It was several years ago and a good season to be a Phillies fan. Baseball's most losing team of all time had just decisively beaten the Nationals in their new DC ballpark. Almost everyone transferring through Metro Center at that time had been at the stadium 30 minutes earlier. Now hundreds of people squeezed onto the platforms, silently thinking about how little sleep they would get before waking up for work the next morning.
Quietly at first, a lone voice started chanting "Phillies! Phillies! Phillies!". Within ten seconds, half the crowd had joined in shouting "PHILLIES! PHILLIES! PHILLIES!" until it could be heard throughout the entire station. Observing this phenomenon, I began to wonder about the unspoken rules of baseball etiquette. Hadn't these fans already gotten their satisfaction by watching the Phillies win? Weren't Nats fans feeling bad enough? Was this a post-game display of arrogance, unneccesarily rubbing salt in the wounds of the home team's loyal following? Or was it the rightful spoils of the victors? I knew I'd have to give this some thought.
Generally speaking, there are two types of transplant fans. Some baseball enthusiasts, respectfully, just like rooting for the home team. When they move to a new city, they cheer for their new club. Personally, I see nothing wrong with this. Diving head first into the local sports scene is a great way to connect with one's new surroundings. Other fans don't let go of their previous allegiances quite so easily. It's not as if they make a conscious decision to stick with their old team, it's more like they can't help themselves. The bond between a fan and a team is often a lifelong relationship. 
So is there an accepted etiquette for diasporic fans? Don't they have as much right to be there as everyone else? Perhaps fans of both teams have a role to play in keeping the peace. Speaking as a Mets-for-life guy living outside of New York since 2001, I think it's great to see people stick with their clubs. I say wear your cap and jersey proudly and, by all means, cheer for your guys! A little playful booing of the home team's biggest star is all part of the experience. However, that enthusiasm is NOT a license to act disrespectfully towards the home team or their followers. Try to remember that you are occupying a seat at somebody else's dinner table. Throwing your team's good fortune in the faces of the home crowd, defacing property, or heckling at a level that goes beyond the accepted boundaries of appropriateness is not only bad form - it reflects poorly on your team. Keep pushing it further and you might even be asking for trouble.
Which brings me to fans of the home team. A little competitive banter is to be expected, but if you see someone just trying to enjoy the game, then let him enjoy the game. That person might not get very many opportunities to see his team play. Physical aggression is never acceptable.
People often ask me: "Does a transplant have to choose? Can't someone have two favorite teams?". The short answer is Yes... but it gets a little tricky. Many people subscribe to the one-team-per-league philosophy. Others will say it's okay, as long as they're not division rivals. The most important thing is that you know who you're rooting for when those two teams play each other. You can't go to the first game in one team's jersey, and then wear the other team's jersey the next night. In other words, baseball relationships are monogamous. You can dance with as many ball clubs as you'd like, but you can only go home with one.
No matter what team you're a fan of or what city you live in, there is always a seat at the local baseball stadium for you. Enjoy the game and don't prevent other people from enjoying it themselves. Stadiums are big places. There's enough room for everyone.
Before I close out, here are a few tips for fans enduring a long-distance relationship with their teams:
1. ProSportsDaily.com: Follow the links to your team and bookmark it. The website filters articles about your team from around the country and displays them in one convenient place.
2. Team-focused sports bars: Here's an article from the Washington Post to help you find your team's locale in the DC area.
3. Free Gamecasts: You can follow along with the pitch-by-pitch on MLB.com and ESPN.com. For a small fee, you can do the same on your smart phone using MLB's app At Bat. It's not the same as actually watching the games, but it's better than nothing. Radio feeds are often available as well.
4. Hit the Road: Maybe your favorite team is coming to your city this season, or maybe it isn't. What about other cities within a 2-3 hour drive? Do you still live within a few hours from your hometown? Go out and support your team. Consider it a pilgrimage.
Photos by Danial Orange: 1. a Cardinals fan in a sea of Dodger blue; 2. a couple with split loyalties holds hands after an Orioles/Mets game; 3. a Jewish fan in diaspora wears a t-shirt that phonetically spells out [Jose] Reyes, one-time Mets shortstop, in Hebrew.
People often ask me: "Does a transplant have to choose? Can't someone have two favorite teams?". The short answer is Yes... but it gets a little tricky. Many people subscribe to the one-team-per-league philosophy. Others will say it's okay, as long as they're not division rivals. The most important thing is that you know who you're rooting for when those two teams play each other. You can't go to the first game in one team's jersey, and then wear the other team's jersey the next night. In other words, baseball relationships are monogamous. You can dance with as many ball clubs as you'd like, but you can only go home with one.
No matter what team you're a fan of or what city you live in, there is always a seat at the local baseball stadium for you. Enjoy the game and don't prevent other people from enjoying it themselves. Stadiums are big places. There's enough room for everyone.
Before I close out, here are a few tips for fans enduring a long-distance relationship with their teams:
1. ProSportsDaily.com: Follow the links to your team and bookmark it. The website filters articles about your team from around the country and displays them in one convenient place.
2. Team-focused sports bars: Here's an article from the Washington Post to help you find your team's locale in the DC area.
3. Free Gamecasts: You can follow along with the pitch-by-pitch on MLB.com and ESPN.com. For a small fee, you can do the same on your smart phone using MLB's app At Bat. It's not the same as actually watching the games, but it's better than nothing. Radio feeds are often available as well.
4. Hit the Road: Maybe your favorite team is coming to your city this season, or maybe it isn't. What about other cities within a 2-3 hour drive? Do you still live within a few hours from your hometown? Go out and support your team. Consider it a pilgrimage.
Photos by Danial Orange: 1. a Cardinals fan in a sea of Dodger blue; 2. a couple with split loyalties holds hands after an Orioles/Mets game; 3. a Jewish fan in diaspora wears a t-shirt that phonetically spells out [Jose] Reyes, one-time Mets shortstop, in Hebrew.
