History of Tampa Bay Rays in Timeline
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team located in the Tampa Bay area, competing in the American League East Division. Notably, they are one of two MLB teams in Florida. Their home field, Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg from 1998 to 2024, sustained significant damage from Hurricane Milton, which will move the team's home games to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, starting in 2025.
1900: Historical Stat
In 2008, the Rays became the first team in modern Major League history (since 1900) to hold the best record in the league through Memorial Day, after having the worst record in the league the year before.
1900: Start of Modern Era
The 2023 season saw the Rays tie the modern era (post-1900) record.
1919: Founding Member of Florida State League
In 1919, the Tampa Smokers and St. Petersburg Saints were two of the founding members of the minor league Florida State League (FSL).
1955: Dodgers Throwback Uniforms
The Los Angeles Dodgers wore the gray road uniforms of the World Series-winning 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers as throwback uniforms.
1969: New York Mets Throwback Uniforms
The New York Mets wore the road uniforms of their 1969 championship team as throwback uniforms.
1974: Tampa Awarded Buccaneers Franchise
In 1974, Tampa was awarded the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise by the National Football League.
1980: Inspiration for faux-back uniforms
From 2012 to 2017, the Tampa Bay Rays sported specially designed 1980 Tampa Bay Rays "faux-back" uniforms, representing what the team might have worn during that era.
1990: Florida Suncoast Dome Opens
In 1990, the Florida Suncoast Dome (now called Tropicana Field) opened in St. Petersburg with the intention of attracting a major league team.
1992: Blocked Giants Deal
In 1992, MLB owners unexpectedly voted to block Vince Naimoli's deal to buy and relocate the San Francisco Giants to St. Petersburg.
March 9, 1995: Ownership Group Approved
On March 9, 1995, an ownership group led by Vince Naimoli was officially approved, marking a significant step towards establishing a Major League Baseball team in the Tampa Bay area.
1995: Expansion Franchise Awarded
In 1995, St. Petersburg was awarded an expansion franchise, leading to renovations of the Florida Suncoast Dome.
November 7, 1997: Larry Rothschild Named First Manager
On November 7, 1997, Larry Rothschild was named the first manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
November 18, 1997: Expansion Draft
On November 18, 1997, the Devil Rays acquired their first player, pitcher Tony Saunders, in the Expansion Draft. Bobby Abreu was also drafted but later traded.
1997: Jackie Robinson's Number Retired
In 1997, Jackie Robinson's number 42 was retired by all of Major League Baseball, before the Rays' inaugural season.
March 31, 1998: Inaugural Game
On March 31, 1998, the Devil Rays played their first game against the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field. They lost 11-6 despite Wade Boggs hitting the team's first home run.
1998: Original radio team
In 1998, Paul Olden and Charlie Slowes were the (Devil) Rays original radio team.
1998: Inaugural Season at Tropicana Field
In 1998, Tropicana Field became the home of the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Florida, where they played until 2024.
1998: Expansion Franchise Debut
In 1998, Vince Naimoli's ownership group's new expansion franchise debuted at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
1998: Inaugural Season
In 1998, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays began their inaugural season in Major League Baseball.
1998: Payroll Data Since 1998
Payroll data has been collected for the 25-man roster starting in 1998.
1998: Introduction of Raymond
Raymond, the "seadog" mascot, was introduced during the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' inaugural season in 1998.
1998: Wordmark from road uniforms
The 2024 "City Connect" wordmark is from the road uniforms from 1998.
1998: Rainbow Devil Rays Uniforms Origin
The Rainbow Devil Rays uniforms made their debut in 1998.
August 7, 1999: Wade Boggs' 3000th Hit
On August 7, 1999, Wade Boggs marked his 3000th career hit with a home run against the Cleveland Indians.
1999: Devil Rays Alternate Black Jersey
During the 1999 season, the Devil Rays wore an alternate black jersey featuring the same rainbow text as the white and gray uniforms.
2000: Devil Rays Alternate Black Jersey
During the 2000 season, the Devil Rays wore an alternate black jersey featuring the same rainbow text as the white and gray uniforms.
2000: Rothschild's Tenure
In 2000, Larry Rothschild managed the Devil Rays to another last-place finish with 69 wins.
2000: Red Sox/Rays Rivalry Begins
In 2000, the Red Sox/Rays rivalry began when Gerald Williams charged the mound after being hit by a pitch by Pedro Martínez, leading to retaliations and ejections.
2000: St. Petersburg Saints and Tampa Spartans Throwback Uniforms
In 2000, the Tampa Bay Rays wore the uniforms of the St. Petersburg Saints and the University of Tampa Spartans.
2000: Wordmark from road uniforms
The 2024 "City Connect" wordmark is from the road uniforms from 2000.
2001: Rothschild Fired
During the 2001 season, Larry Rothschild was fired as manager of the Devil Rays and replaced by Hal McRae.
2001: Uniform Changes: De-emphasized Purple
In 2001, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays dropped the multicolor text and de-emphasized purple in favor of more green on their uniforms.
2002: The Rookie Movie Release
In 2002, the movie The Rookie, based on the true story of Jim Morris, was released, featuring the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
2002: Franchise-Worst Record
The 2002 season led to a franchise-worst 55–106 record for the Devil Rays, despite the emergence of players like Aubrey Huff, Toby Hall, and Carl Crawford.
2003: Lou Piniella Hired as Manager
In 2003, Lou Piniella, a Tampa native, replaced Hal McRae as manager and led the Devil Rays to win 63 games.
2004: Montreal Expos final season
In 2004, the Montreal Expos played their final season before relocating.
2004: Finished Second to Last
In the 2004 season, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays finished second to last in the AL East, breaking a streak of last-place finishes.
2005: Piniella Released
After the 2005 season, tensions between owners and management led to Stuart Sternberg buying out the last year of Lou Piniella's contract for $2.2 million.
2005: Rich Herrera Joins Tampa Rays Baseball Radio Network
From 2005, Rich Herrera served as the host during pre- and post-game shows for the Tampa Rays Baseball Radio Network
2005: Montreal Expos move to Washington, D.C.
In 2005, the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, D.C., becoming the Washington Nationals.
2005: More Green on Home Uniforms
In 2005, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' home uniforms were tweaked to include more green, including sleeveless jerseys with green undershirts and green caps.
2005: Bench-clearing fights against Red Sox
In 2005, two bench-clearing fights occurred during a game between the Rays and Red Sox, followed by a media war of words between Lou Piniella and Curt Schilling.
2005: Crawford Leads AL in Stolen Bases
In the 2005 season, Crawford's production at the plate was matched by newcomers Jorge Cantú and Jonny Gomes, though the team was let down by its pitching staff and finished 67–95.
2006: Joe Maddon Hired as Manager
For the 2006 season, Stuart Sternberg hired Joe Maddon to replace Lou Piniella as manager and Andrew Friedman as Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations.
2006: Tropicana Field Renovations
In 2006, Tropicana Field began renovations to improve fan experience.
2006: "Turn Back the Clock" becomes annual tradition
Since 2006, the Tampa Bay Rays have made the "Turn Back the Clock" promotion, featuring retro themes and throwback uniforms, an annual tradition.
May 18, 2007: "Legends of Wrestling Night"
On May 18, 2007, the Rays held a "Legends of Wrestling Night" after their game against the Florida Marlins, which they lost 8-4. Jonny Gomes, an outfielder, participated in the wrestling event, running interference for the Nasty Boys.
June 23, 2007: Devil Rays wear St. Pete Saints uniforms
On June 23, 2007, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays wore St. Pete Saints uniforms from the early 1950s, and the Los Angeles Dodgers wore the gray road uniforms of the World Series-winning 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers.
2007: "Tampa Bay"
Before the 2024 "City Connect" uniforms, 2007 marked the last time the team name was "Tampa Bay" on uniforms.
2007: Tropicana Field Renovations
In 2007, Tropicana Field underwent further renovations under Stu Sternberg's ownership, including a new Field Turf surface.
2007: Ballpark proposal
In 2007, the Tampa Bay Rays announced a plan to build a covered ballpark at the current site of Al Lang Field on the St. Petersburg waterfront.
2007: Finished Last in AL East
In 2007, the Tampa Bay Rays finished last in the AL East for the first time.
2007: St. Petersburg Saints Throwback Uniforms
In 2007, the Tampa Bay Rays wore the uniforms of the St. Petersburg Saints
2007: Reference to Previous Losing Season
In 2014, the Tampa Bay Rays had their first losing season since 2007.
2007: Struggling Season
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays struggled in the 2007 season, finishing with a 66-96 record, continuing the trend from the previous year.
April 19, 2008: Second "Wrestling Night"
On April 19, 2008, the Rays held a second "Wrestling Night" after their 5-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Jonny Gomes participated again, making a post-match save for the Nasty Boys.
2008: Rebranding as the Rays
After rebranding as the Rays in 2008, the team revisited the Devil Rays name.
2008: Magrane's departure
After the 2008 season, Joe Magrane departed to take a position at the MLB Network.
2008: Slight increase in attendance
After the Rays earned a playoff berth in 2008, there was slight improvement in attendance.
2008: Team Rebranded
Before the 2008 season, the team was rebranded as the Tampa Bay Rays, with a new color scheme and increased payroll, leading to their best season in franchise history.
2008: "Rayhawks" Trend
During the 2008 World Series run, Rays players and coaches started sporting mohawk haircuts, nicknamed "rayhawks".
2008: Maddon's "9=8" Slogan
During the 2008 season, manager Joe Maddon introduced the slogan '9=8,' aiming for a postseason appearance. The slogan evolved as the Rays clinched the AL East division title. The Rays surpassed their previous team record for wins in a single season by more than 30 wins.
2008: Spring Training Altercation
In 2008, a spring training game between the Yankees and Rays became heated after a home plate collision and a spikes-high slide, leading to Jonny Gomes knocking Shelley Duncan to the ground.
2008: Rays win first pennant
In 2008, the Red Sox/Rays rivalry reached its peak, including a brawl and a seven-game ALCS that ended with the Rays winning their first pennant.
2008: World Series Appearance
In 2008, the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox to advance to the World Series, where they were defeated by the Philadelphia Phillies.
2008: First Winning Season and AL East Championship
In 2008, the Tampa Bay Rays had their first winning season, won their first AL East championship, and secured their first American League pennant, ultimately losing the World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
2008: St. Petersburg Pelicans Throwback Uniforms
In 2008, the Tampa Bay Rays wore the uniforms of the St. Petersburg Pelicans of the Senior Professional Baseball Association.
2008: Name Change and Primary Uniform Debut
In 2008, the team officially shortened its name from "Devil Rays" to "Rays," and debuted the current primary uniform with the name "Rays" and a yellow sunburst.
2008: Olden becomes public address announcer at Yankee Stadium
Paul Olden replaced Bob Sheppard as the public address announcer at Yankee Stadium in 2008.
2008: Games Aired on Ion Television
Through the 2008 season, many Tampa Bay Rays games also aired on Ion Television affiliate broadcast stations throughout the state of Florida.
2009: '09 > '08' Slogan
For the 2009 season, Joe Maddon introduced a new slogan, '09 > '08, to represent that the season would be "greater" than the previous year.
2009: Kennedy as color commentator
In 2009, Kevin Kennedy served as the primary color commentator with Brian Anderson filling in
2009: Exploration of new stadium possibilities
In 2009, local officials, media, and business leaders began exploring the possibility of building a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays in the Tampa Bay area.
2009: First Revisiting of Devil Rays Name
In 2009, the Tampa Bay Rays first revisited the Devil Rays name by wearing the "rainbow" uniforms from their 1998 inaugural season.
2009: Winning Record, Missed Postseason
In 2009, the Tampa Bay Rays posted a winning record but were unable to return to the postseason due to injuries to key players.
2009: Proposal Withdrawn
In 2009, the Tampa Bay Rays withdrew their proposal for a ballpark on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront.
2009: WDAE Becomes Flagship Station
Since 2009, WDAE (620 AM) has served as the flagship station of the Tampa Bay Rays radio network.
2010: Introduction of DJ Kitty
In 2010, DJ Kitty, an anthropomorphic cat mascot, was introduced to rally fans. A video of DJ Kitty on a turntable would play on the scoreboard, and the mascot would interact with fans at Tropicana Field.
2010: Kennedy as color commentator
In 2010, Kevin Kennedy served as the primary color commentator with Brian Anderson filling in
2010: Matt Garza's No-Hitter
In 2010, Matt Garza threw the franchise's first no-hitter against Detroit.
2011: Rich Herrera departure from Tampa Rays Baseball Radio Network
From 2005 to 2011, Rich Herrera served as the host during pre- and post-game shows for the Tampa Rays Baseball Radio Network
2011: Anderson becomes everyday commentator
From 2011, Brian Anderson took over as the everyday commentator.
2011: Attendance drop after AL best record
In 2011, average attendance dropped by 4,100 per game after the Rays earned the best AL record in 2010.
2011: New AstroTurf Installed
In 2011, the Field Turf surface at Tropicana Field was replaced with a new version of AstroTurf.
2011: AL Wild Card Win
In 2011, the Tampa Bay Rays finished the season with the AL wild card, defeating the Red Sox with a 12th-inning walk-off home run by Evan Longoria.
2011: Last divisional title
In 2011, the Tampa Bay Rays had last won a divisional title.
2012: Debut of Faux-Back Uniforms
From 2012, the Tampa Bay Rays began sporting specially designed 1980 Tampa Bay Rays "faux-back" uniforms, representing what the team might have worn during that era.
2013: Failed Championship Bid
After the 2013 season's failed championship bid, the Rays entered a period of decline.
2013: Slight increase in attendance
After the Rays earned a playoff berth between 2008 and 2013, there was slight improvement in attendance.
October 2014: Sternberg discusses moving Rays to Montreal
In October 2014, frustrated with stadium efforts, Stuart Sternberg discussed potentially moving the Tampa Bay Rays to Montreal.
December 5, 2014: Kevin Cash named manager
On December 5, 2014, Kevin Cash was named the successor to Joe Maddon as manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, becoming the youngest manager in the league.
December 9, 2014: Sternberg considering selling the team
On December 9, 2014, reports surfaced that owner Stuart Sternberg would consider selling the team if a new stadium was not built.
2014: Losing Record and Departures
2014 saw the Rays' first losing record (77–85) since 2007. Price was traded, and GM Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon left the team.
2014: End of "Rayhawks" Trend
The "rayhawks" trend, which started in 2008, continued until Joe Maddon's departure following the 2014 season.
2015: Archer and Kiermaier standout season
In 2015, Chris Archer had a strong season, becoming a Cy Young contender, and Kevin Kiermaier won his first Gold Glove Award.
2016: Fox Sports Exclusive Broadcast Agreement
From 2008 through 2016, Fox Sports Sun signed an agreement to become the exclusive local broadcaster of the Tampa Bay Rays, airing 155 games per year.
2017: Final Appearance of Faux-Back Uniforms
From 2012 to 2017, the Tampa Bay Rays sported specially designed 1980 Tampa Bay Rays "faux-back" uniforms, representing what the team might have worn during that era.
2017: Archer and Cobb lead strong performances
In 2017, Chris Archer and Alex Cobb led the Rays with strong performances, and the team rebounded to match its 2015 record.
2017: Erik Neander takes over as general manager
In 2017, Erik Neander replaced Matthew Silverman as the Tampa Bay Rays' general manager.
2017: Last Losing Record Before 2024
In 2017, the Rays had a losing record, prior to finishing with a losing record in 2024.
February 9, 2018: Ybor City preferred site for new stadium
On February 9, 2018, the Tampa Bay Rays announced that Ybor City was their preferred site for a new stadium.
December 2018: Plans for Ybor stadium fall through
In December 2018, Stuart Sternberg announced that plans for the proposed stadium in Ybor City fell through, keeping the Rays at Tropicana Field until 2027.
2018: Blake Snell wins Cy Young
In 2018, Blake Snell won the franchise's second Cy Young Award after leading all AL pitchers in wins (21) and ERA (1.89).
2018: Last Postseason Appearance Before 2024
In 2018, the Rays made the postseason, prior to missing it in 2024.
2018: Rainbow Uniforms Return
In 2018, the Tampa Bay Rays brought back the rainbow uniforms in honor of the franchise's twentieth anniversary.
2018: Longoria and Odorizzi traded
In 2018, the Tampa Bay Rays traded Evan Longoria to the Giants and Jake Odorizzi to the Twins.
2018: Rainbow Devil Rays Uniforms made occasional appearances
Since 2018, the Rainbow Devil Rays uniforms made occasional appearances
2018: Introduction of Devil Ray Cap with Columbia Blue Alternate Jersey
Since 2018, the Rays paired their second alternate light Columbia blue jersey with a dark blue cap with the classic "devil ray" logo, usually only worn for Sunday home games.
June 20, 2019: MLB approves exploring split season with Montreal
On June 20, 2019, Major League Baseball's executive council granted the Tampa Bay Rays permission to explore splitting home games between the Tampa Bay area and Montreal.
2019: Rays defeat Astros in ALCS
In 2019, the Rays defeated the Astros in the seven-game ALCS, advancing to the World Series.
2019: Average attendance in 2019
In 2019, the Tampa Bay Rays average attendance was 14,552 per game.
2019: Designated Throwback Days
In 2019, the Tampa Bay Rays continued to wear the rainbow uniforms on designated throwback days.
2019: Rays reach postseason
In 2019, the Tampa Bay Rays, led by Kevin Cash, reached the postseason after winning 96 games, but were defeated by the Houston Astros in the ALDS.
2020: Chapman Throws at Brosseau
In 2020, Aroldis Chapman threw a 101-mph fastball over Mike Brosseau's head, resulting in Kevin Cash's ejection and a bench-clearing.
2020: McClanahan debut
In 2020, Shane McClanahan debuted in the postseason.
2020: Rays win AL East
In 2020, the Tampa Bay Rays won their first divisional title since 2011 after posting an AL-best 40-20 record in the shortened season.
2020: Second American League Pennant
In 2020, the Tampa Bay Rays won their second American League pennant but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
2021: Designated Throwback Days
In 2021, the Tampa Bay Rays continued to wear the rainbow uniforms on designated throwback days.
2021: "Tampa Bay/Montreal" Graphic Plan Dropped
In 2021, the Tampa Bay Rays initially intended to display a "Tampa Bay/Montreal" graphic during the MLB postseason to promote their split-city concept, but those plans were dropped after backlash.
January 2022: MLB Commissioner Rejects Split-Season Plan
In January 2022, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred informed Stuart Sternberg that the split-season plan would not be allowed to proceed, leading the team to explore other stadium options.
2022: Confrontations with the Yankees
In 2022, confrontations occurred between the Rays and Yankees after Josh Donaldson and Jeffrey Springs traded barbs and Donaldson was nearly hit by a pitch.
2022: Second Alternate Jersey Modified
In 2022, the Rays modified their second alternate jersey, replacing the "Rays" wordmark with the sunburst logo on the right chest.
2022: Designated Throwback Days
In 2022, the Tampa Bay Rays continued to wear the rainbow uniforms on designated throwback days.
2022: Rays Field All-Latino Lineup
On September 15, 2022, the Tampa Bay Rays fielded the first all-Latino lineup in MLB history on Roberto Clemente Day in an 11-0 victory over the Blue Jays.
March 2023: Death of Dave Wills
Dave Wills, a play-by-play announcer for the Tampa Bay Rays for 18 seasons, passed away in March 2023.
September 19, 2023: New Ballpark Announced in St. Petersburg
On September 19, 2023, the Tampa Bay Rays announced plans to build a new ballpark in St. Petersburg adjacent to Tropicana Field.
2023: Yandy Diaz Wins AL Batting Title
In 2023, Yandy Díaz earned the franchise's first American League batting title, hitting .330.
2023: Benches Clear After Rays Batters Hit
In 2023, tensions erupted in a series against the Yankees where five Rays batters were hit, leading to benches clearing twice in one inning.
2023: Franchise Hall of Fame Established
In 2023, the Rays established a franchise Hall of Fame.
2023: Rays Tie Modern Era Record for Consecutive Wins to Start Season
In 2023, the Tampa Bay Rays tied the modern era (post-1900) record for most consecutive wins to start a season with thirteen.
2023: Rainbow Devil Rays Uniforms become Road Jerseys
Starting in 2023, the Tampa Bay Rays abandoned the gray road jerseys in favor of their 1998 "Rainbow" Devil Rays uniforms, which the team had been wearing on occasional home games since 2018.
2023: Addition to Official Uniform Rotation
Starting in 2023, the rainbow Devil Rays uniforms were added to the official Tampa Bay Rays uniform rotation.
2023: Statistics Through 2023
Statistics are recorded through the end of the 2023 season.
October 2024: Hurricane Milton Damages Tropicana Field
In October 2024, Hurricane Milton caused extensive damage to the roof of Tropicana Field, which was being used as a site for first responders.
November 14, 2024: Rays to Play at Steinbrenner Field
On November 14, 2024, the Tampa Bay Rays announced that they will play the 2025 regular season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
2024: Earliest Possible Date for Split Season
2024 was thought to be the earliest possible date for the Tampa Bay Rays to begin a split season between Tampa Bay and Montreal.
2024: Rays Miss Postseason, Finish with Losing Record
In 2024, the Rays missed the postseason for the first time since 2018 and finished with a losing record for the first time since 2017.
2024: Rays trade Arozarena and Paredes
In 2024, the Rays traded away multiple players at the deadline, including Randy Arozarena and All-Star Isaac Paredes.
2024: Introduction of "City Connect" Uniforms
In 2024, the Tampa Bay Rays introduced their "City Connect" uniforms, featuring the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Stingray, and the team name "Tampa Bay".
2024: Last Season at Tropicana Field
In 2024, the Tampa Bay Rays played their last season at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida before moving to Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
2024: Statistics Current Through 2024 Season
The statistics are current through the 2024 Major League Baseball regular season.
2024: All-Time Record
Through 2024, the Tampa Bay Rays held an all-time record of 2,091 wins and 2,179 losses, with a .490 winning percentage.
February 14, 2025: Roster Update
On February 14, 2025, the Rays' roster, coaches, and NRIs were updated.
2025: Tropicana Field Unavailable
Due to damage from Hurricane Milton on October 9, Tropicana Field will not be available when the Tampa Bay Rays open the 2025 regular season.
2025: New Ballpark
In 2025, the Tampa Bay Rays are scheduled to move to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, due to the damage caused by Hurricane Milton to Tropicana Field.
2025: Play at Steinbrenner Field
The Tampa Bay Rays announced on November 14, 2024, that they will play the 2025 regular season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
2027: Continued play at Tropicana Field
In December 2018, with the Ybor City stadium plans falling through, the Tampa Bay Rays were still on track to play at Tropicana Field until 2027.
2027: Stadium Use Agreement Deadline
Through 2027, the Rays were bound by a use agreement with St. Petersburg, prohibiting stadium talks with other communities.
2028: Target Opening Date for New Ballpark
The Tampa Bay Rays plan to open their new ballpark in St. Petersburg for the 2028 season.
