For the Loves, baseball and family are both big loves

Their last name says and explains it all: Love.

As in love of the game.

And as in Jim Love, Phil Love, Patty Love and, in fact, four full generations of Royals-loving Loves of Kansas City, ranging from Jim, age 84, down to Henry, age 1.

On Tuesday night the family of eight sat perched high up in left field stands, Section 413, seats 1 to 7, Row KK, roaring with 40,000 others as Alcides Escobar slapped a first-inning inside-the-park home run on the first pitch of Game 1 of the 2015 World Series.

“We weren’t going to miss it!” Patty Love, 65, said standing with husband Phil, 66, just before the game.

Not this year. Not these home games.

Last year the longtime season ticket holders were forced to be out of town for two of the Royals’ home World Series games. They had tickets and couldn’t go. It drove Patty Love nuts.

This year she vowed it wouldn’t happen.

Mat and Danica Love, both 34, of Generation 3, said that their kids making up Generation 4 — Mallory, 8, Jimmy, 5, and Henry, 1 — have never missed a Royals opening-day game since birth. That might not sound like much of a run for a child just over 1 year old, but on Tuesday he was already attending his third World Series game, including two home games last year.

In the 4th inning, Patty Love became more subdued as the Mets tied the game 1-1, with two men on in scoring position.

“Holding out hope,” she said.

These moments try her nerves, she said. The nail-biting Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, when the Royals beat Toronto, so sped up her heart rate that she didn’t get to bed until 2 a.m.

To Jim Love, this series, being here with his family, is about more than winning or losing. When he’s with his son and grandson and great-grandchildren, games are more than about winning or losing.

“They’re meaningful to me,” he said. These games build happy family memories.

Although Phil Love, who estimated he footed some $8,000 for all Royals post-season games, conceded: “They’re happier when we win.”

Said Patty, “Best money he ever spent.”

The Loves will be return Wednesday and, if necessary, for games 6 and 7.

“All of it,” Patty said.

This story was originally published October 27, 2015 at 9:04 PM with the headline "For the Loves, baseball and family are both big loves."