Watching Baseball: A Love Story

Watching baseball is less of an activity and more of a lifestyle. It's a lifestyle with a community far larger than most. And, if you're from Detroit, it's not a community you can choose. This isn't the east coast, where everyone dons a Yankee hat to make a fashion statement. This is Detroit. And there is only one available community: The one that fills Comerica Park 81 times per year and cheers on the Tigers.

Let’s just get this out of the way: Detroit Tigers fans share in a brand community. “Brand communities are groups of consumers who develop relationships based on shared interests or product usage.” (Babin/Harris, 148) The Detroit Tigers organization is a brand that may be more talked about than any other in the summer months. Through wins and losses and injuries, many Detroiters are customers and seemingly all Detroiters have something to say.

Next, Detroit Tigers fans belong to an informal group. “An informal group is a group that has no membership or application requirements, and codes of conduct may be nonexistent.” (Babin/Harris, 149) Detroiters never had to sign anything to wear the Old English “D” across their chests. Although, that would have been nice, just ask Miguel Cabrera. The only code of conduct would be the need to keep behavior levels a few notches below the other informal group across the street.

Finally, fans would agree that their fanhood is both aspirational and dissociative. Aspirational groups are ones that members would like to be in while dissociative groups stand opposite (Babin/Harris, 149). I think it goes without saying that when the Tigers are playing well, fans love to associate themselves with the blue and white uniforms. And while they regret it, fans may feel like dissociating after a few losses.

Now, allow me to broaden the topic to all baseball fans. As biased as I am, there’s just something special about watching and following baseball anywhere around the country (Or, in Toronto, and maybe even Montreal if you haven’t paid attention in awhile). First, baseball teams play virtually every day. If your favorite team has a bad game, there will always be an opportunity to feel great the next day. Second, ballpark hotdogs with mustard are simply amazing. And in no other sport will you find food as consistent as that. Third, and above all, baseball games are played during the summer and in wide-open stadiums. There is no better feeling than sitting down in your seat for an evening ballgame. You can enjoy the warm sun and air, the striking sunset, and finally the token stadium lights once the orange leaves the sky. There is nothing better.