KC Royals snubbed in 2020 FanSided 250
The KC Royals fandom seems to be well intact, but they failed to be noticed for the FanSided 250 in 2020 after being included for 2019.
It’s the time of the year for the FanSided 250. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s a ranking of the top 250 Fandoms for the year put out by FanSided. To determine the ranking, the FanSided team takes nominations, and uses things like fanbase, social media, and search score to determine which fandoms make it in the top 250. Of course, for many of our Kings of Kauffman fans, the first thought is likely where the KC Royals fandom rank.
Unfortunately, for 2020, the answer is that they don’t rank in the top 250. This isn’t the first time the Royals weren’t included, though. In 2018, our beloved boys in blue were also left off the list.
In 2017 and 2019, they held their place among the top 200 both times. In 2017, the Royals ranked 183 overall and 8th out of the 10 MLB teams included. In 2019, the Royals again found a spot at 193, sitting at 12th out of the 16 teams included.
In 2020, FanSided saw it’s largest number of MLB teams at 21. Three of the Royals American League Central rivals fandoms were included, the Cleveland Indians (122), Minnesota Twins (71), and the Chicago White Sox (63).
Even the Astros who have been under a large amount of scrutiny found their way onto the list at 118. Us Royals fans, though, were unfortunately left out of the equation this time.
It’s interesting to think that after a 2019 season in which the Royals lost 103 with little excitement for fans, aside from maybe Jorge Soler and Whit Merrifield, the fandom found it’s way into the top 200.
In 2020 though, with a better showing, an unforeseen resurgence from the bullpen, and a push for the youth movement with exciting prospects like Brady Singer and Kris Bubic, the fandom was unable to stake their claim on a spot in the FanSided 250.
If Royals fans want to find some claim on the 250, they can look towards a member of the ownership group Patrick Mahomes who was ranked second overall. It’s unfortunately still not the same.
Still, it feels that in a year with the most MLB teams included and where Kansas City fans had some fun and excitement with the youth movement, their fandom was snubbed of a rank in the FanSided 250.
Hold onto that feeling and use it as fuel for 2021. As fans, lets help push the Royals fandom above and beyond others in baseball, and make sure everyone knows we are here to stay.
The KC Royals fandom didn’t make it onto the FanSided 250 for 2020. While it feels like a snub, fans should look towards 2021 as a year to bring back the fire for the team we love.