| It's true that football, basketball and hockey have their | | | | in 1961 and 1962, they lost the Fall Classic the next two |
| fans, but the sports year begins in February and ends | | | | years. Then the bottom fell out. They finished close to |
| in October - preferably the end of October. And even | | | | the bottom or last for the rest of the decade, as the |
| during the other three and a half months, the hot stove | | | | team aged and the mighty farm system went barren. |
| league consumes the city's consciousness, even | | | | That gave the Amazing Mets a chance to take the |
| eclipsing the Jets and Giants playoff runs. | | | | city. And in 1969 they won the World Series against |
| This love for the game of baseball dates all the ways | | | | insurmountable odds. Led by young pitchers like Tom |
| back to the 19th century as baseball was played | | | | Seaver and Jerry Koosman, the Miracle Mets won |
| throughout New York in its earliest forms. The birth of | | | | their first the Series 4-1 over the Baltimore Orioles. |
| the National League in 1876 eventually brought the city | | | | They stayed in contention for the next seven years, |
| the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants and | | | | but never got back to the top. |
| when the American League set up shop in 1901, the | | | | The Yankees resurged after George Steinbrenner |
| New York Yankees soon set up shop. | | | | bought the team and through free agency built the |
| Rooting for a baseball team in New York wasn't about | | | | 1977 and 1978 champs. But the Boss's hands on |
| what team was better, it was an absolute birthright. | | | | approach eventually cost those Bombers due to too |
| People were born into a fan base and there was no | | | | many bad moves. |
| switching side. As the Yankees established | | | | As the Yankees went down, the Mets came back |
| themselves, their fans came from the Bronx and also | | | | and in 1986 won the Series again, beating the Boston |
| attracted the corporate visitor and tourists. | | | | Red Sox in seven games. Much like the team of a |
| The Dodgers and Giants were different. Working | | | | generation before, these Mets were competitive until |
| class, blue collar fans in the first half of the 20th | | | | 1991, but never won the big game. |
| century tended to back one of the two National | | | | But like before, when the Mets faded, the Yankees |
| League teams. Giant fans were generally from | | | | came to the forefront. This time winning four crowns in |
| Manhattan, while the city's largest borough had their | | | | five years (1996, 1998-2000). Unlike past teams, these |
| beloved Dodgers. Much like the class system of the | | | | Bombers were built from within, while cheery-picking |
| early 19th century, which broke down people by | | | | the other talent through free agency and trades. Led |
| nationality and religion, New Yorkers were identified | | | | by future Hall of Famers Derek Jeter and Mariano |
| with the teams they followed. | | | | Rivera, the Bombers remain a force in the American |
| The best example of that came in 1951, where the | | | | League. |
| Dodgers and Giants finished tied after the 154 game | | | | The Mets enjoyed a resurgence in 1999 under |
| season. A three game playoff was ordered by the | | | | controversial manager Bobby Valentine and catcher |
| National League, which culminated with "The Shot | | | | Mike Piazza. They even went to the Series in 2000, |
| Heard Around the World" by Giants' Bobby Thompson. | | | | only to lose to the cross town Yankees. Then, after |
| Fans fought with each other and until this day old | | | | five years of mediocrity, the Mets came back in 2006 |
| Brooklyn Dodger fans still feel the pain. | | | | behind young stars David Wright and Jose Reyes and |
| After the Giant win, they proceeded to be swept by | | | | were one strike away from the World Series, losing to |
| the Yankees, who had a young and talented Mickey | | | | the eventual champion St. Louis Cardinals in seven |
| Mantle in the outfield. | | | | games. |
| The Dodgers had their day in 1955, giving Brooklyn their | | | | What makes baseball in New York unique these days |
| only championship, but the days of the Boys of | | | | is the rivalry between the Mets and Yankees. The |
| Summer ended two years later when the Bums and | | | | teams didn't play each other in non-exhibition games |
| Giants upped and left for the West Coast. | | | | until 1997 and the Subway Series is the highlight of |
| With only one team in town, the fans of the Dodgers | | | | every season. Both Shea and Yankee Stadiums get a |
| and Giants left behind did not back the Yankees, | | | | mixed but behaved crowd when the two teams play |
| rather they followed their teams from afar or stopped | | | | each other. As both the Met and Yankee fans root for |
| watching all together. Only when the New York Mets | | | | their teams, you can hear chants for both clubs back |
| were formed in 1962, did these spurned New Yorkers | | | | and forth for all nine innings. |
| find a team. | | | | And that's unlike any other sport in the city. Hockey |
| Much like the their predecessors, the Amazins' quickly | | | | games tend to have more violent outbursts in the |
| established themselves as a people's team. Although | | | | stands, while games between the Knicks and Nets |
| they were inept, fans flocked to the old Polo Grounds | | | | and Jets vs. Giants matches could be played |
| - and eventually Shea Stadium - to watch the Mets | | | | anywhere, since the intensity just isn't there in |
| and root against the Dodgers and Giants when they | | | | comparison. |
| came into town. | | | | And that's why New York, first and foremost, is a |
| The Yankees, meanwhile, just kept winning. Champions | | | | baseball town. |