Baseball, like public transit, is an interest of mine that’s found a place in the Vaniverse. Like Kiara in the illustration, I find baseball to be a fun little refuge from the stresses of day-to-day life.

While I don’t count myself among the craziest baseball aficionados (for example, I wouldn’t have paid $1,855 to watch the Dodgers play in Tokyo or ditched work to attend the World Series Victory Parade), I would say I’m a somewhat dedicated Dodgers fan. My induction into baseball world was fairly recent: I’ve watched a few World Series here and there over the years, but didn’t start following the sport seriously until I learned about the existence of Shohei Ohtani, who is among the best hitters AND pitchers of all time. As I watched Ohtani making his way into the Dodgers, and the Dodgers then making their way into the playoffs and eventually the top of the baseball world… my assimilation into Dodgers Nation was complete.

Part of baseball’s appeal is the thrill of seeing my favorite team make a home run. But there is suspense even in the moments when no one is scoring. I have the most fun watching the pitchers stand their ground and duel with the opponent’s batters. Will it be a fastball or a slider? Will it be a ball, a strike, or a home run? The excitement lies in not knowing what’s coming at you (or the batter) – after all, any one pitch can single-handedly change the course of an entire game.

Most of all, baseball brings us together. Cynics will say that’s just marketing and money talking, but I think they miss the bigger picture. When Freddie Freeman ended a riveting Game 1 with the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history, or when the Dodgers engineered a comeback in the 5th inning of Game 5 to clinch the World Series title, it felt as if all of Los Angeles rebounded and made history together. A few days later, the entire region seemed to pour into the heart of Downtown LA to celebrate the Dodgers’ World Series victory. Seeing the Dodgers finally celebrate their achievements, four years after the pandemic put an asterisk next to their 2020 World Series title, paralleled how we as individuals and as communities remained resilient and climbed our way out of the pandemic’s darkest days. In a divided and dispirited society, baseball can unite us all and provide a source of joy.

Now, with the 2025 baseball season in full swing, I can’t wait to celebrate all the highs and lows of baseball with Los Angeles once again.