Dear Royal Fans,
We understand you won the World Series last year, but the Cardinals have won 11 World Series, and I am not sure about you, but I prefer consistency rather than a world championship once every 30 years. I've been to Kaufmann when the going was tough, and it wasn't pretty. 10,000 or maybe 15,000 fans on a good night back when the Royals were sitting at the bottom of the division for what seemed to be eternity. Busch Stadium seems to sell out almost every night, and I'm not sure what it's like to sit at the bottom of the division since the Cardinals have not finished in last place since 1990. It's not that we're upset you won the World Series in 2015, it's that you believe your organization is more desirable than the Cardinals.
The Cardinals have a rich tradition, winning 11 world series titles, sitting in second place for most World Series titles just behind the historic Yankees. No matter how the season is going, fans show up. The Cardinals haven't had less than 2.6 million fans show up to a year's worth of game since 1997, while the Royals have had more than two million fans show up twice. Those years are 1991, and I bet you can guess, 2015. Once again, this is not an attack on Royals fans, but rather a wake up call when I hear, "We are the greatest sports city in the country!" because that is just straight blasphemy. Sometimes I feel spoiled that I grew up with what is a great baseball club, but I am more grateful now that I attend a school that is away from St. Louis and get to see just how great Cardinals baseball fans are.
It doesn't hurt that one of the greatest moments in baseball, coming in the 2011 World Series, happened to be by a Cardinals player—not only that, but a St. Louis native born and raised. Every knowledgable sports fan can recall when David Freese hit a solo home run to center field to send the World Series to a game seven along with Joe Buck's infamous call, "We will see you tomorrow night!" Rich tradition, a great minor league system, and playing the game the right way have drawn fans to Busch Stadium for years.
I understand that a World Series title every 30 years is exciting, but only showing up when a team is good is sort of like being friends with someone who is rich just because they have a nice house or will take you on vacation. It's all exciting in the moment, but is never eternally satisfying. Just like the famous quote, "You have to enjoy the lows to get the highs," Royals fans, enjoy the highs because you may disappear when the lows return.
Sincerely,
Cardinals Fans Everywhere
