Los Angeles — As night fell, the stadium lights could not overshadow the trembling hearts of fans: Angels icon Mike Trout had just hit 400 home runs — a glorious journey — and left a touching message. But even that moment could not hide the cries of disappointment: “Team loyalty is a delusion,” “Win a ring you coward.”
Trout wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“400. Last night was surreal. Blessed to play this game I love. Thank you to my teammates, family, and the fans for all the support. Let’s keep it rolling!”
The content, though brief, contained a whole sentiment: gratitude, humility, and determination to keep moving forward. Meanwhile, the mockery from some fans was like knives stabbing into the heart: “Team loyalty is a delusion.”
“Win a ring you coward” — a quip mixed with anger that’s been popping up everywhere, as a backlash to Trout’s long, challenging season.
Trout is one of the few big stars who has kept faith with the Angels despite the lack of a major title for many seasons. The championship gap has made him a target for ridicule from those who put winning — and titles — above all else. The “Team loyalty is a delusion” rhetoric isn’t just directed at Trout personally — it’s challenging the tenets of team loyalty in modern sports.
And under that pressure, Trout’s choice to say thank you, using a gentle letter to express his steadfastness — it’s a soft but no less powerful response — that loyalty isn’t foolish, but a valuable choice.
400 home runs isn’t just a number — it’s a testament to perseverance, talent, and a strong love for the game of baseball. For Trout, each swing becomes a chapter in the story of a great player, a captain who never gives up on his goal, even when all eyes may be turned away.
Some will say: “Don’t wait for Trout to bring home a championship ring.” Others will say: “In 100 years, people will remember the number of home runs, not the organizations that failed.”
Trout chooses to carve his name in his own way — with each hit, with each thank you, and with the belief that beyond the shouting, there are still people who understand: loyalty is not an illusion, but a courageous choice.
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