dd
That’s why we call it the old “radio line” fan base. It’s why it’s the way it is. You’re right.
Just as an historical aside, I’d note that the Cardinals were also once considered the West’s team.
A big reason why the Cards developed such a huge fan base is because for a long period of time they were both MLB’s southern-most and western-most team. Thus they basically became the flagship team for country folk in rural middle America ( ie. the anti-Yankees), as they were the only team those folks could get on the radio.
That’s why we call it the old “radio line” fan base. It’s why it’s the way it is. You’re right.