Women and Baseball

gocubs:

Help David and Kim DeJesus fight Lou Gehrig’s disease on November 12th!

CONTESTANT #53. FEMALE FAN.

NAME: JESSICA “DUCKIE” WILLIAMS

TEAM: HOUSTON ASTROS

THE STORY OF HER FANHOOD: ”I was born into a baseball family that spans generations with my grandfather being a life-long Dodgers fan, my mother being both a Dodgers and Astros fan, and my aunt being a Marlins fan. Admittedly I did not become a score keeper until more recent, but I’ve always been fond of baseball, the Astros, and the Astrodome since as far back as I could remember. It’s always held a sense of marvel and a camaraderie that is inspiring and unlike anything I’ve ever seen elsewhere. As a youth I played softball and practically swam in my Jeff Bagwell jersey. As a teen I was part of a group that did a presentation on women’s roles during World War II including the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for the local history fair. And as a young adult I am an avid supporter of my boys, both current and former, attending as many games as possible (while still swimming in my Jeff Bagwell jersey)!”

WHY SHE’S THE ULTIMATE FAN: ”Firstly, I’m an Astros fan! As our seasons have been, sticking up for them shows my dedication. Mom and I make an annual trip for a week of Spring Training as a fun way to bond! I try to photograph every park I visit and draw players at the games. I’m in the habit of drawing Astros for posters and they love them! This season I filled out over 8,800 All-Star ballots! As the Astros’ move to the AL, we went to Wrigley to see their very last game in the NL. I will follow them through thick and thin.”

VOTING BEGINS AT 9:00 PM TONIGHT!!! We will post the survey. Tell your friends to vote. Tell your friends to tell their friends. These ladies really laid their hearts down on the line and we appreciate getting to read all of their beautiful baseball stories. THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE LADIES WHO ENTERED!

Today MIGHT be the last day to enter our CONTEST for Best Female Baseball Fan of 2012! Don’t miss out!

CONTESTANT #52. FEMALE FAN.

NAME: JESSICA CHAHANOVICH

TEAM: BOSTON RED SOX

CONTESTANT #51. FEMALE FAN.

NAME: EMILY LASNIER

TEAM: SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

THE STORY OF HER FANHOOD: “I was born a Giants fan.  There is a photo of me as an infant in Giants gear, laying next to a glove.  Not only am I a life long Giants fan, but I’m a third generation fan. My paternal grandmother was a huge New York Giants fan, but then a year after my dad was born, their family moved to San Francisco.  Three years later, the Giants followed suit.  We always joked that the team had to be with their biggest fan.  For my grandma’s 75th birthday we rented a box for a game.  Lou Seal (the Giants mascot) came to visit, my cousin was a junior announcer, it was great.  But while most of my cousins enjoyed the food and the 49ers game on TV, I had my nose pressed to the glass, absorbing as much of the game as possible.  My grandma passed away a year later, and we have a memorial brick outside of AT&T park for her.  I was only 10, so I didn’t know her as much as I would’ve liked, but everyone says I take after her, Giants obsession included.

Although I grew up in Santa Cruz, which is 75 miles south of San Francisco, my family always made it to at least one or two games at Candlestick every year.  We have several Croix de Candlestick pins (awarded to fans who stayed the whole game for extra innings in the very cold Candlestick Park).  I was distraught when the Giants moved from Candlestick, but ended up loving what was then known as Pac Bell Park.  But the first game I went to there, at age 11, I found out the the heavily advertised slides closed after the 7th inning.  What?  But I was there to watch the game!  I never did use those slides.

Though my love for the Giants has never been truly tested, but it did get more difficult when I moved to LA for college (and stayed after I graduated). I cancelled plans whenever the Giants played the Dodgers, the only time the games were on TV. I kept track online until I finally saved enough money for an MLB.tv account.  The 2010 playoffs were probably the best few weeks of my life.  Words do not describe those feelings.

Most importantly, baseball and the Giants is how I relate to my brother (seen in the above picture).  We’re almost 8 years apart, so it’s difficult to find things in common.  He’s almost 30, married, with one kid and another on the way.  He lives in East Bay and works as a teacher. I’m 22, living in a crappy apartment in LA and working at a bakery.  We really don’t have a lot to talk about. But we have the Giants, and we always will.”

WHY SHE’S THE ULTIMATE FAN: “Maybe I don’t have season tickets, maybe I’ve never met a player, but that’s a financial thing, and I don’t think it makes me less of a fan.  I’ve been a Giants fan my whole life, and I’ve remained just as big of a fan even while living in enemy territory.  Whenever the Giants are in the LA area, I always make it to at least one game per series, and I’m not afraid to be decked out in Giants gear at Dodger Stadium. Even if I spend the rest of my life in LA, I’ll never convert.”