David Waldstein

The Red Bulls and the New York City Football Club face one another on Saturday. Much of the metro area is blasé, but the fan bases are frothing.

Scientists dug up the real dirt on the substance applied to all the baseballs used in the major leagues.

Two fans were ejected from Yankee Stadium after trying to rip a ball out of a player’s glove. It was a striking example of “fan interference,” which is more common in baseball than in other sports.

As the two teams face off in a crucial game at Yankee Stadium on Monday, the longtime Yankees executive recalls a different baseball loyalty.

The best World Series outcome for one particular subset of fans? The Dodgers slugger hits four home runs in a game, and the Yankees win 5-4.

The two biggest cities in America have as many differences as similarities — including in public transportation, ballparks and payrolls

New York got its first basketball championship in 48 years, as the New York Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx in front of exuberant fans in Brooklyn.

Bitter rivals are suddenly paying each other compliments, at least until there’s a Subway Series, if that happens. “It’s weird,” said the longtime Yankees announcer.

The Liberty, an original W.N.B.A. franchise, have been to the finals five times and lost each time. But their fans can’t help believing, again, this year.

Mets fans have been here before, and they don’t want to jinx anything. But the good vibes — and the inexplicable presence of Grimace — is giving fans playoffs hope.