Well, this is a first...

[Mr. Baseball]

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Jonathan Papelbon hasn’t been a member of the Philadelphia Phillies for very long, but he already notices a difference between Phillies fans and Red Sox fans.

“The difference between Boston and Philadelphia, the Boston fans are a little bit more hysterical when it comes to the game of baseball,” Papelbon said in an interview with 94WIP’s Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team. “The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better, being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played.

I’ve had a guy take off his prosthetic leg and throw it in the bullpen in Boston,” Papelbon said. Even though Red Sox fans can be extreme at times, Papelbon used it to his advantage. “It’s a religion. It’s a way of life. They come to the field and they expect certain things out of players. It’s an environment where you put up or shut up. I enjoyed that. It got my motor running every day.”

More Information: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/03/08/jonathan-papelbon-phillies-fans-more-knowledgeable-than-red-sox-fans/#.T1ju1jKBM9I.twitter

I've always been under the impression that the fans in Philadelphia were among the worst in baseball, and vise-versa in Boston. Although I hate stereotyping an entire city based on the actions of a few supporters, this is what I have been led to believe. These statements could have just as easily been left in his head. I'm sure Red Sox fans won't take kindly to this.

Thoughts?

[runningshoes]

Papelbon doesn't have the brains God gave a duck. Who cares what he says.

[Chitown Champ]

This reminds me of what Cutler said about Broncos fans not being enthusiastic despite a 10 year waiting period for season tickets. These players are probably just bitter and feel like they got betrayed by their old teams. They will eventually realize that unless they back up their talk with good performance, they're just hurting themselves with these outspoken words.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

IMO both Philly fans and Boston fans are very passionate about their teams. Maybe a bit too much at times, but at least they have the spirit that many fair weather fans (yuppies with their expensive seats) in Yankee Stadium are lacking.

Regarding Papelbon, he wants to make himself popular in Philly. IMO he always has been a big mouth. He could be the son of Curt Schilling (also played with the Phillies and Red Sox. Coincidence?)

[Mudge]

If the we are talking about perceptions, and I suspect we are, then I think there is some truth behind the comments. While Boston's baseball fans may be passionate, I would have to venture they are generally lacking in terms of their true knowledge -- and appreciation -- of the game. In that sense, I would have to say that Boston fans are overrated.

Now I must admit that my sample is small: a couple of games a year at Fenway, occasional talk shows, newspapers, etc. Furthermore, I have no experience with Philadelphia, so I cannot comment one way or another on Papelbon's personal observations. In fact, my only comparison with another city is Montreal, and for a variety of reasons that isn't very helpful.

What is probably at the heart of my assessment is that I genuinely believe that fans in general, including those in Boston, are simply less knowledgeable about the game than they used to be. Going to Fenway in the 60's and 70's always ended up being a valuable lesson in how to appreciate the game. Going to Fenway in the 21st century is more often than not a lesson in emerging forms of vulgarity.

I learned how to score a game from a couple of old-timers in the bleachers in the mid 60's. Recently, all I learned from my foray into those same bleachers were new ways of expressing how opposing players could go do something that is anatomically impossible.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Going to Fenway in the 60's and 70's always ended up being a valuable lesson in how to appreciate the game. Going to Fenway in the 21st century is more often than not a lesson in emerging forms of vulgarity.



Welcome to today's society.

[TerryInLA]

IMO both Philly fans and Boston fans are very passionate about their teams. Maybe a bit too much at times, but at least they have the spirit that many fair weather fans (yuppies with their expensive seats) in Yankee Stadium are lacking.

Regarding Papelbon, he wants to make himself popular in Philly. IMO he always has been a big mouth. He could be the son of Curt Schilling (also played with the Phillies and Red Sox. Coincidence?)

Red Sox fans, yes, Phillies fans, never. Phillies fans are mostly fair-weather fans, even when they moved into their new ballpark the place was half empty for many games, I think they'd only made the play offs once in 25 years and nobody watched them, it was only after they began making the post season in 2007 that they began to fill the ballpark with glory hunter fans, back in the 90's they were almost the worst supported team in the whole NL. Cubs fans are the best and most loyal, they usually suck and haven't won a World Series in 104 years but Wrigley Field is 95% - 100% full every single game of every season. Phillies are mainly just bandwagonner fans, any idiot can buy tickets to watch a great winning team.