For the first time since he became a Texas Ranger, Guerrero returned to the home of his former ball club in Los Angeles, a team he helped lead to five AL West titles in six seasons. The bare-handed hitter received a standing ovation before his first at-bat, and he tipped his hat to the home crowd before squaring up against Angels’ starter Joel Piniero.
Vlad’s return was a familiar scene for Red Sox fans, as Red Sox Nation has seen its fair share of beloved players leaving Fenway, only to return in an opposing uniform. Comparing Guerrero’s return to Angel Stadium to former Red Sox players’ such as Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez comebacks to Fenway, which fans are the most passionate? Those on the East or West Coast?
When it comes to discussing passionate fans, it’s a rare occasion when Boston fans are left out of the mix, but California fans? The state has so many teams, it’s difficult to determine which fans are the most loyal. Moments like Vlad’s return, however, struck a similar chord with those fateful homecomings in front of the Fenway Faithful.
While Guerrero received positive fan feedback to start the game, his homecoming turned sour when he went 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBIs in his first three plate appearances. Boos erupted throughout the stadium when he came out for his fourth time around.
How does Vlad’s return compare with that of previous Red Sox players? Well I guess it depends on what player you’re comparing him to. When recapping the returns of the aforementioned former Sox players, it was clear that Nomar and Pedro received the best fan reactions in their first Fenway appearance in a different uniform. While Pedro graciously thanked the adoring fans from the top step of the dugout, Nomar removed his helmet and turned in circles to thank all those standing in applause for him. Manny received a combination of cheers and jeers, while Damon received an almost unanimous chorus of boos (not surprising considering he came back in pinstripes) .
So how do we strike this comparison between the East and West fan bases? It seems as though L.A. fans, though at first happy to see Guerrero back in Angel Stadium, turned those emotions once Vlad went yard. Just like their footwear, California fans may be a tad flip flop-ish. I wonder if Sox fans would have cheered if Nomar smacked a home run as an Athletic. I’m thinking they might have.
In this comparison, my vote goes to the East Coast fans as the most passionate toward their teams, but let’s turn this question to the polls: Which fans reign supreme?
Which U.S. region has most passionate sports fans?survey software
