The Rays on Wednesday introduced a 20th anniversary campaign that includes new logos, jerseys and caps for the 2018 season. Tampa General Hospital is the presenting partner of the 2018 campaign.
“We are excited to celebrate 20 years of playing Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay,” said Rays Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg. “The festivities this year will bring smiles to faces as we recall the many colorful moments and incredible accomplishments of the last two decades. I’m grateful for all Rays staff, fans and supporters, who’ve done so much to make these 20 years so special for Tampa Bay.”
Sternberg, who is entering his 15th season of involvement with the Rays, says for him it’s gone by quickly.
The new 20th anniversary logo will appear on the left sleeve of all Rays 2018 regular-season Majestic Athletic jerseys and New Era caps. The home plate-shaped patch features the number 20, a sunburst and a variation of the original fish — all in the Rays modern colors.
Team President Brian Auld lauded the logo, and the importance of the 20-year milestone.
At four home games this year (March 31, June 9, 23 and Sept 8), the Rays will wear a Majestic Athletic white alternate throwback Devil Rays jersey using the original gradient Devil Rays design, worn from 1998 through 2000, and the 20th Anniversary patch on the left sleeve. For those four games plus select home and road games, the Rays will wear a newly designed navy blue New Era retro cap that blends the original and current designs, featuring a large fish emblem on a gradient background and a modified 20th Anniversary patch on the right side. In addition, all primary New Era game caps will feature the 20th Anniversary patch on the right side.
The Rays will also pay tribute to the first ever team and the franchise’s World Series club. On Saturday, March 31 against Boston, the Rays will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first-ever Tampa Bay Devil Rays game played at Tropicana Field. Several members of the inaugural 1998 Devil Rays Opening Day roster will attend the game and take part in pregame ceremonies, and fans will receive a reversible 1998 Seat Cushion — a replica of the seat cushion given to fans on March 31, 1998 — presented by GTE Financial.
On Saturday, August 4 against the White Sox, the Rays will celebrate the 2008 American League Championship club, with several of those alumni in attendance. An Akinori Iwamura Bobblehead, featuring Dave Wills’ radio call of the moment the Rays advanced to the World Series, will be distributed to fans that night.
Vice President of Marketing and Creative Services Eric Weisberg says there are several unique giveaways planned for the 20th anniversary:
The Rays 2018 promotional schedule, which will be released in full on Thursday, includes a dozen 20th Anniversary-themed giveaways. Among them are a Carl Crawford Bobblehead presented by DEX Imaging (Saturday, April 14 vs. Philadelphia), a Fred McGriff & Tino Martinez Bobblehead presented by Suncoast Credit Union (Saturday, June 9 vs. Seattle), a Rays & Devil Rays Reversible Jersey presented by Suncoast Credit Union (Saturday, June 23 vs. New York-AL), a Wade Boggs Bobblehead (Saturday, August 25 vs. Boston), a 20th Anniversary Photo Viewer presented by Sagicor Life Insurance Company (Saturday, September 8 vs. Baltimore) and Dan Johnson Bobblehead presented by Moffitt Cancer Center (Saturday, September 29 vs. Toronto). In addition, on Opening Day (Thursday, March 29 vs. Boston), fans in attendance will receive a Rays Schedule Magnet and 20th Anniversary Cowbell, both presented by Tropicana. All giveaways are available while supplies last.
