Why New York Is the Best Baseball City in the MLB
June 25, 2012 · Kathleen So · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
New York is where baseball has had deep roots, memorable events and unforgettable players in the MLB. New Yorkers are proud of two things: being New Yorkers and their baseball. There are several reasons why New York is the best baseball city in the MLB.
Baseball didn’t start in New York, but it certainly flourished there. New York can claim a rich history in the MLB. The New York Yankees were one of the first teams to start up the American League and the team has experienced much success and a strong fanbase since the beginning.
The two other franchises were the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers. New Yorkers held strong ties to both teams and were crushed when the franchises picked up and left for the West Coast.
So to make up for their losses, a counterpart to the New York Yankees was born: the New York Mets. To fill the gaps that the Dodgers and Giants left and to regain the New York fanbase, the Mets took the team colors of both former teams and combined them to create their new orange and blue.
A great story for New York and a memorable event and there’s still more.
New York can take pride in their history of incredible baseball stars. Back before New York had the Mets, Jackie Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Willie Mays played with the New York Giants. And New York can lay a claim on a number of MLB renowned hall of famers including Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth and Roger Maris. And those are just the players.
New York has its fair share of “gold stars.” The New York Yankees have the most World Series Championship titles at a whopping total of 27. The Yankees also have 40 American League Pennants. The New York Mets have two World Series titles and four National League Pennants. That’s a good amount of MLB credentials for New York.
Baseball has built an important and lasting franchise in New York, making it one of the most influential cities in the MLB. It doesn’t seem like there will be any slowing down either.
The New York Yankees are leading the AL East and are second in number of wins in the American League with their record of 44-28. The New York Mets aren’t doing too badly either. With a record of 39-34 (a little over .500), the Mets are second in the NL East, 3.5 games behind the Washington Nationals. You can’t really complain with those numbers.
And the city is still producing some of the best players in the MLB.
Both teams have incredibly strong players worth cheering for. The Yankees have been proud to stand behind their “Mr. November,” Derek Jeter. The starting shortstop is one of the best players of this generation and has shown clutch performances in the playoffs. Robinson Cano has become a rising star on the Yankees and has solidified his position as an invaluable player on the roster. And relief pitcher Mariano Rivera is arguably one of the best closers of all time.
On the New York Mets, third baseman David Wright is a key player for the team. R.A. Dickey is second in pitching depth for the team with a 2.31 ERA. And starting pitcher Johan Santana celebrated the first no hitter for the Mets earlier this month.
With its players, franchises and history, New York has more than enough reasons to claim the title of the best baseball city. A fan can enjoy an MLB ballgame in any of the other cities, but no ties are stronger to fans and their baseball teams than in New York.
Baseball thrives in New York. Because again, if there are two things that New Yorkers do best, it’s being New Yorkers and rooting for their home team. And if they don’t win, it’s more than just a shame…it’s a sad day in the best baseball city in the MLB.
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