Study Looks At MLB's "Biggest Bandwagoners," With Philly Fans Leading The Way

Phillies fans are "the most demanding in all of baseball,” but also are "baseball's biggest bandwagoners,” according to an Emory Univ. study cited by Michael Kaskey-Blomain of PHILLY.com. The study “looked at fan attendance in relation to winning percentage to determine just how ‘demanding’ a fan base is of its team,” with data from '98-'13. During the team’s last playoff season in ‘11, the Phillies “ranked first in all of baseball in percentage of seats filled up at the stadium.” That number has “declined in the three seasons since -- all of which have passed without trips to the postseason" (PHILLY.com, 6/13). In Boston, Nick Cafardo noted the study determined Red Sox fans rank 27th in terms of bandwagon fans, meaning they “support the team through thick and thin.” The team with the “fewest bandwagon fans” was the Yankees, followed by the Cardinals, Marlins, Red Sox, D-Backs, and Dodgers. Following the Phillies were the Orioles, A's, White Sox and Tigers (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 6/15).