MLB Power Rankings: The 10 Loudest Fanbases in Baseball
When you think of loud fans, you don't normally think of baseball.
Thoughts of an accountant dressed in Road Warrior gear, or a elementary school teacher wearing golden pigtails with Vikings horns, are what comes to mind when I think of loud, rowdy fans.
Ranking the loudest fanbases of the MLB teams is kind of like ranking which NHL fans are the best dancers, or which NBA team's fanbase is the most avid outdoorsmen. The two don't really go together.
At a football game, I can't understand what the guy next to me is saying most of the time. At a baseball game, I know exactly what the couple ten rows behind me is fighting about
Passionate, knowledgeable and maybe sometimes tased—these are words I think of when I think of baseball fans. But baseball fans are the most reserved of the four major sports in my opinion.
That's not to say baseball games never get loud. But because of the nature of the game, the moments to cheer are just more rare than in other sports. Still, during those moments, there are fanbases that can tip the scales in the favor of the home team.
10. Detroit Tigers Fans
1 of 10
Alright, so Tigers fans are more likely to scream at a Kid Rock concert than a Tigers game (or even at Kid Rock at a Tigers game), but the team has quietly built a tough home field advantage for an otherwise underachieving team.
You're not going to walk away from Comerica Park with hearing loss, but the team draws well, and the fans can hold their own. They just haven't had enough to cheer about since the intimidating fans helped the Tigers to a 5-1 record during their 2006 World Series run.
And 103-59 at home over the past two seasons? The fans deserve some credit for this.
9. Cincinnati Reds Fans
2 of 10
A sea of red filled with drunken Ohio State fans would be intimidating for any batter.
Already off to a 5-0 start at home this season, the Reds faithful have continued to defend their impressive home field advantage started by their postseason run last year. Look for Reds fans to continue to build on their reputation through this season.
Even though they're not near the top of the league in attendance, for anyone who's known someone from Ohio...you can count on the fact that the volume of their voice is twice that of the average person, making up for the empty seats.
8. Milwauke Brewers Fans
3 of 10
Doesn't it seem like a Brewers game was put together by a frat house?
Racing wieners, a stadium named after beer and the hardest partying announcer in the bigs ("Juuuuust a bit outside") all reside at Miller Park in the beer capital of the United States. Even the mascot is a master brewer who slides into a vat of beer.
All this leads to a boisterous atmosphere with loud fans. This expert marketing doesn't make me want to visit Miller Park, it makes me want to live there!
Surprisingly, too much partying has led to a hangover on the basepads where the Brewers have struggled to play .500 ball at home.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers Fans
4 of 10
In LA, there's the Lakers, the Dodgers and then a couple of other teams.
The Dodgers had a disappointing 2010 campaign, but still managed to play nine games above .500 before packed crowds. Outside of New York and Boston, the Dodgers seem to have the most storied and recognizable fan base in baseball.
Images of a raucous crowd following Kirk Gibson's historic World Series home run come to mind when I think of these fans.
Unfortunately for thousands of good Dodgers fans, a recent senselessly brutal attack on an opposing fan will mar this loyal fanbase.
6. Colorado Rockies Fans
5 of 10
The youngest fanbase on the list is a growing one thanks to the recently competitive franchise.
Rockies fans are known as being hospitable hosts, but still avid supporters of their team. They play in the second stadium on this list named after a beer, Coors Field.
The high altitude leads to a ton of homers and noisy, crowded houses in the third-biggest stadium in baseball. The Rockies have responded going 103-59 over the past two seasons.
5. New York Yankees Fans
6 of 10
The most recognizable franchise in the world (no offense Manchester U) has, without a doubt, the largest fanbase and the largest number of despisers.
A mere couple years ago, the Yankees would have been number one on this list. The move to the ultra slick new stadium seems to have weeded out some of the more rowdy fans, as ticket prices have sky rocketed.
While still leading the league in attendance, often times the million dollar seats directly behind the plate and down the baseline are sparsely filled, and the stadium seems quiet at times.
Still, they're 109-53 at home the past two seasons, so there's something to be said about the home-field advantage.
4. St. Louis Cardinals Fans
7 of 10
Often regarding as the best fanbase in all of pro sports, and despite being from a smaller market, Cardinals fans have been extremely supportive of their franchise.
Busch Stadium (more beer!) has been a tough venue for opposing teams, and has seen its share of postseason success. Often packed, the stadium gets loud and intimidating.
While the Albert Pujols contract may distract the team on the field, it won't keep this excellent fanbase away from the seats.
3. Boston Red Sox Fans
8 of 10
The Red Sox are so heavily favored to win the AL Crown that you'd actually LOSE money if you bet on them.
Well, not actually, but Theo Epstein has put together one of the most impressive teams in recent MLB history. Too bad they haven't won a game yet.
In fairness to the Red Sox, they haven't played a home game yet, where they always play great thanks to a devoted, hard-nosed fanbase that packs Fenway Park.
2. Minnesota Twins Fans
9 of 10
Fans of the AL Central couldn't wait for the Metrodome to close so their teams would have a chance to win on the road.
Unfortunately for their Midwestern brethren, the fanbase of the Twins picked up the slack. The advantage lost due to the terrible conditions and acoustics of the Metrodome was made up for by the passionate fans.
The Twins put together extremely competitive teams year in and year out, and Target Field has become a nightmare for opposing teams. Now they just need to figure out how to beat the Yankees in the playoffs.
1. Philadelphia Phillies Fans
10 of 10
Recently rated the worst fanbase in pro sports by GQ Magazine (well, actually, they tied with what was most likely themselves—Eagles' fans), Phils fans have been in the limelight more than any other teams fans in recent memory.
Puking on little girls, throwing batteries, face planting after getting tasered—Philly fans have seen and done it all. All the while, the antics of the fans have lead to a tough road win for opponents.
In defense of the fans for this articles sake, worst doesn't mean quiet. In fact, it's most likely the contrary.
The blue collar, hardened, passionate fans from the ironically named "City of Brotherly Love" win the title as baseball's loudest fans.
