Palmetto, Fla. – Audrey Mahoney, 94, has been a devoted Tampa Bay Rays supporter since the franchise began in 1998. Her love of the team has been passed down to her granddaughter, Sarah Bolin, through countless games, phone calls and texts over the years.
Grandmother‑granddaughter bond built on baseball
Mahoney says she still follows every pitch and stays in touch with Bolin during key moments. “We text back and forth when something goes on,” Mahoney explained. “When Diaz gets up and hits a home run or when a pitcher just doesn’t do his job.”
When Bolin’s husband entered the Army, the pair’s shared hobby shifted from sitting together at Tropicana Field to long‑distance calls and messages across domestic posts and overseas deployments.
Surprise trip to the World Series
After five years of living away from Palmetto, Bolin arrived unannounced, surprising her grandmother. “The other night she came home. I did not know it. She shocked me to death,” Mahoney recalled, tears in her eyes.
During the visit, Bolin presented Mahoney with a Rays jersey and a pair of tickets to Game 3 of the World Series, scheduled for Monday night. “You are not serious,” Mahoney laughed, overwhelmed by the gesture.
“I wouldn’t choose anybody else to do this with, especially because this whole season has been us talking about the Rays and getting angry with decisions and getting pumped up when they’re winning,” Bolin said. “It has definitely been a roller coaster of emotions this year and a couple of years.”
A family legacy of World Series experiences
Mahoney’s excitement is rooted in family history. Her mother attended the 1940 World Series in Cincinnati, and now Mahoney gets to experience the event herself. “It’s just beyond words,” she said.
The duo will sit in Section 124 along the third‑base line, cheering on current stars Taylor Walls and Chandler Simpson while remembering franchise greats such as Kevin Kiermaier, Evan Longoria and Wade Boggs.
Approximately 40,000 fans are expected to fill Tropicana Field for the matchup, and Mahoney and Bolin plan to soak in every moment from their lower‑level seats.
Community reaction
Local residents praised the heart‑warming story as an example of family devotion and the unifying power of sports. The surprise trip highlights how the Rays’ season has brought together fans of all ages across the Tampa Bay area.
Mahoney’s granddaughter hopes the experience will become a cherished memory for both generations. “Seeing the look on her face when we walk through the doors and the game, there’s going to be a lot of secret pictures and reactions,” Bolin said.
The Rays continue their championship quest, and the Mahoney‑Bolin family will be there to cheer them on, embodying the spirit of community and family that sports inspire.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
