Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, N.J.

I got my first taste of pro baseball back in April 1946 when my grandfather took me to see opening day with the Triple A Jersey City Giants playing the Montreal Royals, the Brooklyn Dodgers farm team, at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City. Walking into this big stadium (it held 25,000) and seeing the field that looked huge, the players, all of the surroundings and of course hot dogs (they were 10 cents) it was an awesome feeling for an eleven year old that I remember like it was yesterday. It was that day my love for the game began and today, all these many years later, I am still that giddy little kid when it comes to baseball and for the past 25 years, especially the Tampa Bay Rays.

Like many Rays fans I have been through the good, bad and ugly with this team, the lousy ownership of Naimoli, the ill fated “hit show”, some players who had no business wearing a uniform, etc. Then the new ownership with Stu Sternberg took over, brought in a new manger in Joe Maddon and things began to change. The culture of Tampa Bay Rays baseball was changed for the better and we all know, beginning in 2008 when they went to the World Series, what has taken place since. Oh, there have been a few bumps in the road since 2008, by overall with all of their post season appearances it has been a great run by the Rays. When Maddon left and Kevin Cash was brought in as the new manager many wondered if the Rays would revert back to the old days. It wasn’t easy in Cash’s first couple of years, but then things began to really change as Cash and his staff took all of the new culture and new approaches in playing the game, refined it and added more “out of the box” ways to play baseball the “Rays Way”.

Not only were the Rays on a major upswing, but so was their minor league farm system at every level. The talent pool coming out of the system seems never ending and has provided the club with some great players and also some solid players used in trades to improve the Rays. In 2020, the COVID shortened season, the Rays finished 40-20 and went to the post season and all the way to the World Series against the Dodgers, without ever playing a game at the Trop because of the pandemic. They lost to the Dodgers but it was obvious to see that the Rays were definitely a team to watch out for and then came this magical year of 2021.

This season has played out like a Hollywood movie with all the back storys of the different players on the Rays. As for this team, who are the 2021 AL East Champions, they got through a pile if injuries by using 62 total players, 39 of them pitchers and 18 rookies. It has been an amazing accomplishment for Kevin Cash, the coaches and every one of those 62 players to do all they have done to this point, but trust me this team is far from finished. After the Houston series and finishing with the Yankees the only thought on everyone’s mind is to get back to the World Series and win it this year. It is time the Rays have a championship boat parade like the Bucs and Lightning have enjoyed.

I could go on and on about all the amazing stats, the players, the emergence of Wander Franco and his stardom, the home run power of Brandon Lowe, the excitement that Randy Arozarema brings, the career year of Mike Zunino, the incredible job by the “no name” bullpen all year long and so much more. Just to show you how strong the Rays and their organization is check this out. Every team, except one, in the Rays minor league system from Triple A down to rookie level won the championship in their league, Montgomery losing out on their final game. That, my friends, is one hell of an accomplishment and bodes well for the future. Congrats to Erik Neander and his RFO staff for the fantastic job they do day in and day out to give fans the best and continually prove that money isn’t everything to put together the best team in baseball.

Now let’s finish up the season on a high note and get set for an exciting, fun filled post season with home field advantage and being able to do it in front of the Rays fans this year. Who will they face when it comes to the World Series? (Yes, I truly believe they will get there.)  Will it be the Dodgers, Giants, Brewers, Braves or Cardinals? The month of October is going to be one of the most fun ones for Rays fans and we can’t wait.

Side note: I mentioned at the top about my first ever game. Little did I know I would be part of history. That game was the pro debut of Jackie Robinson, the first black player, to integrate the game. With more than 25,000 on hand he made an immediate impression with four hits, 3 RBI, a home run, 3 stolen bases in a lopsided 14-1 win. Ironically, one of the pitchers on that Montreal team with Jackie was future Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda.

Let’s go Rays, git ‘er done!………………………..RAYS UP!!

Art Koch National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN