My Rooting interests for the AL and NL championships

To demonstrate that I bear no animus toward New York City, I hereby declare my rooting interest in baseball’s American and National league championship series, gateway to the World Series.

Anyone who knows me even passingly should not be surprised that I am pulling for the Guardians, the pride of my hometown, Cleveland. They are facing their long-time rivals in the Yankees, a team they’ve faced thousands of times since the New York franchise joined the American League in 1903.

The Cleveland franchise was a charter member when the AL started in 1901. As a fifth-generation native of Northeastern Ohio, I am genetically encoded to root for the Guardians and, therefore, against the Yankees.

Especially the Yankees, as they have tormented the former Tribe over the decades. I was surprised to find that in the post-season, the Bronx Bombers have a 15-12 record against Cleveland, closer than I believed.

For the National League championship, I’m pulling for New York’s expansion team, the Mets. Yes, the same Mets who knocked out the Phillies, the team I’ve favored and followed since moving to the Philadelphia outskirts in central New Jersey 12 years ago.

This is not just a matter of rooting for the Mets. I have a venomous well of anti-Dodger sentiment that steeped and strengthened during the 13 years I lived in Northern California.

I have a Mets baseball cap that I wear occasionally (although not anywhere near Citizens Bank Park!) and I still have a Yankees cap that I wear once in a while. I once had a Dodgers cap, but only for a few hours. It was part of a swag bag at a conference in Los Angeles, and I gave the cap away at first opportunity.

I’ve been waiting my whole life for a Cleveland victory in the World Series, and, as with my optimistic frame of mind every April, I’m hoping this is the year. 🧢