The Road to Omaha: How the MCWS became a town's pride and joy

The 75th edition of the Men's College World Series starts Friday in Omaha , Nebraska .

Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium was built in 1949 and dangled as a lure to convince the NCAA 's struggling baseball tournament to come to town one year later .

"We've tried to become a bigger event city, with more NCAA stuff, but this is still us," says local attorney-turned-de facto MCWS commissioner.

Jim Costello has been a team host for the past five years representing the American Legion .

In 2008 , Fresno State arrived in Nebraska to begin its legendary " Underdog to Wonderdog " run to the title.

When Cal State Fullerton won the Series , the school's alums invited the Titans to come across 13th Street for a party.

Omaha native Ann Walters attended her first MCWS in 1951 , and missed only a handful of games over the next 56 years .

Her custom-crocheted team Kewpie dolls became as much a part of every head coach's pregame ritual as turning in their lineup card and shaking hands with their opponent.

Omaha 's signature moment of the '90s : LSU vs. Miami for not merely a national title, but for the title of the event.