Rays of Sunshine: Inside the World of Tampa Bay Rays Fans

One of the youngest franchises in Major League Baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays have enjoyed massive success over their nearly 30-year existence. Having been built into a consistent contender over different stretches of its tenure, the team has made regular postseason appearances, particularly over the past five years. That is when the world sees how passionate Tampa Bay Rays fans are.

The front office has aimed to keep the fans coming with smart team moves to put a winning product on the field. Those among the passionate fanbase make their presence known and support the team throughout each season because Rays fans haven’t always been blessed with baseball – so they don’t take it for granted.

What it Means to be a Tampa Bay Rays Super Fan

The Tampa Bay Rays are one of the most interesting teams in the MLB. Their stadium, Tropicana Field, is a unique ballpark with odd rules and turf that can make routine groundballs take strange hops. This has helped the team, which has historically been built on pitching, speed, and defense.

There are fan clubs for the Rays, such as Randy Land in left field, named for outfielder Randy Arozarena, where fans wear special T-shirts. There are also active Facebook groups that show how avid the fans are. While the team has historically been near the bottom in terms of attendance each season, many diehard Rays fans come to see the team succeed.

Tampa Bay Rays Fans on Gameday

Rays fans get to enjoy The Trop and its large food halls, the Rays Touch Tank, and the teams’ three mascots. Raymond is a fuzzy mascot who wears a Rays jersey. DJ Kitty is a backward hat-wearing cat and is the “designated disc jockey” of the team. It also wears a Rays jersey. Stinger is a cow-nosed stingray and is the greeter at the Rays Touch Tank, where fans can touch real stingrays.

Fans can tailgate outside Tropicana Field in any parking lot starting up to three hours before first pitch of each game. Tampa Bay Rays fans have been known to break out cowbells during games to make the Trop even louder. They use the tagline “Rays Up” to gather support for what the team is doing on the field and in the community. Fans are invited to events throughout the year to show their fandom and support for the team. The fanbase has also been known to heckle the opposing team, as one of its most famous fans is known as “The Happy Heckler.”

Memorable Moments in Tampa Bay Rays Fandom

One of the most exciting moments in Rays history was when the team won the AL pennant at home in 2008, beating the Boston Red Sox in a memorable Game 7 of the ALCD. Star rookie David Price closed out a win by Matt Garza and the final out saw Akinori Iwamura catch a force out at second base and leap into the air with his hands held high as the team celebrated.

The second most memorable moment in Rays history showcased Tropicana Field in a frenzy as Evan Longoria’s walk-off home run against the Yankees in the final game of the 2011 season clinched a wild card berth. The team has advanced to two World Series, the second coming in 2020 when the World Series was played at the Texas Rangers’ stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the team has appeared in the postseason every season, and manager Kevin Cash has won Manager of the Year twice.

Famous Tampa Bay Rays Fans

Dick Vitale, the Hall of Fame basketball broadcaster, is arguably the most recognizable Rays fan, as he is consistently at Tropicana Field throughout each season. Susan Sarandon has attended many games and has hosted the coaches and staff at her local bar.