You could say the Tampa Bay Rays run to the 2026 World Series has been awesome baby, with a capital A.
The Rays are vying for their first World Series title in franchise history against the Milwaukee Brewers in the Fall Classic, and cheering them on will be one of the most iconic voices in college basketball in Dick Vitale.
The ESPN analyst is a die-hard fan of the Rays, frequently at Tropicana Field rooting for his team instead of the typical sighting of him on the court of a college hoops game. That won't change with Vitale planning to be there to see the Rays go for history when the World Series returns to Tropicana Field for the first time since 2008.
"To have them in the World Series is really, very magical," Vitale told USA TODAY Sports.
Dick Vitale's long support of the Tampa Bay Rays
Vitale has been with the Rays since day one. He has been a season ticket holder since the franchise began play in 1998. His seats are right next to the visiting team's dugout.
Now in its third World Series in franchise history, Vitale said what makes this team unique starts at the top with the leadership in manager Kevin Cash, calling him a "terrific manager."
And then there's Junior Caminero, who had the electric home run in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series that sent Tropicana Field into a frenzy. In hoops terms, Caminero is alsolutely a PTPer (prime-time performer).
"He has a lot of enthusiasm, energy, and I think it becomes contagious to the other players when they see their star so fired up all the time," Vitale said.
Vitale is will be there for Game 3 on Monday, Oct. 26 and plans to be at Games 4 and 5. He acknowledged his age and health will play a role in attending all possible home World Series games. In April, he confirmed a diagnosis of melanoma in both his lung and liver cavity, the fifth time he was diagnosed with cancer. However, he's shared positive updates in his current battle.
Despite that, the 87-year-old remains youthful in his excitment for baseball and the upcoming college basketball season. He just hopes when he does get back on the court, it's after he sees his beloved team finally achieve baseball immortality.
"You gotta get excited with this. I'm 87 and I act about 27 now when I was a little kid, like a young kid, because that that's what this does to you," Vitale said. "The energy that's going to be at the Trop will be unreal Monday night.
"They'll be electric. They'll be on fire, and the Trop will be rocking and rolling. I'll be there to help it rock and roll."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dick Vitale revels in Rays World Series and 'unreal' Tropicana Field energy
