The Tampa Bay Rays are planning on holding a Turn Back the Clock game where they will wear the uniforms of the 1979 Tampa Bay Rays.
What’s that you say? There were no Rays in 1979? Well, you’d be right, and the Rays have created “faux-back” uniforms as if they did exist in 1979.
The uniforms include most of the classic elements of the uniforms of the era:
The logo and jersey script is not the same as the current 2012 Rays looks, it’s all been re-created to look as if it was designed in the ’70s.
Unfortunately they did not go with elastic waist-band on the pants, but really that’s the only thing they missed in this near-perfect set.
Some examples of MLB uniforms from 1979, the Brewers on the left; Phillies on the right
The opposite of the horrid “Turn Ahead the Clock” games held in 1999 where teams went forward to 2027, this new promotion creates all sorts of opportunities in the future for other clubs – clubs around the league, regardless of their establishment date, can now turn back to the 1920s, 1950s… I can’t wait to see what the Miami Marlins would do with a 1970s look!
The Rays have yet to unveil this uniform, so I won’t be sharing the photo, but I’m very confident this promotion will be a hit – kudos to the Tampa Bay Rays and whomever came up with this concept.
The 1979 Tampa Bay Rays turn-back-the-clock game will be held on Saturday, June 30th against the Detroit Tigers where “Earth, Wind, and Fire” will also be performing after the game. The Tigers are unfortunately not taking part in the promotion.
If you live in the Tampa Bay area, you HAVE to go to this game.
UPDATE (June 12, 8:57am): Some more details of how this uniform looks:
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Chris Creamer is the founder of SportsLogos.Net and has been maintaining it since June 1997. You can follow him on Twitter at @sportslogosnet or contact him via email at ccreamer@sportslogos.net
Daniel K.
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 09:31Neat.
patsox
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 09:46This sounds awesome. CANNOT WAIT to see this!
Larry
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 10:02Building fake history & branding into a team that has neither history or a strong brand... HMMM...
Kid Ghetto
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 11:36The Rays still have more history than [whatever team you support], and [star player of whatever team you support] is so overrated it's ridiculous.
Dontee'
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 15:54I hear some haters in the room! Right now I would like to apologize to all of you RAYS haters out there for our lack of history. Fortunately we ARE building history by winning the AL east 2 outta the past four years... If were you I would try to figure out why the tea m with the lowest payroll and lowest attendance keeps on winning dispite being a tacky organization with limited history? Again . From the Mayor of the RAYS REPUBLIC WE ARW SORRY!
Dontee'
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 15:57I hear some haters in the room! Right now I would like to apologize to all of you RAYS haters out there for our lack of history. Fortunately we ARE building history by winning the AL east 2 outta the past four years... If I were you I would try to figure out why the tea m with the lowest payroll and lowest attendance keeps on winning dispite being a tacky organization with limited history? Again . From the Mayor of the RAYS REPUBLIC WE ARE SORRY!
Tim
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 10:18That's wierd i'm just getiing a pic of a Paul Moiitor & Pete Rose card but no article.
Pinstriper
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 10:20I have to agree with Larry seems a bit silly to create a fake history. As a one-off it might be fun, but if it spreads, it will just seem dumb to me,
F19
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 10:27Cool idea, but I'm not sure how I feel about teams inventing a fake history out of thin air. As for the Rays' Florida rivals and the possibility of them doing something similar, there were Miami Marlins teams in the past, so they wouldn't have to make up history. And unlike the current Miami Marlins, the old team's jerseys did not suck: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNqmg5lWjqA/TeMWPJ3Tx7I/AAAAAAAAH4Y/yh9T4OPcFUQ/s1600/1968%2BJim%2BPalmer%2BMiami%2BMarlins.jpg
Anthony
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 11:25this is pretty cool
A. Smith
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 13:26I loved the pullover jerseys back in the day. I'm trying to remember why they stopped using them in the majors? They seemed a lot more neat than the often times sloppy button-ups currently in use.
Aaron
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 16:47Dear Lord, this is awesome. Too bad the Tigers have decided to play party poopers.
John Czech
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 00:10Hopefully the Tigers wear their old 70's road uni's. Be nice to see those again.
Peter Findley
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 02:29nothing like a MAJOR league team to pull a promotional stunt a minor league team would do. this screams tacky and reeks of desperation. this is to bring in as much cash as possible with ticket sales and merchadise sales. baseball is the most traditional sport in the country and it's one of the things that makes it great. when teams do something like this is sh*ts all over it. making something up just for the sake of making something up. as uptight as Selig is i'm surprised he's allowing something like this, but he sees the dollar signs too. it's a shame the Rays can't draw fans, they're a good team and have been for the past few years. when they do draw a big crowd it's either band wagoners late in the season and into the playoffs or when the Yankees come to town and the crowd is 80% Yankee fans.
11in '11
Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 22:45Why does everybody act surprised and/or offended when they suspect a team is "just trying to make money"? Way to go, Sherlock...how did you ever crack that case? Why WOULDN'T they want to make money?
Ben
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 10:42hey Peter, sounds like you have no idea what has been happening with the Rays. Before you begin commenting, why don't you check out a few games in person. I think you'll see something different than what you posted here.
Peter Findley
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 13:46i see EXACTLY what i commented...
ingmar66
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 11:21Any idea as creative as this one deserves credit, even if the object is unmistakenly to make an extra buck or two. I am very curious about the uniform and hope the devil ray will be featured somewhere as well (sleeve patch? Happy seventies cartoon version?).
Aaron
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 12:48I just pictured the Rays in the faux backs now. As long as it's just for the odd game, that'll be just fine.
Sean Carter
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 17:32it will be interesting to see what the tampa bay rays will come up for seventies flash back uniforms and their logo
TimL
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 23:38Chris, you mention the '99 Turn-the-clock-ahead jersey promo. Any links to some photos of these atrocities?
Bobby
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 00:14I think this is a great idea. Too bad the Tigers won't be participating in this promo. I'll be getting one of these hats for sure.
11in '11
Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 22:40When will we get to see the throwbacks? I think it is a great idea...it's a way to bring in newer teams to the throwback craze...and a way better idea than turn-ahead the clock uniforms (yikes)
Bab
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 16:31I would love to see the Blue Jays throw back to the 50s/60s.
don shontz
Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 02:21the patch on the left sleeve is some kind of city patch that says "city of st petersburg florida" reincorporated but cant make out what the rest says.It has a pelican on a beach with a palm tree and a sun http://www.wtsp.com/news/photo-gallery.aspx?storyid=260260