Original 16 Teams vs. Expansion Eras

[Valadius]

The argument has been made that one should root for one of the original 16 teams over the 14 expansion teams. But with expansion baseball in its 45th year, maybe it's time to broaden one's mind to accept some of the expansion teams.

Here are the original teams as they are now:

National League

Atlanta Braves
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
Los Angeles Dodgers
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals
San Francisco Giants

American League

Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Detroit Tigers
Minnesota Twins
New York Yankees
Oakland Athletics

But since the expansion era began, the following teams have been added (as they are now):

1961

Los Angeles Angels
Texas Rangers

1962

Houston Astros
New York Mets

1969

Kansas City Royals
Milwaukee Brewers
San Diego Padres
Washington Nationals

1977

Seattle Mariners
Toronto Blue Jays

1993

Colorado Rockies
Florida Marlins

1998

Arizona Diamondbacks
Tampa Bay Devil Rays

I think you could find a suitable cutoff date in there if you wished.

[metirish]

]The argument has been made that one should root for one of the original 16 teams over the 14 expansion teams

Val I know of no such argument, if the Mets were not here I would probably be a Dodgers or Giants fan I would hope..

[Guest Edgy DC]

Perhaps this post belonged in the thread where the argument was made.

[Guest sharpie]

Hard for a Mets fan to make that argument. 'Specially in '86.

[Valadius]

Sorry... I tend to go off on a rant sometimes...

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

From my perspective, there aren't 16 original teams remaining.

I see the Boston Red Sox as an original team, but not the Atlanta Braves. Moving from Boston to Milwaukee gave them a new identity, even though they're still the same franchise.

By my definition, these are the original teams:

National League
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals

American League
Boston Red Sox
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Detroit Tigers
New York Yankees

[Theoldmole]

I didn't say "one should," I just said that I did, in the absence of any other rooting interest.

If you want a "one should," one should always root against the designated hitter.

[Guest SwitchHitter]

TheOldMole wrote: If you want a "one should," one should always root against the designated hitter.

Indeed.

[Frayed Knot]

="Yancy Street Gang"] By my definition, these are the original teams: National League Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals American League Boston Red Sox Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers New York Yankees

Yanx moved from Baltimore in 1904, ergo not original.
Friggin' newbies!

[Centerfield]

Holy crap. Never knew that. Thanks FK.

[Theoldmole]

And after all that, I find myself rooting inexplicably for the Angels. Maybe because they have more Molinas behind the plate than any other team.

[Frayed Knot]

Centerfield wrote: Holy crap. Never knew that. Thanks FK.

That's because the MFYs like to pretend that their history didn't begin until 1921.

[G-Fafif]

We're sending our love down the well to all the expansion teams, even the Astros.

http://www.gothambaseball.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6765

[MFS62]

TheOldMole wrote: If you want a "one should," one should always root against the designated hitter.

Amen!

And can we get an Amen from the congregation?

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

I fear that may mean rooting against Piazza next season.

But rooting against the idea of the DH (which is what is really meant here) means rooting against the rule that looks to be taking him away. So yeah. Boo, DH.

[Theoldmole]

I'd never root against Mike.