The baseball season is just starting out, but the mood among Mets and Yankees fans may already be waning. After trading Cy Young-winning pitcher R.A. Dickey, the Amazin’s are anything but. And with Derek Jeter leading a pinstriped all-star lineup on the disabled list, the Bronx Bombers have turned into the Bronx Bandages. What’s a baseball fan to do?
Luckily, New York is filled with fans from teams all over the country — and a host of bars and pubs to make them feel at home. We found the city’s best bars to cheer on all MLB teams, whether you want to chow down on cheesesteaks and yell for the Phillies at Shorty’s or — dare we say it? — catch a Red Sox game at downtown watering hole Professor Thom’s.
Here’s where to catch baseball fever.
METS’ BIGGEST RIVAL
Philadelphia Phillies
Short’s (576 Ninth Ave.; 212-967-3055)
We don’t generally like to say nice things when Philly and sports are in the same sentence, but we cannot deny a good cheesesteak ($9), nearly 40 beer options, including a Sixpoint Diesel Stout ($7) and a venue that has deep brotherly love for its hometown teams. A Phanatic himself, owner Evan Stein ships cheesesteak rolls in daily from Philly for an extra-authentic taste. Of all the mini-chain’s locations, this one is the place for all things Philadelphia — it’s now swapping out Eagles memorabilia for Phillies gear on the walls to get into the season. If you like to boo — and who doesn’t? — Phillies fans have long been known as boo-birds. So feel free. Cheer on the Philly Phanatic though.
YANKEES’ BIGGEST RIVAL
Boston Red Sox
Professor Thom’s (219 Second Ave.; 212-260-9480)
Years ago, the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees, sparking the Yankees to greatness and putting a curse on the Sox. So there’s no real reason to shun Boston. If you can ignore the signs here that boldly proclaim “Real women don’t date Yankees fans,” you won’t mind partaking in the Boston-related specials on Tuesdays (such as Massachusetts beers, like Harpoon, for just $4).
NATIONAL LEAGUE
2012 World Series winner: San Francisco Giants
Finnerty’s (221 Second Ave.; 212-677-2655)
Whether you’re an expat from San Francisco or became a fan when the Giants topped the Tigers for the championship last season, this East Village bar is for you. Finnerty’s was one of the tour stops for the World Series trophy in January, and the team’s CEO, Larry Baer, stopped in and bought pizza for the house after their 2010 Championship. Finnerty’s also organizes tickets and buses to NYC games when San Francisco is in town — plan for that in September, when the Mets and Yankees play the Giants in back-to-back series. Drink specials include Bud Light bottles and draft, Yuengling draft, PBR tallboys, Coors Light bottles, all $3, and mixed well drinks ($4). And you don’t have to feel guilty rooting for the Giants — they started out in New York.
Cincinnati Reds
Mustang Sally’s (324 Seventh Ave.; 212-695-3806)
This bar announced its allegiance to the Reds two seasons ago, after overwhelming customer requests. You’ll be seeing red in the form of slugger Joey Votto and Co. — on one of 15 screens.
Atlanta Braves
Foley’s Pub and Restaurant (18 W. 33rd St.; 212-290-0080)
One weekend last fall, to honor the last time retiring Atlanta Braves slugger Chipper Jones would play in NYC, Foley’s temporarily changed its name to Chipper’s. “If you’re a true sports fan, you root for your team, but you have to respect greatness,” says owner Shaun Clancy. Since Atlanta has no official NYC home, we’ll deem this memorabilia-laden bar the place for Braves fans. Named for Red Foley, the NYC-based baseball writer and Major League Baseball official scorekeeper, Foley’s is the place to watch at least one game if you’re any kind of baseball fan. “We’re really the home to all baseball teams,” says Clancy. Jones, by the way, named one of his children Shea — after the stadium where he always played so well.
Washington Nationals
121 Fulton street (121 Fulton St.; 646-545-6647)
About a dozen Nats fans congregate weekly at this sleek gastropub to root for the team that finished first in the NL East last year. Mets fans would feel right at home because Davey Johnson, who used to manage their team, is running the Nationals — and doing a fine job.
Miami Marlins
The Gin Mill (442 Amsterdam Ave.; 212-580-9080)
Official home of the Gotham Gators alumni association for more than a decade, this is a well-known destination for Florida fans, including those of the Marlins! (Yes, we know, there aren’t too many, but it’s hard to resist Billy the Marlin, left.)
St. Louis Cardinals
Stumble Inn (1454 Second Ave.; 212-650-0561)
Honoring the request of three guys from St. Louis who now live around the corner, Cardinals games are on the screen here nearly every night. This is how some of these more crowded expat fan bars got their start.
Colorado Rockies
Traffic Bar (701 Ninth Ave.; 212-837-2702)
The president of the University of Colorado alumni association lives down the street from this bar, and you’re always sure to find Rockies fans in the house. In the fall, they serve Boulder beer.
Chicago Cubs
Kelly’s Sports Bar (12 Avenue A; 212-388-1464)
Owner Gerry Doyle — who loves Wrigley Field and feels bad for “a team with a lot of bad luck” — tried to import the Wrigley classic Old Style beer to NYC’s only Cubs bar, but his efforts were blocked by local laws. Still, there’s no law against supporting one of the MLB’s original teams, and the seven TVs here are tuned to the Cubbies. To paraphrase Cubs great Ernie Banks: It’s a beautiful day to watch baseball at a bar. Let’s drink two.
Milwaukee Brewers
Kettle of Fish (59 Christopher St.; 212-414-2278)
Owned by Wisconsin native Patrick Daley since 1999, this bar is the place for Brewers fans who know there’s more to the Brew Crew’s home field Miller Park than the awesome Racing Sausages. Every season there’s Wisconsin brew, too; right now it’s Sprecher — both by draft and bottles ($6).
Pittsburgh Pirates
Hibernia (401 W. 50th St.; 212-969-9703)
Technically a Steelers bar that starts every spring with Pirates fans who peter out, hopes dashed, around July, it’s just like the limited crowds at PNC Park, where the Pirates play.
FOR FANS WITHOUT A HOME BAR
Not every Major League Baseball team is represented in the city by a bar its fans can call home. So here are spots where you should feel free to ask a barkeep to tune in your team. Fans of the Indians, Padres, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Astros and Angels, we’re talking to you!
Mulholland’s (312 Grand St., Williamsburg; 718-486-3473): A sports bar in a not so sporty neighborhood.
Standings Bar (43 E. Seventh St.; 212-420-0671): The folks at Standings have rotating baseball-themed beers — such as Brooklyn Pennant Ale — on tap, and a high tolerance for out-of-towners.
Blondies (212 W. 79th St.; 212-362-4360): With 10 TVs in the bar (and 30 more in its two dining rooms), every fan can find a team to root for here.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Toronto Blue Jays
Tavern 29 (47 E. 29th St.; 212-685-4422)
A favorite spot of an expat Canadians group, this bar will show any Blue Jays game, any time, though maybe not on every TV (hey, this is New York, eh?). Mets fans are allowed to cry in their beers here watching former Mets stars Jose Reyes and R.A. Dickey make the Blue Jays fly this season.
Chicago White Sox
Gael PubUB (1465 Third Ave.; 212-517-4141)
This Bears bar happily caters to off-football-season Chicago sports fans by tuning in to White Sox games — for Southside Chicagoans. Just ask.
Oakland Athletics
Pacific Standard (82 Fourth Ave., Park Slope; 718-858-1951)
Since 2007, Berkeley-grad (and NoCal transplant) proprietors Jonathan Stan and John Rauschenberg have been supporting everything East Bay in Park Slope. Show up in A’s attire for $1 off Sierra Nevadas.
Texas Rangers
Stout NYC (133 W. 33rd St.; 212-629-6191)
A bar for Texas exes (that’s University of Texas alums) with Lone Star beer on the menu, the proprietors are always ready to tune in to pretty much anything with “Texas” in the name.
Baltimore Orioles
Sidebar (118 E. 15th St.; 212-677-2900)
This all-out Ravens bar during football season is also friendly to fans of the other Baltimore bird that landed far from Oriole Park. While the O’s battled the Yankees for the pennant last year, they’ve really only improved because skipper Buck Showalter used to manage the Yanks.
Tampa Bay Rays
Village Pourhouse (64 Third Ave.; 212-979-2337)
This NYU-friendly bar has tuned in to every Rays game since All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria first stopped in for a post-Yankees-game drink in 2006.
Minnesota Twins
The Windsor (234 W. Fourth St.; 212-206-1208)
Chances are high you can catch every Twins game at this upscale sports bar where a Minnesotan manager keeps constant tabs on his team.
Seattle Mariners
Carlow East (1254 Lexington Ave.; 212-650-9118)
Since owner Sean Spratt visited and was seduced by the Emerald City many years ago, Carlow East has been home to NYC-based Seattle fans who cheer star Felix Hernandez.
Detroit Tigers
Cody’s American Bar & Grill (154 Court St., Cobble Hill; 718-852-6115)
Once a base for a few Michigan fans, Cody’s says they show Tigers games because they like to make people happy, and apparently many natives of the Wolverine State live near Cobble Hill. Help celebrate pitcher Justin Verlander’s new $180 million contract here.
IF YOU’RE STICKING WITH THE LOCALS
If you can’t find a Yankees or Mets bar in this town, perhaps you should try leaving your apartment. Of course, most every bar will show each team — on at least one TV. In case you’re new around here, these are two mainstays.
Stan’s (836 River Ave., The Bronx; 718-993-5548)
Some say you haven’t really been to a Yankees game if you haven’t had a beer at Stan’s. You’ll struggle to find a venue full of more energy than this one — you’ll hear it as soon as the subway doors open, releasing you onto River Avenue. It’s loud, and pinstripes proud since 1979. Open on game days, be prepared to sing along with Frank Sinatra — and inebriated fans — on “New York, New York” after Bomber victories.
McFadden’s (36-2 126th Street, Flushing; 718-651-2220)
When Citi Field opened, so did this 13,000-square-foot branch of McFadden’s, which is connected to the outfield side of the ballpark (where there is ticketed entry). It boasts a huge bar, dozens of TVs, and is never without lively pop music to make Mets fandom a nonstop party. Enjoy a $30 game-day deal for a two-hour open bar before home games.