| Think you know all there is to know about the Tampa | | | | same year. |
| Bay Devil Rays? Well, you may be surprised to learn | | | | Some other great names associated with this team |
| that although this team has only been around since the | | | | include Randy Winn, Jose Canseco, Greg Vaughn, |
| late 90s they have made sure to work diligently at | | | | Miguel Cairo and Vinny Castilla. Boggs is the only |
| starting to carve out a niche for their franchise. | | | | member of the team whose number has been retired |
| Established in 1998, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays held | | | | to date and it came as no surprise. In 1999, Boggs |
| the name until 2008, at which time their name was | | | | racked up his 300th hit on a home run. He is the only |
| changed to Tampa Bay Rays. Team colors are navy | | | | member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to ever do so. |
| blue, Columbia blue, white and gold. Known | | | | Boggs was later also inducted into the Baseball Hall of |
| affectionately as "The Rays", the Tampa Bay Rays | | | | Fame in the year 2005. |
| were awarded inclusion into the minor leagues back in | | | | The 2004 season was the best finish for the team |
| 1995 when they tapped Chuck LaMar as their | | | | ever with a record of 70-91. Front office and |
| assistant general manager. A year later, the team was | | | | management changes in the time frame after the |
| playing their first minor league game in the 1996 | | | | 2005 season ended brought new blood in. Chuck |
| season. | | | | LaMar was fired and the focus turned to the younger |
| The following year, for the expansion draft held in | | | | players like Carl Crawford, Jorge Cantu and Rocco |
| November, 1997, the Tampa Bay Rays acquired 35 | | | | Baldelli. Many trades would come next as the team |
| new players. More players were added to the team in | | | | changed hands with their leaders. Outfielders, infielders, |
| the years to come, like Kevin Stocker, who was | | | | shortstops and utility players alike were put on the |
| traded to the Philadelphia Phillies nearly as quickly as | | | | block and traded to other teams in exchange for |
| he was acquired. The next year, their first game in | | | | perceivably better players. |
| March, 1998 was against the Detroit Tigers. The crowd | | | | Although the team was subsequently involved in two |
| was a sizeable 45,369 and Wade Boggs made the | | | | rare triple plays in the 2006, they did end the season |
| first home run in the team's history. They didn't win the | | | | with a winning record at home of 41-40. It was the first |
| open header but the season went well that year and | | | | time the team accomplished such a feat and it |
| the Tampa Bay Devil Rays went on a 19-game | | | | resulted in an increase in home attendance. |
| winning streak before suffering nearly 100 losses that | | | | |