Welcome back to FanPost Friday! Last week we asked you what your favorite baseball traditions are, or which ones you’d gladly see go away. We had four people write responses, if you include one that went up before the prompt itself. That’s right: this week we’re recapping the first every FanPost Friday prompt that was inspired by a FanPost.
Ay_see_em early last week posed a question that I thought was interesting. The traditions in view were the stadium / fan traditions.
The Yankee fans do Roll Call, Boston sings "Sweet Caroline", Cubbies have the 'Throw it Back' policy and 7th inning stretch', Nats have the Presidential Race, and so on and so on. Even College picks it up to some extent, such as this brutal tradition at Texas A&M (one of my favorite traditions personally).
But then there was this question: “Is there anything comparable to any of these at Coors? And if not... should we start one?” My vote is ab-so-lutely. I alluded to it in the prompt but I miss the days when, in the middle of the game at Coors, the outfield/Rockpile sections would yell, “GOOOOOO,” and then the infield sections would respond, “ROOCKIIIEEEESSSSS!” I don’t know when that tradition died, but I would be so happy if we could bring it back.
Anyway, that was the post that prompted this FanPost Friday. MrBungle took a more personal approach to the prompt:
But when Coors Field opened, a group of us from the restaurant I worked at went over at 6 am on Opening Day & waited in line for Rockpile seats. Had a blast, and went back the next year. And the next. And the...you see where this is going.
It turned into quite the party for us early 20-somethings, from '95 through 2007 or so.
It really is a fun read and really gets to the heart of how traditions get started—and, alas, how they fade away. I’d encourage you to go read the rest of the story.
Some traditions are simpler than others, though that doesn’t make them any less personal. For brian8065, the simple joy of “Around the Horn” is enough to turn any routine game into a fun exercise. He explained to his girlfriend how and when players throw the ball around the horn.
So the entire game she watched with great interest after every qualifying out to see what the players did. She had been to other games before, but never noticed this phenomenon. It certainly made the game more fun to watch.
Traditions don’t have to be exclusive to a certain fanbase or region, or even entirely noticeable to be worthwhile. In fact, these types of simple traditions are often the best at tying the game and our lives to the past and future.
Finally, NoDo Joe has a bone to pick, or several. There are some “questionable elements of the Coors Field game day experience” that prompt review. But never fear, NoDo Joe has some “constructive suggestions.” Really, you have to go read his suggestions for the Comfort Dental Race, the throwing back of home run balls, “God Bless America,” and the keeping track of strikeouts by Rockies pitchers for yourself. Just be aware that his suggestions may lead to individuals getting tossed on the field. No, really, read it yourself. Go.
Thanks again, FanPosters. We really appreciate the contributions and the conversations it creates. This week we need a lot of help because we are trying to predict the 25-man roster.
Which traditions are your favorites? What other traditions would you like to lionized or euthanized?