A Dirty Little Fan Secret

The humorist Robert Benchley got it right when he wrote, “One of the chief duties of the fan is to engage in arguments with the man behind him.” Of course, that was in 1922. And while the sight of, say, Mike Trout tracking a fly ball across the outfield doesn’t differ much from what Benchley might have seen in his day, today’s smartphone- and tablet-toting fans can do better than bicker with the guy tossing peanut shells in their hair. It starts with instant access to email, social media and mobile-friendly versions of essential stat and analysis sites like Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs. Go ahead, man behind me—try to convince me that Stephen Strasburg is a better young pitcher than Matt Harvey. In my hand I’ve got a mountain of data—and a few hundred of my closest friends and followers—that say otherwise.

Having mobile technology at the stadium solves another problem. The purist in me is cringing, but there’s a dirty little secret about live baseball: for a student of the game, watching a game on TV is better, and not just because at home the bathroom lines are shorter. At the ballpark, the sight lines aren’t great. Unless you’re sitting directly behind home plate, it’s hard to tell whether the pitcher just threw a curve or a splitter. Unless you’re sitting in the first base coach’s box, it’s impossible to see how badly the ump blew the call on that groundout. Replays are scarce, and stats and other game data are limited to whatever happens to flash up on the Jumbotron.

A smartphone bridges the two worlds, bringing the TV experience to the ballpark. For instance, a user who subscribes to MLB.tv, Major League Baseball’s live game streaming service, can watch the broadcast from his seat. Anyone can log on to MLB.com for near-instant video highlights after key moments.

There’s also an ever-widening array of tools to help the modern fan surpass the TV experience at the ballpark. It starts with At the Ballpark, the iOS and Android app from MLB.com that’s a must-have for any frequent fan. It offers instant access to stats and video highlights, and fans who use the app to check in when they enter the ballpark get offers for ticket upgrades and food and merchandise discounts. The app puts stadium maps in the fan’s hands—no more wandering the concourse looking for a restroom or the garlic fries stand. This season fans at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, Houston’s Minute Maid Park, Arizona’s Chase Field and Miami’s Marlins Park can use the app to order food and have it delivered to their seats, a feature that MLB will gradually add to more parks.

Over time At the Ballpark also becomes a diary of fandom: It keeps a log of ballpark visits and has a photo-sharing function. It keeps users informed on topics beyond pure baseball. Having trouble placing that funky tune Giants ace Tim Lincecum warms up to? Wondering which metal anthem blares at Yankee Stadium whenever closer Mariano Rivera enters the game? The app will tell you—and if you’re using it on an iPhone, let you purchase songs through iTunes. (For the record, it’s MGMT’s “Electric Feel” and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.”)