The ultras of European and South American soccer attempt to prove their allegiances with extravagant tifos (well-organized and elaborate visual displays) and non-stop singing, which is not quite as common in the more traditional US sports. Those tactics would not really work in baseball, in particular, where the much longer seasons and ambience of the game itself don’t really offer the same atmosphere.

That’s not to say that baseball fans aren’t great. Philly fans (of all sports) are especially known for their rowdiness, and though you can’t place Vegas bets online backing the fans, there is no doubt that they can help contribute to eventual success. Here are some of our contenders for the title of best fans in baseball.

Los Angeles Dodgers

They have won just about everything in recent times, and now we’re celebrating the fan base too. Don’t you just hate the Dodgers? Things might be going well now for the Dodgers, but the honest truth is that the fans always turned up in their thousands. This is a team that also gets good levels of support on the road.

The multiple World Series wins obviously make it much easier to be a Dodger fan now, but this is a multi-generational fan base that shows its loyalty and wears its heart on its sleeve. There might notionally be another in the vicinity, but there really is only one ball club in Los Angeles.

New York Yankees

Speaking of baseball clubs that are universally hated outside of their own fanbase. The New York Yankees are probably the most-recognized sports team in the world, and it’s not just because of the ubiquitous logo seen everywhere from the South Bronx to the South Seas.

This is another set of fans that have become very used to winning it all, but the loyalty doesn’t seem to waiver even when that success stops. The Yankees will always be the biggest team in New York and have the majority of the fans who live there. That obviously won’t stop the rest of us from booing them incessantly when they come to our town, however.

Philadelphia Phillies

We mentioned them at the start, as you cannot really talk about the most loyal fans in sports without mentioning Philadelphia. Some of their antics might not necessarily be 100% designed to get behind their heroes, but opposing players will always know where they are when they play against the Phillies.

There must be something in the water in Philly, as we don’t think we’ve ever seen a fan of their teams that isn’t completely committed to the cause. They are so all in that if the team falters for any reason, the players get to know it real fast. And if you are measuring “best” by how loud a fanbase is, not many come close to Philly.

Chicago Cubs

You can’t go 108 years without a championship and not be a loyal fan. The Cubs endured a 108-year title drought, and still the fans came flooding back into Wrigley Field in their thousands every season. At some point, it might just have felt like a muscle memory for some, rather than actually believing that the team could win again.

The Cubs finally ended that drought in 2016, of course, rewarding generations of fans for their devotion to the team. There hasn’t been another pennant win since, but still the fans turn up to cheer the team on.

Atlanta Braves

Maybe it’s got something to do with the location of the ball club, but Atlanta Braves fans have consistently proven themselves to be some of the best in the league. The team draws fans from all across the south, not just from Atlanta or even Georgia, and has become something of a local source of pride.

The Braves haven’t always been successful, but the fans have never given up on them through thick and thin. Although Mets fans might disagree, Atlanta fans also have a reputation for friendliness, which shows that being the best doesn’t necessarily mean behaving like you’re from Philadelphia.

St. Louis Cardinals

There was a time when the Cardinals were regular participants in the World Series each year. That enviable postseason record has diminished slightly in recent years, but the St. Louis fans are still widely regarded as some of the most supportive and knowledgeable in the entire MLB.

There is a level of respect for the players – and the history of the ball club – that isn’t found everywhere, and the loyalty of the fans who turn up throughout the season, no matter how the team is doing, is something to behold.