ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A group of super Rays fans made the flight from St. Pete to California to be in Oakland for the wild card game Wednesday night between the Rays and A’s.
You can find these die-hard fans right behind first base every home game in section 120, rooting for the Rays and first base coach Ozzie Timmons, who is from Tampa.
“He always comes over, he talks to us, and he signs autographs, and always makes sure every little kid who wants a ball gets a ball,” said fan Sherry Sacino.
The love between the fans and Ozzie hit a home run this past season when they surprised the coach on his birthday.
RELATED: What to know about the Rays Wild Card showdown with the A's
“We had faces and cupcakes and signs and all kids of stuff for him,” said Sacino.
The fans even wear T-shirts with Ozzie’s picture on it.
“When the Boston first base coach came he started saying, ‘I want a shirt like that, I want to have fans too,” said Sacino.
Now these fans are getting ready to surprise Ozzie once again when a group of seven of them show up, first base side, in Oakland.
"He’ll be speechless,” said fan David Rosenbach.
RELATED: Tampa Bay Rays enter 2019 MLB postseason with longest odds to win World Series
“He may just shake his head and say you guys are crazy but deep down he appreciates it,” said fan Randy Gassman.
When you're a super fan, traveling across country for a playoff game comes with the territory.
“Have to try to figure out tickets in a stadium you’ve never been to and spend a bunch of money you weren’t planning to spend, but I think it’s worth it, it’s a rarity,” said Gassman.
“I don’t really care if the Athletics are favored the rays are favored in our heart,” said Rosenbach.
