Philadelphia Phillies lead the way in fickle fans

Never let it be said that Dodgers fans don’t support a loser. The franchise averaged 43,979 spectators in the last full season that it posted a losing record (2010), 7,743 more than it did in the last one it had a winning record (2011). Of course, the severe beating of Bryan Stow in a Dodger Stadium parking lot and the ensuing implosion of Frank McCourt’s tenure as owner might have had something to do with the team’s drop-off at the turnstiles last year. But the Dodgers are one of 10 major league teams to have averaged more fans the last time they lost more games than they did when they finished on the preferred side of .500. So the next time you hear “There’s no promotion like winning,” feel free to respond, “Oh, really?”

MOST FICKLE FANS*

Rank, Team, Difference between average attendance in last full winning and losing seasons, Comment

1. Philadelphia / 24,958 / Even the Philly Phanatic goes into hiding when team slumps.

2. New York Yankees / 24,055 / The Core Four referred to average attendance in last losing season of 1995.

3. Baltimore / 23,873 / Not even Boog’s Barbecue can entice Orioles fans in bad times.

4. New York Mets / 21,057 / Team is forgotten in a New York minute when losses mount.

5. Texas / 12,062 / All the talk about heat and humidity wilted with two World Series runs.

6. Boston / 10,220 / Hearing “Sweet Caroline” in the eighth inning isn’t always enough.

7. Houston / 9,223 / Astros are on pace for about as many wins as fans.

8. San Francisco / 6,462 / Before they feared the beard, fans often stayed clear of AT&T; Park.

9. Oakland / 6,170 / Pregame playing of The Police’s “Reggatta de Blanc” has long been highlight.

10. Cleveland / 5,722 / Trips to Jacobs Field remain about as en vogue as En Vogue.

LEAST FICKLE FANS*

Rank / Team / Difference between average attendance in last full winning and losing seasons / Comment

1. Dodgers / -7,743 / Fans will back a winner or a loser as long as it’s not owned by Frank McCourt.

2. Detroit / -6,921 / Tigers rev up the faithful whether team is 90-72 or 72-90.

3. St. Louis / -5,658 / It may be a great baseball town, but is it a discerning one?

4. Toronto / -3,094 / No, those watching from adjacent hotel windows don’t count in fan tallies.

5. Cincinnati / -1,889 / Apparently, fans don’t consider defeats a Red menace.

6. Pittsburgh / -1,670 / Barry Bonds was skinny the last time the Pirates fielded a winner, in 1992.

7. Atlanta / -1,232 / Rick Mahler, 100-loss seasons must have been preferable to recent success.

8. Angels / -1,043 / Fans are equally excited by Rally Monkey appearances, deep playoff runs.

9. Miami / -237 / Remember, there’s a big difference between “least fickle” and “best” fans.

10. San Diego /-139 / Win or lose, Petco Park is where pets go and fans largely stay away.

*The Washington Nationals have never finished with a winning record since relocating from Montreal after the 2004 season.