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Jul 1, 2011 - This weekend's interleague slate includes five of the "natural rivalries," which gives us a good excuse to rank them. So here they are, from worst to first (with series wins in parentheses) ...
10. Florida Marlins (42) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (37)
Somewhere in the Sunshine State, at this very moment, there is a 10-year-old boy (or girl!) who is eagerly awaiting the release of the 2012 schedule, so he can mark those six days on his calendar when the Marlins and the Rays will meet once again to renew their intense (in our 10-year-old's mind) rivalry. If you know this boy (or girl!), please send me his Twitter handle. I want to hire the kid.
9. Twins (36) vs. Brewers (31)
Yes, there is a rivalry. At least I believe there is. It's not Vikings vs. Packers, but the Minnesota-Wisconsin border is long and Madison doesn't feel far from the Twin Cities.
8. Baltimore Orioles (19) vs. Washington Nationals (17)
Regrettably, this rivalry essentially replaced Blue Jays vs. Expos, which was a battle for the hearts of the second-largest country in the world. Granted, there's something to be said for the icy hearts of the Beltway, too. But this rivalry's just too new and the teams too unsuccessful to rank any higher than this.
7. Texas Rangers (37) vs. Houston Astros (29)
This one should be more intense than it is, particularly given the different characters of the two cities, only four hours apart (or three, if you drive like a real Texan). Then again, maybe the rivalry is downplayed because secession necessitates solidarity. Or maybe Rangers and Astros just need to play more often.
6. Cleveland Indians (37) vs. Cincinnati Reds (35)
It's real, and it might even be fantastic if you're an Ohioan. But perhaps because the Indians and Reds haven't played in a World Series, this story winds up in the same place as most stories from Flyover Land: neglected if not completely forgotten.
5. Orange County Angels (48) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (35)
All the better because the Angels actually called Dodger Stadium their home from 1962 through '65. Also, they called themselves the Los Angeles Angels from '61 through '64, took the name California Angels in '65, and called Dodger Stadium "Chavez Ravine" before moving to Anaheim in '66. The Angels have been in their current home since then, but did become the "Anaheim Angels" in 1997. Got all that? Good. Now stop, because everything that's happened in the last six years is an affront to right-thinking humanity.
4. St. Louis Cardinals (38) vs. Kansas City Royals (28)
Most of these franchises' respective fans are good-natured, but the rivalry is certainly heart-felt. Older fans from around the state grew up listening to the Cardinals on KMOX; younger fans grew up with the expansion Royals, and came to love them in the 1970s and '80s (when they were good). The issue finally came to a head in 1985 when the Royals beat the Cardinals in the World Series, and to this day hundreds of Cardinals-friendly taverns have this photo hanging on their walls.
3. Oakland Athletics (45) vs. San Francisco Giants (41)
Bonus points for the 1989 World Series, and more bonus points for being able to literally see one ballpark from the other. In the old days, the Giants could see the Yankees from across the Harlem River. But that was a long time ago.
2. New York Yankees (47) vs. New York Mets (34)
It's too bad this series hasn't been more even, in which case the abject passion of the New York baseball fans might push this rivalry to No. 1. Or perhaps if the last Subway Series weren't now 11 years ago.
1. Chicago White Sox (43) vs. Chicago Cubs (38)
It doesn't get any better than this. South Side vs. North Side. New Comiskey Park vs. Old Wrigley Field. Robert Taylor Homes vs. Wrigleyville. What makes this one all the better is the closeness of the series, over the years. The only thing missing is a Chicagoland World Series. Maybe next year ...
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Comments
Twins/Brewers is a strange rivalry
Each city/state has plenty of the other team’s fans already living there, and plenty of fans from each team are willing to travel to the other’s ballpark. That being said, I’m a Twins fan, and I tend to cheer for the Brewers the rest of the year, just not when we are playing them. I want to beat them, but once we are past that, I want them to win, too. I think that is a fairly common opinion in the area.
One of the random realignment plans I saw had put the two teams in the same division. I would love that, and it would be a great natural rivalry that would definitely heat up with more important games being played against each other. Currently, though, it might be the most friendly rivalry in sports.
by collinwho on Jul 1, 2011 4:17 PM EDT reply actions
I just went to a Twins/Brewers game this last weekend in Milwaukee
and as a fan of a completely different team, I was floored by the amount of regional interest. And you’re right, it is a strange rivalry. My hotel seemed packed with Twins fans from Minnesota, their caravans were all along the interstate from Wisconsin Dells into Milwaukee on Friday and the tailgate parties outside Miller Park seemed to have distinct tables for the fans of the two teams as though it was a college football game. Yet, at the same time, it was so friendly, as the sections for Twins fans were right next to the Brewers fans, and there didn’t seem to be any of the animosity you have with most other baseball rivalries.
by Rox Girl on Jul 2, 2011 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't understand why more attention isn't paid to the Natural rivalry of Mariners/Padres.
There is so much hatred and loathing between these two teams that I just don’t see how it was skipped.
by joof on Jul 1, 2011 5:36 PM EDT reply actions 8 recs
Yes, two cities with so much in common: climate, geographic proximity, loud in-your-face passion
That reached a boiling point when Seattle pushed things a bit too far by banning fruity alcoholic drinks and incensed San Diegans responded with the now-legendary Burning of the Subarus
by J0SER on Jul 1, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
Personally, wouldn't a Mariners/brewers match up be more fitting?
I mean, the brewers still use the Pilots uniform colors!!
by Robert Praetor on Jul 1, 2011 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions
The Legacy Diaspora will never forget.
Proud father of Barry Bonds.
by Sabertooth on Jul 2, 2011 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Why the Sunshine State jab?
As a lifelong Marlins fan (I’m in my early 20’s) who now lives in Tampa the passion and distaste between the two fanbases is intense. The three games that the Marlins play at the Trop are circled on my calendar each year and many fan groups organize buses to go to the opposing city for these games.
Even though both groups of fans are small in sheer numbers, we are rabid and there is a bitter rivalry between the two teams for the Citrus Series.
Cardinals-Royals doesn’t even have a wikipedia entry for it (all other series listed do except twins/brewers), talk about your Royals homerism showing through.
by two fishsticks on Jul 1, 2011 7:06 PM EDT reply actions
I agree with everything here
A few years older but yes, Rays fans do make it a point to show up and beat the Marlins.
There is a Twitter | The website is MOCKSESSION
by Bubbaprog on Jul 1, 2011 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions
They have fans in Florida?
How can there be a rivalry when both teams cannot even fill a section of their stadium, let alone sell out a game. The state supports their teams so well the Rays fondest wish is to get the heck out of there.
by Jael31 on Jul 3, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
As a KC Fan...
I can tell you the I75 rivalry is pretty serious. I still remember all the 85 World Series coverage showing fans of both teams living in the same house with tape down the middle of rooms to keep each other on their side.
But truthfully I am against any talk of regional realignment. One of the things that makes the rivalries great are the differences in how they play the game. AL vs NL (DH vs no DH). The fact that they play less often makes those few series’ more special.
by Still Royal on Jul 5, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Hard to believe you didn't rank the Mets and Yankees #1
Went to the game at Citi tonight and there were damn near as many, if not more, Yankees fans in the seats as there were Mets fans. All I heard tonight was “Let’s go Yankees” followed by “Yankees suck!”. Yankees fans are goons. If baseball was played in the winter it would’ve been them that threw snowballs at Santa first.
by JaySchu on Jul 2, 2011 12:21 AM EDT reply actions
Marlins vs. Rays
I’ll grant the point that there’s some passion there. Does it show up in the attendance figures, though? Show me some numbers and I might move that one up a spot or two…
by Rob Neyer on Jul 2, 2011 2:05 AM EDT reply actions
But the White Sox played (and beat) the Cubs in the '06 World Series
1906 that is. So recent.
by ObsidianXIII on Jul 2, 2011 2:41 AM EDT reply actions
Oh shock another lame crack at the Angels name
Real cutting edge material
Jeff Mathis Batting Average Watch: .187
by ryanfea on Jul 2, 2011 4:16 AM EDT reply actions
Arte made $20 million per season more with that name
straight from FSN West.
Laughing at your joke all the way to the bank.
by Rev Halofan on Jul 2, 2011 4:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Braves-Red Sox?
There used to be one more “natural rivalry”, the (Boston) Braves and Boston Red Sox, but the Sox cried and whined sufficiently enough to Bud about having to play those mean old, nasty Braves while the Yanks got to play the doormat Mets.
Naturally, Bud caved and “poof”, rivalry ended…
by NATE1138 on Jul 2, 2011 12:38 PM EDT reply actions
No Pirates - Indians
two cities that hate each other and are about two hours apart. how did that not make it
Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Lloyd, Andy Russell, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Andre Reed and Jerry Kramer
Remember that long road once more, then kiss it...kiss it goodbye
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan
by WVPiratesfan on Jul 2, 2011 2:26 PM EDT reply actions
Because everyone hates Pittsburgh
by Still Royal on Jul 5, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
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