During the series we will feature women for every franchise and their stories on how they became a baseball fan, who their hated rivals are, what their favorite food at the ballpark etc etc…. Ladies are chosen simply by contacting us (email link) and answering a few questions on why they fell in love with the great game of baseball and we get to share in someone else’s baseball traditions that could the same as our own.
Up next we have yet another diehard Indians fan to show off. Hands down the ladies of Cleveland really show-up when it comes to showing off their team pride. Such is the case with Christine Bailey who admittedly got into a few shouting matches when fans from other teams speak ill will of her beloved Indians.
Hit the title/read more to check out Christine’s interview on how she became a baseball fan..
Christine Bailey
Location: Cleveland Ohio
Favorite Team: Cleveland Indians
@Chrissie_bailey
Sprinkling Stardust Over Cleveland and All Voices
How long have you been a baseball fan?
How long have I been a baseball fan? All my life I grew up around baseball. My cousin Bobby played for Boston in 78, and then later in Houston in the 80’s. My family would always talk about what it was like going to his games, he would even talk about what it was like to be in the Majors. Everyone in my family on both sides is a baseball fan. I started attending games in 1989 back during the Municipal Stadium days I was five.
Where did your initial love for baseball come from?
My Initial love for baseball came when I actually started to play. I was the only girl in my neighborhood…literally. So if I wanted to do anything as far as getting outside and playing I’d have to do what the boys were doing and it was always baseball. I even played little league haha only girl of course, but yeah I played. I was pretty good to by the way, I held my own.
What is single most thing you look forward to while at a baseball game?
The walk-off wins! The Indians are good for those. Ha ha …not saying I like seeing the Indians behind, but the stunned comebacks are amazing. The atmosphere is beyond electric…you’re pumped for the next game. I love it.
What is your favorite food at the ballpark?
I actually don’t buy food at the park, and if I do it’s on a dollar dog night ha ha. But if I absolutely have to eat there, I go to the Subway location in the stadium and buy a Chicken breast toasted flat bread no cheese with lettuce, tomatoes, spinach leaves, and green peppers with oil and vinegar.
What is your favorite MLB tradition?
The National Anthem, I come from a long line of family in the military. I myself was going to join the navy my senior year of high school before my accident, and my cousin was in the army he was stationed in Iraqi then in Afghanistan. My grandpa stormed the beach in Normandy and was among the few that made it home. Really it’s just about pride and honor, every generation of my family has served and I sort of feel their “presence” so to speak when it’s played by our shared love for baseball.
What team do you hate the most?
The team I hate the most? Ha! that is a two way tie between Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees. The Tigers are too boastful in my opinion, and the Yankees are very whiny….cough…the 2007 ALCS, gotta love those midges from Lake Erie right?
Which team has the worst fans?
Everyone team has a certain amount of fans that are just ridiculous so it’s hard to say. Yankees fan can be pretty relentless, Detroit fans are completely vulgar and we even have some here in Cleveland. There are even some that walk around with the attitude that every athlete who plays here Cleveland “Owes” them a championship, and it’s not only irritating to deal with those “fans” but quite frankly pisses me off. I’ve actually got into a few yelling matches with other “fans”. The number one thing I will not tolerate is people talking negative about the club.
What is your favorite memory at a baseball game or about baseball in general?
Gosh where to start! There are so many over the years. However my most recent… most absolute favorite memory has to be seeing Vinnie Pestano striking out Omar Luna of the Bulls to seal the win for the Columbus Clippers in September of 2010. I was in North Carolina visiting a friend of mine at the time, and I pay attention to all the teams affiliated with Cleveland, not the just the big league team in Cleveland. I knew that if they won that night, it would be the club’s first championship in 14 years. That final outing and watching him just drop to his knees in front of the mound and the members of the team pile on him in celebration of their win…something I won’t ever forget. That last outing couldn’t have happened to a better closer. I have actually been a fan of Pestano’s since he was drafted in to the organization. I even remember being at the game in Cleveland in June of 06 and seeing his name shown on the board when they were announcing the players that were being drafted. It was pretty amazing being there and seeing him win.
Could you ever date someone who was an avid fan of your hated rival?
Yes I can, even if they’re jabbing at my team haha I can take it as much as I can dish it out. I know I come off as kind of stand offish and shy at first, so it just makes it funnier if someone says something and nine times out of ten it’s over their heads anyway…I am a witty person.
When people ask “How can you watch baseball? It’s so boring!”, what do you say to them?
I actually had this conversation with someone at the end of last season; they were wearing a nascar jacket. I just replied with “how can you watch Nascar it’s tedious and ridiculous”. But if in general I think anyone who thinks baseball is boring just don’t’ understand it period because there is nothing boring about baseball….especially if you’re a Cleveland fan.
Big thanks to Christine for answering our questions on the backstory of being a baseball fan. We all have a certain way we fell in love with the game and this is just one story of many more to come.
Are you interested in being featured as one of our MLB Female Fans?
Just send us an email and tell us what team you want to represent. It’s that easy. All teams needed!
