The Fancestor

Aaron Cameron
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

The Fancestor is a podcast about that will speak to 30 fans from 30 Major League Baseball teams to determine exactly why we are fans. Through interesting conversations, it strives to understand and explain fandom: how we became fans, the moments that tested our fandom and why - at the end of the day - we are still fans.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    Fans of the Milwaukee Brewers

    Laura Hemming, a 30-year season ticket holder for the Milwaukee Brewers, joins the show to talk about her long-standing fandom with the team. Laura began following the Brewers in 1982 during the "Harvey Wallbangers" era and has maintained her season ticket streak since 1996, despite the team's inconsistent performance throughout the decades. They discussed key moments in Brewers history including the 1982 playoff run, the move from the American League to the National League in 1998, and the transition from County Stadium to Miller Park in 2001. Laura shared personal stories about attending games, her family's historical connection to County Stadium, and her deep appreciation for broadcaster Bob Uecker, who recently passed away. The conversation highlighted Laura's philosophy of enjoying the journey of baseball rather than focusing solely on wins and losses, and her commitment to the team through both highs and lows over more than four decades of fandom.

    1h 4m

  2. Jun 24

    Fans of the Los Angeles Angels

    Lifelong Angels fan Dave Wilkins joins the show to discuss his decades-long journey rooting for the "other team" in Southern California.. He shares his memories of attending games since the 1960s, including the team's first division title in 1979, the heartbreak of losing the 1982 ALCS after taking a 2-0 lead, and the devastating 1986 ALCS loss to the Red Sox. Of course, the 2002 World Series victory is covered, as well as more recent history, including Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani's respective legacies in Orange County. And, is the Curse of the Angels real?

    56 min

  3. Jun 17

    Fans of the St. Louis Cardinals

    Lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan Jay Tierney joins the show to discuss his fandom. Jay shares his early memories of following the Cardinals and the impact of players like Ozzie Smith and Mark McGwire on the franchise. Jay addresses the feud between Ozzie Smith and Tony La Russa, the legacy of Mark McGwire in St. Louis, and the current state of the Cardinals' rivalry with the Chicago Cubs. The conversation also touched on the decline in attendance at Busch Stadium in recent years, attributed to the team's performance and ownership decisions. Jay explains his continued love for baseball and the Cardinals, particularly through sharing the experience with his children, and discussed his thoughts on Hall of Fame candidates including Yadier Molina and Salvador Perez.

    49 min

  4. Jun 10

    Fans of Scorekeeping

    Liz Thompson - owner and designer of Diamond Scorecard Designs - joins the show to discuss her passion for baseball scorekeeping. As part of her journey, Liz shares her lifelong connection to baseball, including her work for the Baltimore Orioles and MASN, and discusses how she created her own scorekeeping business. The history of scorekeeping is explored (including sources dating back to the 1890s) as well as the art and benefits of keeping score. Liz goes on to discuss her public presentations on the topic, her scorekeeping experiences as a season ticket holder at Camden Yards, and her research into the evolution of scoring rules. And, Liz defends the bunt!

    44 min

  5. Jun 5

    Fans of all 30 MLB Stadiums

    Russ the Reds Fan joins the show to discuss visiting all 30 Major League Baseball ballparks. Russ details his experiences in each stadium, the challenges he faced, and the strategies he used to plan his trips. Russ ranks the stadiums from best to worst and throughout the conversation, he shares his suggestions and recommendations to make your next cross-country MLB journey a guaranteed good time.

    1h 2m

  6. May 27

    Fans of the New York Mets

    Writer and podcaster Sarah D. Bunting (Extra Hot Great, Television Without Pity, and Tomato Nation) joins the show to discuss her lifelong fandom for the New York Mets. Beginning in September 1985, Sarah shares more than 40 years of memories, including the 1986 World Series championship season and the challenging periods the team experienced in the 1990s and early 2000s. Other topics include the retirement of Gary Carter's #8, managerial musical chairs, the 2006 NLCS and the Mets' award-winning broadcast team. She weaves the story of her fandom through her parents, but, especially her father.

    55 min

  7. May 20

    Fans of the Oakland Ballers

    This week's episode features Dr. Roberto Santiago, a long-time Oakland Athletics fan who has recently stopped following the team due to their relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas. Berto shared his origins as an A's fan, tracing back to childhood games with his father and later taking his own children to games. He discussed his experience with A's Access, the team's innovative season ticket program, and his disappointment with the organization's departure from Oakland after the failed Howard Terminal stadium project. The conversation also covered Berto's current support for the Oakland Ballers, a Pioneer League baseball team, and how he instills Bay Area pride in his transgender children. Throughout the discussion, Roberto emphasized that Oakland's identity extends beyond its sports teams, highlighting the city's rich cultural heritage and welcoming community as reasons for his continued love of the area despite the sports teams' departures.

    1h 8m

  8. May 13

    Fans of the Baltimore Orioles

    Eugene Freedman talks about his lifelong fandom of the Baltimore Orioles. Eugene shared his journey from being a New York Mets fan as a child to becoming an Orioles fan in the 1980s, including his experiences attending games at both Memorial Stadium and Camden Yards. This discussion includes Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken, the impact of the 1990s playoff teams, and the challenges the franchise faced under Peter Angelos' ownership. The conversation also covered the role of baseball's collective bargaining agreement, with Eugene sharing his expertise as a labor relations lawyer regarding potential lockouts and salary cap discussions.

    1h 8m

  9. May 6

    Fans of the Toronto Blue Jays

    Ruth Kapelus - writer, baseball fan and Canada's 8th favorite vegan - joins the show to talk about her journey as a Toronto Blue Jays fan. Ruth, who was born in South Africa and immigrated to Canada as a child, shared how she became a Jays fan during the team's successful 1980s era. They discussed the Blue Jays' back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993, with particular focus on manager Cito Gaston's Hall of Fame credentials. The conversation explored Ruth's evolution as a fan, including how she learned to separate her emotional investment from her personal identity, and her current approach to enjoying baseball while maintaining perspective.

    1h 2m

  10. Apr 29

    Fans of the Chicago White Sox

    Chrystal O'Keefe, a prominent Chicago White Sox fan and writer for Southside Sox, shared her journey from being a lifelong Cubs fan to converting to the White Sox, primarily influenced by her husband and the team's 2005 World Series victory. She discussed the challenges she faced as a female baseball fan, including the lack of representation and the harassment she experienced while writing about domestic violence in Major League Baseball. Chrystal also described her protest against pitcher Mike Clevinger by donating to domestic violence charities every time he pitched, which inspired others to join her cause.

    47 min

  11. Apr 19

    Fans of the Athletics

    The premiere episode of the Fancestor podcast - hosted by Aaron Cameron - features Garret Heinrich, a long-time Athletics fan, discussing his journey with the A's and the team's recent relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas. Garrett shares his early memories attending games with his father at the Coliseum, his favorite players, and his perspective on the Bash Brothers era of the 1980s. The conversation covers the debate around retiring player numbers, particularly for Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, as well as Garrett's personal story of attending the final game at the Oakland Coliseum, involving a 2,000 mile journey from Texas. The two also discuss the fan response to the team's relocation, including the "Sell"  movement, and Garrett's decision to continue supporting the team even in their new home in Las Vegas.

    56 min
  • 11 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Fancestor is a podcast about that will speak to 30 fans from 30 Major League Baseball teams to determine exactly why we are fans. Through interesting conversations, it strives to understand and explain fandom: how we became fans, the moments that tested our fandom and why - at the end of the day - we are still fans.

Information

  • Creator
    Aaron Cameron
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Aaron Cameron
  • Show Website
    The Fancestor

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