THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Ninety-six-year-old Maria Gonzalez has had three great loves in her life — her late husband Jose, her seven children, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Every year for almost half a century, Gonzalez has cherished baseball season, loving the opportunity to gather with her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren to watch the boys in blue.
Baseball is something that means a lot to this family. In fact, as Gonzalez' daughter Gloria Fernandez would say, it's how they define who they are.
“This sounds sacrilegious," Fernandez said. "But they say a family that prays together stays together. Well, in our family, it’s a family who watches the Dodgers together, stays together and that’s us."
Over the last 40 years, Fernandez and her siblings have seen their mom go to almost 500 games, traveling all across the country to follow the Dodgers.
It's something she's always loved, often watching the games alongside her husband. But it was when he passed away in 1987, that Gonzalez became a die-hard fan in her own right.
“When my dad passed, mom was just filling her time and started watching the Dodgers," her only son Joe explained. "They happened to win the World Series in 1988 and since then it’s been just an onslaught of Dodger everything for our family.”
Typically, the family gets together in groups to attend games throughout the year and almost always enjoys at least one postseason watch party.
This year though, Dodger games have become much more than just a fun activity — instead becoming a necessary distraction during a difficult time for many.
Now, Maria is waiting anxiously to see her team take home a World Series title.
"I get really sad when the season ends," Maria said. "I'm always afraid I'm not going to get to another one."
"That’s her hobby, that’s her love," echoed her youngest daughter Patty. "She’s always afraid she’s not gonna make it to next season, that’s why they have to win.”
The Dodgers will get their chance on Tuesday night in Game Six against the Tampa Bay Rays. Los Angeles currently leads the series 3-2 and will be looking for its first World Series title since 1988.
The Gonzalez family will be watching and waiting.
“I think I will cry with her, like a lot of us probably will if they win," Joe said. "It’s been a long haul and we’re Dodger fans for life. This is their year.”