Pandering to fans of the local sports teams is a classic page from the politician’s unwritten rulebook. Sometimes it’s genuine; many civic leaders grow up with a heartfelt attachment to their local teams and are happy to display their fandom in public. Other times the gesture comes off as insincere.
In New York City, it’s rare to find fans of both the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. The two local Major League Baseball teams play in different boroughs and have vastly different traditions and folklore. It’s rare to see someone wear both hats — let alone a hat with both logos.
That didn’t stop New York City Mayor Eric Adams from wearing a one-of-a-kind Mets/Yankees hat Monday at the city’s Columbus Day parade.
Suffice it to say, the Mets x Yankees cap will not be a popular fashion item among anyone watching the Yankees play the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series, or the Mets play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Both series are ongoing this week.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 10: New York City Mayor Eric Adams throws the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on May 10, 2022 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 6-5. Adams wore a controversial Mets/Yankees hat Monday.
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
The possibility of celebrating an all-New York World Series was perhaps too much for the mayor to pass up in his latest photo op. But, as the replies to New York Post reporter Craig McCarthy’s post on his Twitter/X account, it didn’t go over well.
“Umm” was McCarthy’s caption to the post.
The replies were more decisive.
“How To Make Yourself Even More Hateable: A Concise Guide To Pandering” – by Eric Adams,” wrote Twitter/X user Joshua Robert.
“How To Make Yourself Even More Hateable: A Concise Guide To Pandering” – by Eric Adams
— Joshua Robert (@JoshuaRobert56) October 14, 2024
“This actually makes sense if this ends up being a NYC subway World series,” wrote user Pot Dent. “That said, I can’t imagine anyone licensed made that hat legally.”
This actually makes sense if this ends up being a NYC subway World series. That said, I can’t imagine anyone licensed made that hat legally.
— Pot Dent (@dentedcover) October 14, 2024
“The audience cringes at Adams trying to *play popular—> with his hat,” wrote user AcidKatSullivan.
“Superseding indictment now,” wrote Twitter/X user Ann Buckley.
The quandary facing Adams is special. New York and Chicago are the only MLB cities that can claim two teams, making the usually straightforward exercise of pandering to local fans more difficult.
What’s comical is the premise that playing one side would cost a mayor votes, or that playing both sides would earn them support among both Yankees and Mets fans. Loyalty to sports teams is not important as prerequisite for voters compared to the candidate’s public policy positions.
Leave it to fans on social media to point this out in the funniest ways possible.
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