As much as we, as fans, are deeply connected to our team and can find new players to love with each passing season (this is something Cubs fans are going to need to adjust to, now), we also get attached to individuals. It’s impossible, as you watch dozens of games over the course of a season, to not learn more about player personalities, and find ourselves connecting to certain guys, rooting for them like we have a personal investment in their success.
I think it’s also safe to say that most of us remember the exact player we first considered to be our favorite.