An MMO Fan Shot by Rebecca
Parents and kids are eagerly getting ready for the 2016 baseball season. They’re starting to practice out in the yard, planning weekend trips to the ballpark and shopping around for the best kids baseball gloves and mitts.
Some of these young baseball players are going to be the next generation of Mets fans. With only the last few years as a frame of reference, they have little understanding of just how far the New York Mets have come. It’s an important factor considering that these young fans will influence the team’s fanbase for years to come.
From Lackluster to All Stars
Kids tend to like their home team or the team that’s dominating their division like the Mets did last year. But some of us old timers appreciate the Mets for their ability to rise up from underdog status. The kiddos that began watching in the 2015 season have no idea how far the Mets have come over the last decade.
It all started in 2007. After an amazing 97-65 season in 2006 and a fantastic start to the 2007 season, things began to quickly unravel. Though they had a winning season, the Mets infamously lost a seven game lead in the NL East division with just 17 games to go in the season. On all fronts – offensive, defensive and pitching – the Mets gave the division away to the Phillies.
In 2008 the team faired no better. But fans would have much preferred barely losing the division over what was to come next. The 2009 season marked a complete implosion for the Mets that set off six straight years of losing seasons.
The attendance at Mets’ games dropped dramatically as many of the newer fans that were gained in 2006-2007 lost patience waiting for the team to pick things up. In the 2008 season, the Mets had a record attendance of 4,021,534. By the 2013 season that number fell to just 2,136,655.
It didn’t help that right around the corner is another well-known clubhouse: the New York Yankees. After 27 championships the Yankees are the go-to for New Yorkers that are in it to win it.
Last year was the turning point for the Mets. They easily won the NL East by seven games over the Nationals. For only the fifth time in the franchise’s history, the Mets made it to the World Series after defeating the Chicago Cubs. Attendance was already up to 2,569,753 in 2015 so it will be interesting to see how many more people show up for games this year.
Baseball: A Game That’s Built on Generations
Kids enjoy a lot of sports, but few professional leagues have a young following like baseball. Go to any game, whether it’s minor league or major league, and you’ll see plenty of kids running around. They sit in the stands with their gloves on waiting for that rare opportunity to snag a foul ball or home run. They eagerly wait by the dugout hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite players and maybe even get an autograph.
It’s also a game that is traditionally passed down from one generation to the next. When a kid becomes a serious fan, there’s a good chance they’ll bring their own children to watch the team decades later.
This is an important factor for an MLB team for many reasons, one of the most important being future recruitment. Some of today’s youngest baseball fans will inevitably become professional players. The teams they love now and grow up watching will get top consideration when it comes time to sign deals.
Still not convinced of the powerful persuasion a child’s favorite baseball team can have? Former Mets General Manager Omar Minaya and former Manager Willie Randolph joined the Mets in 2004 when the team was struggling. Why? Both have stated that they wanted to help a team they cheered on as kids regain its former glory.
Right now the Mets are capturing the attention of another generation of kids. Whether they’ll be able to continue performing and create fans for life is the question. But with an all star pitching staff that’s well solidified, the Mets are poised for great things in 2016 and for seasons to come. I will always thank my dad for making me the passionate Met fan I am today, and now I’m looking forward to passing that on to my own daughter. See you all at Citi Field and Let’s Go Mets.
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This Fan Shot was contributed by Rebecca. Have something you want to say about the Mets? Share your opinions with over 30,000 Met fans who read this site daily. Send your Fan Shot to [email protected]. Or ask us about becoming a regular contributor.
