A Culture of Playing the Underdog

Michael R. Copp, MA, Hon. MIRM

September 2, 2023

I have been a baseball fan since the late 60’s and early 70’s. When I was a kid and if you came to our duplex on a typical Saturday afternoon, you’d find us toiling away at chores to the mellow modulated voices of Curt Gowdy, Ken Coleman and Ned Martin calling play-by-play action on an old AM/ FM radio in the kitchen or a grainy screen on a dingy white VHF/UHF tv in the ‘cellah’.??

And like most New England fans, we always seem to carry a chip on our shoulders when rooting for our beloved Bo-Sox- underdogs who always seemed to pride themselves on playing from behind. Maybe this ethos was born in 1907 when many believed that red-dyed socks could cause infection in wounds inflicted by cleat spikes; and American League owner, Charles Taylor, defiantly renamed the team that would wear, you guessed it …. red socks. Or maybe it was caused by the trade of Babe Ruth and other players to the Yankees by owner Harry Frazee in 1920 as noted by William Pitts (2019). Or perhaps it was the regretful trade of Mookie Betts to the LA Dodgers in 2020. Whatever we tell ourselves, we all feel a bit kicked in the face by fate.?

Yes, I am a fan of the Boston Red Sox- a now cringe-worthy, top five most-valued $4.5B franchise in 2023, according to Forbes. According to Wikipedia, Although Boston first began organized play in 1871 in the National League under several pseudonyms to include the Boston Beaneaters (insert joke here), their American League team became known as the Boston Americans in 1901, before adapting its current name from the Boston Red Stockings (now the Atlanta Braves) and playing in Fenway Park by 1911. Back then, they were dominant with a who’s who of hitters and pitchers; and fielded some of the greatest idols to ever play the game. The team had a winning identity, born from a culture of dominance.?

The Red Sox heralded players, as described by the baseball scholar.com, like Cy Young, Tris Speaker, Smokey Joe Woods, ‘Babe’ Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice, Wade Boggs, Manny Ramirez, Ted Williams, Roger Clemens, and ‘Big Papi’ David Ortiz. A storied history of which to be proud for sure, so why do I feel like I am watching Boston games from under the creepy cover of darkness in a musty coal cellar?

Yes, I am proud to sport my faded navy-blue cap in public despite sneers from Texas diehards. But I can’t help but feel like I am wearing a scarlet letter over my shaded brow for a team that seems to slide into inevitable deficits that in recent seasons are never overcome.? As I scratch my head, I think that there must be greater evolutionary forces at play on a team's ability to consistently put a product on the field that can win. ?Advances in technology, changes in team strategies, and the impact of economics have all played a role in the transformation of baseball from a pastime to a business. And despite statistical expectations indicating that certain teams should dominate, there are clearly instances when they struggle to maintain a winning record.?

The advent of baseball sabermetrics has revolutionized player evaluation and team performance analysis. It has allowed teams to assess individual player contributions more thoroughly, enabling owners and managers to create more well-rounded rosters- or so they think. However, this also means that other teams can easily identify undervalued players, narrowing the gap between top and bottom teams. Consequently, even teams with a significant financial advantage find it more challenging to sustain dominance.?

Changes in team strategies have also contributed to this phenomenon. The era of "Moneyball," popularized by the Oakland Athletics in the early 2000s, emphasized on-base percentage and undervalued skills. This shift in focus forced other teams to adapt, further leveling the playing field. Teams that were once expected to win a majority of their games now face greater competition from those embracing innovative strategies, making it difficult to achieve consistent success. But as the game continues to evolve, some of these innovative approaches are being questioned as once dominant teams now struggle in their division-- like the Oakland As.

The impact of economics in baseball sadly cannot be ignored. Large-market teams like the Red Sox have historically had the fan base and financial means to attract top talent, providing them a competitive edge. However, increased revenue-sharing and luxury tax penalties have served to redistribute wealth across franchises. This allowed smaller-market teams to invest more in player development and retain key players, leading to more balanced competition. As a result, teams that were once considered perennial contenders may struggle to place in the postseason.?

One such example is the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite consistently fielding competitive teams, their modest budget hampered their ability to retain star players or attract marquee free agents, resulting in relatively low payrolls. Nonetheless, their innovative strategies, such as utilizing an "opener" instead of a traditional starting pitcher, have helped them remain competitive as evidenced by their second place AL East standing and 82-53 record going into in September, according to ESPN.

So, as I weep under the cover of darkness, and begrudgingly look past the rest of this baseball season, I can understand why many baseball franchises struggle to win consistently and find themselves playing from behind. That does not mean I like it.? And while statistical expectations may suggest dominance for certain teams, and despite how hard we will our team to win, economic factors do eclipse our enthusiasm for the game, and have made it harder for teams to excel every year.

And while the Red Sox have lost their winning identity, born partly from a culture of playing like underdogs, I know that someday they will rise over their rivals, and once again reclaim the glory of the Boston Americans of 1901.? Or…. more likely, fans will have to accept that baseball is a pastime gone primetime and hence, reluctantly root for whoever the Red Sox puts on the field, boorishly celebrate the wins, and sheepishly lament over the losses-- until the next season begins its bloom amongst the bleachers on Yawkey Way.