basketball, the NBA playoffs, some Bucs games, and the Super Bowl. Literally no other sporting events would cause me to change my schedule.

 

[cmanole]

Used to like the Braves back in the day and actively watch. Don't really care for any professional sports anymore outside of golf...

 

[Fijimn]

I am a baseball fan. Grew up a Dodgers fan, used to watch them with my Nana when my Mom would send me to stay with her for a couple of weeks in the summer. She used to turn the volume off and turn Vin on the radio (I think most people did that). Watch a lot of Astros games these days. I usually make it to about 20 games a year. Rather go to a baseball game instead of a NFL game.

 

[runkpanole]

I still enjoy baseball. Probably not as much as I use to, but I try to make a game every year in the MLB (made 3 stadiums this season). Really enjoy going to FSU games.

 

[seminole97]

I'm a baseball fan, but not a huge one. I'd rather be at a game than watch one on TV.
My dad is a huge baseball fan. Now that they live in Tally they go to most of the home games, and I'll frequently join them. A lot of times my wife and I will meet them at the park after work on Friday, or we'll plan to all go together to a weekend game.

I couldn't tell you the last time I watched a regular season MLB game on TV. But I might tune for a bit of the playoffs, especially when the Cards are involved.

 

[GwinnettNole]

I've become a bigger NBA fan over the last few years as my interest in football has gradually started to diminish. The quality of the NBA and caliber of its top players has been impressive. Add to that that most of the top players are genuinely decent and socially involved people.

I'll schedule my life around FSU football and basketball, the NBA playoffs, some Bucs games, and the Super Bowl. Literally no other sporting events would cause me to change my schedule.

I'm actually more of a NBA fan the last several years than I am of college bball. What could change it is this mega-forming teams ala Kevin Durant going to the Warriors, Lebrons big three with the heat, etc.

 

[321Nole]

This about sums it up:

 

[mcgrawfsu]

I was a huge fan growing up and also checked the box scores daily and had every complete set of cards from 85-93. My dad used to take us to Fenway all the time when I was younger. Lost interest and became a college football fan, then NFL. My son has rekindled my interest and we watch the Red Sox and Rays as much as possible. I take him to Fenway and the Trop every summer. My dad joined us a few years ago for game 1 of the World Series in Fenway.

Between baseball and Impractical Jokers, they give me a great time to focus on quality time with my son.

 

[kc78]

I love going to baseball games. I love playing baseball. I can't stand watching it on tv. I feel the same way about basketball too for some reason. I know why I feel that way about baseball. I don't know why about basketball.

 

[goldmom]

I was a huge Rangers fan growing up. Everyday during summer break as a kid, I would break out the Dallas Morning News and read the box score or watch Sportscenter highlights. The team sucked but the silver lining in it was that we had Nolan Ryan. I was in attendance when he pitched his last home game in a Rangers uniform and I also was in attendance for Kenny Rogers's perfect game. It never sank in until many years later that I saw a perfect game.

Now, I follow the Rangers but I rarely watch baseball anymore. The scandals in the early 2000s kinda put me off the game.

Our family were all Rangers fans. Went to games in balmy 99 degree heat. When we lived in Detroit for two years we also went to see the Tigers play the Rangers in the old Tiger Stadium.

I also was the world's most fanatical baseball Mom, as Tex will remember. From tee ball thru high school. Ran the concession stand, had the keys to the park light control box. Now I check to see how the Rangers are doing and see if Buster Posey is doing okay.

 

[NYCNole]

Huge baseball fan growing up on Long Island during 80's with Mets. Live in Charlotte now and my kids love baseball only b/c of me. Snce no MLB here not many of their friends follow it. We hit Citifield every summer.

Watching nine innings is impossible but get MLB Extra Innings and watch playoffs religiously. Love coming home to ALDS & NLDS games in afternoon.

 

[Bill From Tampa]

Used to be. Enjoyed the game. Followed the Rangers almost religiously. That all changed when Selig and Bill White screwed Tampa Bay. Have not watched a game since 1994.

 

[DFSNOLE]

Huge baseball fan! I played it into my younger adult years. Love the Indians(AL) and Mets(NL). Every year a I swear I wont fall for the banana in the tailpipe aka FSU Baseball only to get sucked back in year after painful year.

I can watch a baseball game because I enjoy the "game within the game" that takes place. Live baseball is the best. Throw in a dog and a beer and its even better!

I'm with the Frogman here if you trade out his teams for the Braves. I too grew up in WPB when it was the spring training home for Atlanta. We also had a minor league team there too. Summers were all about baseball whether playing or watching.

 

[noleclone2]

Been a die hard Cubs since meeting my wife to be and her family in 1996. Have watched 50% of their games on TV for the last 20 years. Last year was amazing to say the least.

 

[QuaZ2002]

I'm a huge baseball fan in the sense I follow along in the box scores religiously. I love baseball stats for some weird reason. As a Rays fan it's been a few years since we were relevant. I watched at least some of most games early in the season, but then they fell apart and are out of the race now so it seems kind of pointless to even watch. If they can ever get a new ballpark built in Tampa I'd probably attend 15 games a year, I only make it down to the Trop 2-3 times a year at this point. As for the NFL and NBA I've lost so much interest in the NFL, I rarely will watch a non Bucs regular season game. This upcoming NBA season is going to be dreadful as the Warriors march unimpeded towards another title, I still can't believe Durant took that route.

 

[F4Gary]

Baseball? No. Pro sports other than auto racing (not NASCAR)? No.
I can't even watch a whole FSU baseball game on TV. In person, I can.

 

[ggmike1992]

I was big Braves fan in the early 90s. I watched just about every game in 91 and 92. I slowly started tappering off; now I couldn't tell you one player on the team.

Once they were taken off of TBS, I stopped watching. Prior to that, I used to be glued to the TV or radio damn near every game.

 

[runkpanole]

Once they were taken off of TBS, I stopped watching. Prior to that, I used to be glued to the TV or radio damn near every game.

I'll admit this made it tougher.

 

[EconSean]

Many evening we have the Pirates on the television, but I certainly do not stayed glued to my seat for the entire game.

We have season tickets for the Penguins, but I'd rather watch hockey on television. We gave up our season tickets for the Pirates, but I'd rather watch baseball in person.

 

[funksouljon]

nope never.

 

[HerdOfNoles]

Once they were taken off of TBS, I stopped watching. Prior to that, I used to be glued to the TV or radio damn near every game.

Copy that

 

[nynole1]

Still a bigger baseball fan than anything non-FSU football. Getting tough with the Rangers management doing Ranger things lately, but it's a better product still than when I was growing up in the 80s/90s.

Professional sports are starting to lose me though. I haven't watched any NBA in over 3 years. The integrity of the game is lost on me when your organization allows for 5 teams to lap the rest of the 24 teams by forming super teams and pay one player on your team 25% of the "cap."

Hockey is my cup of tea after the Rangers, if even just from an evolution standpoint since the Stars came to Texas in 93. They're starting to make it difficult with all the new fangled ways to slow the game down though.

The NFL is getting close to losing me even from a FFL perspective, but I won't get in to those reasons since this can be a fun thread.

Nailed it for me too,just about your post. I love baseball, always have and hopefully always will. I'm losing interest in the NFL and almost never watch the NBA since LeBron started the superteam garbage. Even FSU is starting to lose me because I'm so sick of JF's stubborn BS and refusal to deal with the coaching staff correctly. Too much riding emotionally on them to have the season go down the shitter so early, truly disgusted.

 

[Urban Cryer]

I quit baseball during the 90's strike. I quit the NBA a few years ago and recently quit the NFL.

College sports are more exciting to me.

 

[nynole1]

I would also argue that the arms race is a huge threat to college football and is taking a lot of the fun out of it for me