By John Pierce
Veteran baseball players pass along tips to younger players.
It seems responsible for fans to the same. So here are seven frankly clear
lessons for budding fans that will make the experience more
enjoyable for them and others.
ONE: Leave and return
to your seats between innings.
If nature’s call and a pitcher’s control problems collide at
least make a quick exit between batters. But, in general, don’t crawl over
other fans or clog the aisle when there’s a full count or runners on the corners
with two outs.
TWO: Keep the
interest of young fans by spreading out the snacks.
It builds anticipation, which is important to being a
baseball fan. For example: a hot dog before first pitch; nachos after three and
a half innings; popcorn during the top of the fifth; cotton candy during the seventh-inning
stretch; and Pepto-Bismol on the drive home.
THREE: Cracker Jack
is singular.
No matter how much you eat. Like ice cream and popcorn, there’s
no “s” on the end. When it’s time to stretch, sing it right.
FOUR: Don’t boo
intentional walks, throw-overs to first, or Bryce Harper.
It amateurish. Permissible booing should be limited to really
bad umpiring such as Sam Holbrook’s infield fly rule debacle in 2012 and the consistently
inconsistent behind-the-plate guesswork of C.B. Bucknor.
FIVE: Note the little
things beyond hits, outs and final scores.
Like when the umpire brushes off a clean home plate to give
the catcher, who is smarting from a foul ball that missed padding, time to
recover. Or when the ump is the one hurting and the catcher goes out to the
mound to discuss dinner plans with the pitcher.
SIX: Be nice to
ticket takes, ushers, vendors, security and others who work at the stadium.
Most of them are really good people who endure more hassles
than they deserve. And, unlike fans, they don’t get to leave during bad
weather, blowouts or endless extra innings.
SEVEN: Observe Mets fans.
Then do the opposite; you’ll be classy.
