Tampa Bay Rays Increase Promo Schedule for Third Consecutive Year

Carlos Pena wiffle ball bat, Upton and Shields figurines among premium items

02/21/2008, ST. PETERSBURG -- For the third consecutive year, the Tampa Bay Rays have increased the number of dates on the team's promotion schedule. The 2008 schedule includes 42 dates, five more than a year ago and more than twice as many as 2006.

The Tampa Bay Rays will feature a promotion at every Friday, Saturday and Sunday game at Tropicana Field and will offer $1 hot dogs at every Friday home game except the April 25 game against the Boston Red Sox.

All of the Rays giveaway items will feature the team's new colors and logo.

"Rays promotional items continue to be valued by our fans and with our new marks that appeal has increased," said Rays President Matt Silverman. "We're pleased to give our fans more of what they want and enhance their experience at Tropicana Field this season."

Like last season, there will be a Rays item given to the first 7,500 kids 14 and under at every Sunday home game including: a Rays youth baseball cap on April 13 vs. the Baltimore Orioles; Akinori Iwamura wristbands on April 20 vs. the Chicago White Sox; a Scott Kazmir strikeout swirler on April 27 vs. the Red Sox; a Carlos Pena Silver Slugger wiffle ball bat on May 11 vs. the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; a Rays baseball glove on June 1 vs. the White Sox; a Carl Crawford jersey t-shirt on Sunday, June 15; a Rays batting helmet on July 6 vs. the Kansas City Royals and a Rays lunchbox on Aug. 3 vs. the Detroit Tigers.

Saturdays at Tropicana Field will also feature giveaway items to the first 10,000 fans including a Rays disco wig as part of '70s Night on May 24 vs. the Orioles; a Rays army hat at Heroes Night on July 5 vs. the Royals; a Rays LED Flashlight keychain on July 19 vs. the Toronto Blue Jays; a B.J. Upton figurine as part of African American Celebration Night on Aug. 2 vs. the Tigers; and a James Shields figurine on Aug. 30 vs. the Orioles.

In addition, when the Rays host the Houston Astros on Saturday, June 21 it will be '80s Night. To celebrate, the Astros will wear their colorful 1986 replicas and the Rays will wear the uniforms of the St. Petersburg Pelicans of the Senior Professional Baseball Association. The Pelicans won the championship in 1989, the league's only complete season. The first 10,000 fans in attendance that evening will receive Rays sunglasses.

This season fans will once again have the opportunity to vote on which Rays players they would like to see featured on an additional figurine and jersey t-shirt.

Tickets to 2008 Rays home games will go on sale Friday, Feb. 22 at 9 a.m. via internet only at raysbaseball.com or raysbeisbol.com. On Saturday, Feb. 23 tickets will be available at all Rays ticket outlets and the team's 2008 Fanfest presented by MetroPCS at Tropicana Field.

2008 Rays promo schedule

Source: MLB