The Excitement of October Baseball

When you think of the month of October, what's the first thing that comes into mind? Halloween? Pumpkin spiced everything? Wrong! When I think of October, I think of baseball. While football is exciting to watch, the MLB Postseason is king. No offense to football, but it will never hold a candle to baseball. Eight teams battle it out to achieve one ultimate goal: to become World Series Champions. The World Series, also known as the Fall Classic, dates back to 1903. Currently, the team with the most championships is the New York Yankees with 27. According to BetMGM, the Los Angeles Dodgers are currently the heavy favorites to win it all. Baseball has gotten a bit of a bad reputation over the years, with people stating that games are too long and boring. Since then, games are a bit shorter. If you're not watching this American sport, especially during the month of October, then you're missing out on all the fun.

I've been a Texas Rangers fan for 22 years, but last year was the first time I've fully immersed myself in watching Postseason games. No matter your age or who you enjoy this tradition with, you feel all sorts of emotions cheering your team on every step of the way. Witnessing history being made and supporting underdogs who have never been to the Postseason, either in their franchise history or in decades. Also, let's not forget about pitching duels and mouth-dropping spectacular plays. The term "Mr. October" is defined as a player who excels in the Postseason. The suspense of watching baseball in October is unmatched.

World Series

The final test for the two remaining teams is going against each other to see who will hoist the Commissioner's Trophy up high, as well as a player being named World Series MVP. The World Series is a seven-game series and the first team to four victories will be named World Series Champions.

As a life-long Rangers fan, witnessing them winning their first ever World Series title in franchise history was not only emotional for me, but also for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, specifically the City of Arlington itself and Rangers fans in general. I grew up in Arlington, so it was an early birthday gift for me, since my birthday took place less than two weeks later. I recorded a reaction video of me celebrating the Rangers World Series win and posted in to my social media accounts. It's around 40 seconds long, but you can hear me shouting with enthusiasm. I was watching multiple reaction videos on YouTube of younger and older Chicago Cubs fans celebrating their team winning their first World Series title since 1908, ending 108 years of heartbreak. I included a picture of the Cubs (seen above) because that was the type of feeling I displayed for my team on the night of November 1, 2023. I was excited, but in complete shock (in a good way, of course). I was crying happy tears for over an hour and couldn't even sleep because I was proud of the perseverance that the Rangers displayed en route to finally winning a World Series title.

When your team wins a World Series title, it's a big deal and they are rewarded with a parade. For example, two days after the Rangers won the World Series, a parade was held in their honor in Arlington. It was estimated that around 500,000 spectators were in attendance. Finally, your favorite team receives a championship ring at the start of the regular season.

The Rangers championship ring (seen above) is a beauty. This is a ring that I'd wear on my finger. If you want to purchase the actual ring, it'll cost you nearly $2,000. However, replica versions of the ring can be found on eBay, starting at $200.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're watching baseball in October alone, with your family, or with a group of friends, you can't deny that this tradition is something you'll enjoy for years to come. You will be sharing stories to the people close to you and online about the best moments watching America's favorite past time in early fall. So if you're still having second thoughts about baseball in general, I urge you to watch a few games during the regular season and maybe, just maybe, you'll change your tune in no time. Give it a try and you'll thank me later.

This story is dedicated to the late, great Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield. The two-time World Series champion left us in October 2023 at age 57. His legacy will live on forever.