Ranking the Most Loyal Fanbases in Major League Baseball

Which MLB team has the smartest fan base in baseball?

What even determines a smart fan base to begin with? For starters, a smart fan base should attend their team's games when the team is playing well. That is exactly the opposite of what the Tampa Bay Rays have been doing for the past few years.

Secondly, bandwagon fans hurt the credibility of a fan base as a whole. The more loyal fans a team has, the smarter the fan base becomes.

Here's a list ranking the 30 smartest fan bases in baseball.

30. Tampa Bay Rays

I understand that it's difficult for some people to travel to Tropicana Field. It's not like the stadium is anything to write home about either.

But the Rays are a playoff team with superstars like Evan Longoria and David Price. There is no excuse to continually have one of the worst attendance records in baseball.

You can use any year for an example, but this season was perfect. The Rays were in contention all year in 2011 and ended up making it to the postseason. However, their average attendance per game was 18,878, which was the second lowest in baseball.

29. Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks have a beautiful stadium. I mean, Chase Field even has air conditioning, so why wouldn't anyone want to go see a game?

However, the Diamondbacks only averaged an attendance of just over 25,000 per game despite winning the National League West.

The team's success could have surprised some fans, but the Diamondbacks were in the thick of things in the NL West from the get-go.

28. Atlanta Braves

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't the Atlanta Braves in contention every single year?

At least it seems that way since they did win 14 division titles in a row from 1991 to 2005. Winning something 14 years in the row is a tough thing to do no matter what it is.

So why is it that the Braves can't even sell out playoff games? Is it because they've been to the playoffs so many times that it's just another game?

I know if the Pittsburgh Pirates made it to the playoffs, tickets would sell out as soon as they went on sale.

27. Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds have a nice stadium and a good team that plays in it.

They burst onto the scene last year and ended up winning the division for the first time since 1995.

So where were the fans? The Reds averaged an attendance of only 25,438 in 2010, which was the 11th lowest in MLB.

You can do better than that, Cincinnati.

26. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays used to draw big crowds to their stadium in the 1990's when they were a competitive team.

Now that they have fielded a contending team again, their attendance is ranked 24th in baseball.

I know Canadians love their hockey, but the Blue Jays are on the verge of becoming relevant again! Go support your Blue Jays next year if you're a fan!

25. Miami Marlins

I'll cut the Florida Marlins some slack. The now old Sun Life Stadium was a piece of junk so I don't blame the fans for not going out to the ballpark.

The team has been pretty bad in recent years, but that doesn't excuse them for having the third worst attendance record in 2003. And yes, that was the year they won the World Series.

That's unacceptable if you ask me.

24. Cleveland Indians

When it comes to sports, Cleveland is generally known to be loyal to its teams. When the Indians were legitimate in the 1990's, they would sell out all of their games, literally.

Now that successful seasons are few and far between for the Indians, they have had trouble maintaining good attendance numbers.

However, the Indians were somewhat back this year, yet they still ranked in the bottom 10 in attendance. Jim Thome should've been greeted by a much larger crowd when he came back to Cleveland this season.

23. Baltimore Orioles

Yes, the Baltimore Orioles have been bad for quite some time now. In fact, they haven't made the postseason since 1997.

It's no excuse to have a horrible attendance record, however, since Camden Yards is arguably the most beautiful ballpark in baseball.

If it isn't to watch the team, at least go to the games to appreciate the scenery!

22. Washington Nationals

The only way the Washington Nationals can attract fans to the ballpark is when Stephen Strasburg pitches.

Maybe they should consider having him pitch everyday? Just a joke.

21. Seattle Mariners

It's hard to fault the Seattle Mariners for their weak attendance records this season. Their offense was was pretty much as bad as it gets.

They ranked last in every major offensive statistic so it was hard to draw large crowds to the stadium.

If the Mariners do land Prince Fielder, expect the solid fan base to flock towards Safeco Field to see their new superstar.

20. Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox won the World Series in 2005, so you would think that they drew large crowds to the stadium.

It was actually quite the opposite. The White Sox averaged just under 29,000 fans per game the year they won the World Series. That's quite an alarming stat considering Chicago is a huge baseball city.

Every year since then, the White Sox have been nothing more than just a middle-of-the-pack organization when it comes to ticket sales.

That's a little disappointing considering the White Sox are usually in the thick of things towards the end of the season.

19. Kansas City Royals

I wanted to give the Kansas City Royals somewhat of a break since they haven't made it to the playoffs in over 25 years.

It's hard for organizations to attract crowds when the fans know the team isn't going anywhere.

However, the Royals fielded a young and entertaining team in 2011. Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler are all special talents who will become forces to reckon with for years to come.

If the newly acquired Jonathan Sanchez can somehow find a way to put everything together, the Royals could make some noise in 2012.

If Royals fans are smart, they'll get out to the ballpark next year.

19. Pittsburgh Pirates

The last time the Pittsburgh Pirates made it to the postseason was 1992. The last time they had a winning record to finish the season was in also in 1992.

There hasn't been a lot of reason for rejoicing in Pittsburgh as of late when it comes to baseball. Heck, the only time fans actually showed up to the ballpark last year was when the Pirates actually made it to .500 in the middle of the season. 

The atmosphere was like they made it to the playoffs or something.

PNC Park is one of, if not the prettiest park in the country. It's a shame that the Pirates aren't making the most of it.

17. San Diego Padres

It was one of the more disappointing stories of 2010.

The San Diego Padres were in first place the majority of the season, yet they couldn't attract a huge crowd to the stadium all year.

Their average attendance was 26,000, which was only at 60 percent capacity. When San Francisco came to play at Petco, it would sound like a home game for the Giants.

Maybe that's why the Padres decided to lose 10 games in a row down the stretch.

16. Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers have made it to the World Series each of the past two years, but their attendance has been less than impressive.

In 2010, they averaged just under 31,000 fans a game, which isn't even close to full capacity. It was a little better in 2011 when they averaged 36,000, but that was only three quarters of what Rangers Ballpark in Arlington could hold.

I expect more from a team that went all the way to the World Series two years in a row.

15. Colorado Rockies

Since joining MLB in 1993 as an expansion team, the Colorado Rockies have only made it to the postseason three times.

They always tend to have a moderate attendance record despite the entertainment that Coors Field brings to the average fan. Whether or not you like baseball, it's always fun to watch balls fly out of the ballpark in Colorado.

However, it could be the Rockies' mascot that's keeping fans away. No one really likes Dinger the Dinosaur.

14. Houston Astros

That fan was smart enough to escape Houston's security officers.

"Nuff said.

13. Milwaukee Brewers

Many consider the Green Bay Packers' fans to be the smartest fan base in football. Why would it be any different for the Milwaukee Brewers'?

They average a respectable attendance record every year despite the small population of fans within the city region.

12. Detroit Tigers

The recession hit Detroit hard, but the fanbase still managed to make it to the ballpark this season.

They have a beautiful stadium, a winning team and a Cy Young pitcher in Justin Verlander to awe over. There is really no excuse for Tigers fans to not attend the games.

11. New York Mets

The New York Mets are a mess right now.

They are on the books for a couple of overpriced contracts—Jason Bay and Johan Santana—and they just lost Jose Reyes to the Miami Marlins. The team hasn't made it to the playoffs since 2006 either.

That might not be a long playoff drought for some teams, but it is for a New York franchise.

Despite the team's struggles, the Mets still maintain respectable attendance numbers.

10. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers were in a predicament this season. The team wasn't doing too well on the field and the off-field problems were made very public.

However, Dodgers fans still maintained solid attendance numbers this year despite the disappointing finish. I'm sure having Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp on the team didn't hurt the attractiveness of going to the game either. 

9. Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have the definition of a loyal fanbase. They sell out every game and they make their presence known at the ballpark.

However, Phillies fans do take their loyalty to a whole new level. They are known to ridicule their own players more so than other fanbases.

If a player goes out there and busts his butt, Phillies fans will recognize it and appreciate the hard work. However, they won't hesitate to get on a player who they feel isn't trying their hardest.

Whether that is smart or not is debatable, but they sure are passionate.

8. New York Yankees

You can expect to see the New York Yankees near the top of the attendance year in and year out. You can also expect to see a ton of Yankee bandwagon fans as well. It comes with the territory of winning 27 World Series championships.

If you took into account just the loyal fans, the Yankees would have one of, if not the smartest fanbase in baseball. However, the bandwagoners taint the respectability just a little bit.

7. Boston Red Sox

Year in and year out, Red Sox fans show up and support their team. They don't rank in the top five in total attendance solely because Fenway Park's max capacity is only 37,000. However, the average attendance per game at Fenway Park is 37,703. You do the math.

While the fanbase is loyal, it's also diluted with bandwagoners from all over the country. Much like the New York Yankees, they are one of the most talked about franchises in baseball.

This doesn't help the image of the Red Sox's fanbase.

6. Chicago Cubs

One thing is for sure: The Chicago Cubs do not have any bandwagoners.

They haven't won a World Series championship in over a century so there is really no reason for anyone to jump on the bandwagon.

You can call the Cubs' fanbase stupid for rooting for a losing team, but I call them loyal. They're smart because when the Cubs win, and they have to win sometime, victory will taste that much sweeter.

Hang in there, Cubs fans.

5. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Los Angeles Angels' fanbase was rewarded for being smart this offseason. They maintained high attendance numbers over the past few years and were rewarded Albert Pujols for their loyalty.

Arte Moreno even sprinkled in some C.J. Wilson on top as well.

Because those fans stuck by the Angles, despite the Dodgers being the more popular team in Los Angeles, it landed them a spot near the top of the smartest fanbases in baseball.

4. San Francisco Giants

Many think that the San Francisco Giants fanbase is full of bandwagoners. After they won the World Series in 2010, everyone in San Francisco had a Giants hat on.

However, when you look more closely at it the Giants have a pretty loyal fanbase. They attended games even when the team struggled. They have ranked in the top 10 in attendance for over 10 years, even though that was largely due in part to Barry Bonds.

Heck, they even supported him through the thick and the thin.

3. Minnesota Twins

You might be surprised to see this, but the Minnesota Twins ranked fourth in attendance in 2011.

Yes, fourth.

And yes, they didn't even finish better than fourth place in their own division.

It could've been because the Twins were only one year removed from winning the division title in 2010. However, it's remarkable that a team lost 99 games and still finished in the top five in attendance.

2. Oakland Athletics

I know the Oakland Athletics have horrific attendance numbers every single year, but can you blame them?

The organization refuses to spend any money on free agents. Once a top prospect begins to blossom in the majors and show signs of becoming a legitimate player, he's recycled for three new prospects.

It's a never-ending nightmare for the Oakland Athletics fans and I don't blame them for not supporting the team and going to games.

If the front office isn't going to spend any money, why should the fans?

End of rant.

1. St. Louis Cardinals

When you talk about the best fans in baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals are usually the first to come to mind.

They have ranked in the top five in average attendance for the past seven seasons. They have a sense of community and togetherness within the fanbase unlike any other team.

Winning or not, the Cardinals will continue to support their team.