The 2020 World Series is now in the record books, with the Los Angeles Dodgers besting the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2. As baseball fans across the globe soaked in the action, Mexico had one fan with a heightened interest in the proceedings.

Nancy Ekern.

And Nancy’s interests were focused on one particular team: the Tampa Bay Rays. 

And more specifically, she was cheering for one particular player: the Rays’ Pete Fairbanks.

There's a good reason why Nancy had a vested interest in the proceedings, Fairbanks is her grandson. She watched him as he played little league baseball in St. Louis, and later as a Mizzou standout. This time around stakes were higher - and the stage larger - as she cheered for the 26-year-old Fairbanks. It was a fun, but intense ride for Fairbanks’ family back in Audrain County, including not only grandmother Nancy, but uncles Andy and Kirk.

“We live and die with every pitch,” said Nancy.

Nancy watched at home while Pete’s parents, Shane and Jane; his sister, Lia; his aunt, Anne Ekern; his wife, Lydia and infant son, Isak attended games at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Other family members watched games at home and communicated with one another via group texts.

“We have a big family,” Nancy said, adding she has nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Like most area residents, she is a St. Louis Cardinals enthusiast.

“You can’t live in this area and not be a Cardinals fan,” said Nancy. “ But now I’m a Tampa Bay Rays fan for sure.”

While the 2020 Major League Baseball season hasn’t been a typical one, Fairbanks has contributed to the Rays’ pennant run. Throwing in 27 games in the abbreviated 60-game season Fairbanks posted a 2.70 ERA while striking out 39 in 26.2 innings. He would pick up where he left off in postseason play, collecting the save in game 7 of the American League championship series against the Houston Astros.

A Webster Groves High School graduate, Fairbanks was drafted in the 2015 draft by the Texas Rangers. In 2019 he would be traded from the Rangers to the Rays for Nick Solak. 

Fairbanks’ road to the World Series has had its share of detours along the way, including a pair of Tommy John surgeries - one of which was in high school. But the former Missouri Tiger and current Ray enjoyed a memorable postseason run. He threw in Game 1 of the World Series, which resulted in a Rays’ loss. Fairbanks threw an inning in an 8-7 Rays win Saturday, evening the Series 2-2; he also threw in the deciding game, striking out two and allowing one earned run in a Dodgers 3-1 deciding win.