The team could have traded Brooks after 1964, probably for a haul as the MVP, most RBIs in the league, and best fielder in the game. Probably 99.99% of O's fans would have remained O's fans. Maybe '66 and '70 go the same way, let's say they made a good trade so assume they do. So no one would be worse off and everything would be basically the same, to Chris. Maybe it's even better, depending on the trade.
I didn't live through that time, but I would be really shocked if anyone who did, who could look back and see both outcomes, would be ok with that. Older relatives spoke reverently of him, yes even casual baseball fans. The outpouring of support I've seen this week is amazing for someone who last played close to 50 years ago. It's just obvious that this man meant a lot to the Baltimore community. If he plays the last 10+ years of his career on the Cardinals you very likely lose all that.
The game has changed, so you basically expect everyone to leave within 6 years. You have to be ok with that, or you can't really be a fan. Just about every team extends some guys, but just by the percentages your favorite player will probably be elsewhere in 5 years. The Adam Jones 10 year guy is the exception. We all hated the Adam Wainwright game, but I bet his career was pretty cool for Cards fans. But anyway, being ok with it is far different than actively rooting for it. To talk about wanting to get rid of Adley, before he's even finished his first full year on the roster, it's just so weird to me. You're saying I don't want what I've just seen with Brooks. No, not everyone is going to be like Brooks or even Adam Jones. It's probably unlikely Adley becomes the new Mr. Oriole. But if you trade everyone after 3-4 years then unlikely becomes impossible. I am loathe to tell anyone how to fan, but I will just say I can't understand it, I can't understand giving that no value.
I wish we'd had Frank for 20 years, even though I never saw a game of his. Yes, I wish we still had Manny, a lot of people hated him by the end but I wasn't one. I wish Mussina stayed. Eddie Murray was my favorite player growing up, I wish he wasn't traded. Of course I remained a fan of the team when all those guys left, but I don't see that as some kind of check and mate. Just because it was fine doesn't mean it couldn't have been better. It would have been nice to root for them their whole careers, just like for my parents' generation it was no doubt nicer getting to root for over 20 years of Brooks.
If the team has like 80% turnover in the next few years, I'll live with it. I can respect 2035 and Mike saying they'd leave. I imagine I'll still be a fan, I've been a fan for 40 years, what am I going to do watch the Nats? But my experience will, IMO, be richer if a bunch of these guys I followed in the minors who gave me some hope and excitement during the years the team sucked, that were directly part of this turnaround and caused this fun season, continue to be on the team for 10+ years. Ultimately I will root for the laundry, but I don't think that's some gotcha. No player is bigger than the team, teams and fans always move on, but the people matter too, it's an enhancement as people said. Just because it's fine doesn't mean it can't be better. If we somehow just got 26 new free agents and won I'm sure it would still be great, but it would sure feel strange I think. It would have been a better experience, to me, to root for not just the team I liked but also for the players that I've grown to like.
