The Tampa Bay Rays today unveiled their 1979 “fauxback” uniforms that they’ll be wearing next Saturday, June 30th against the Detroit Tigers.
SportsLogos.Net reported on this news over two weeks ago and now we’re pleased to be able to finally share the photo with everyone. In case you are unaware, the Rays will be wearing uniforms from 1979 as if the team actually existed back then – Tampa Bay’s first season was actually 19 years later in 1998.
The Rays uniforms will be navy blue pullovers with powder blue sleeves, a lowercase “rays” wordmark across the front. A matching cap with powder blue front panel and “tb” logo with sunburst is part of the set.
On the sleeve of the Rays uniform is a patch of the City of St Petersburg, Florida seal. The MLB logo will be present on the back of the uniforms, as well as the Majestic logo on sleeve and pant pocket.
The Tigers will be wearing these 1979 uniforms for the game against Tampa Bay on June 30th
The Detroit Tigers will also take part in this event, wearing their actual road uniform design from the 1979 season. The Tigers uniform will be grey pullovers with DETROIT arched across the front in navy blue trimmed in orange. The cap will be navy blue with an orange and white “D”.
More information below from the official Tampa Bay Rays press release from earlier today:
Tampa Bay Rays Press Release
The Tampa Bay Rays will turn back the clock to 1979 when the Detroit Tigers visit Tropicana Field on Saturday, June 30 at 7:15 p.m. Tropicana Field will be accented in a ‘70s theme and Earth Wind & Fire will perform following the conclusion of the game as part of the Rays 2012 Summer Concert Series produced by Ruth Eckerd Hall on the Road. This marks the tenth “Turn Back the Clock” game in Rays history.
The Rays have designed a hypothetical uniform from 1979 that is intended to be a lasting fixture for Rays fans, fully embracing the style of the era while keeping the Rays modern colors. A patch on the left sleeve of the jersey features a City of St. Petersburg seal that was used in 1979.
“We want to thank our great partners at Majestic Athletic and Major League Baseball for helping bring this unique concept to life,” said Rays Senior Vice President Mark Fernandez. “Everyone with the Rays is excited to make this an annual event, and something Rays fans will look forward to every year with great anticipation, starting with our Turn Back the Clock night on June 30.”
The Tigers will wear a uniform based on their actual 1979 road gray jersey. Versions of the select jersey were worn by Detroit from 1972 until 1993.
The ’79 Tigers finished fifth in the American League East, 18 games behind the Baltimore Orioles, with an 85-76 record. That season the Tigers hired Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson during the middle of June. Anderson skippered the Tigers for the next 17 seasons, winning one pennant and one World Series title, while winning AL Manager of the Year two seasons (1984, ’87).
The Rays retro jerseys will be auctioned off on raysbaseball.com following the game with proceeds benefitting the Moffitt Cancer Center and the Rays Baseball Foundation.
Merchandise will be available June 25 at the Rays Team Store at Tropicana Field (1 Tropicana Dr.), Rays Pro Shop in Downtown Tampa (400 N. Tampa St.), Sports Fan Attic, Lids Locker Room and other participating retailers, or online at raysbaseball.com.
Single game tickets for Rays 2012 regular season home games are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Rays Tampa Store (400 N. Tampa St.) and the Gate 1 Tropicana Field Box Office, as well as over the phone at 888-FAN-RAYS and 1-800-745-3000, or online at raysbaseball.com.
Article Categories:
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
Harvey
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 17:10Highly imitative of the '78 Padres jerseys, complete with the city name in caps and the Rays in that funky Padres font. The classics never die...
Gerald Rose
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 17:48quite possibly the ugliest uniform i have ever seen
Michael
Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 11:44Really? The ugliest you ever seen?
11in '11
Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 18:55Like anybody could possibly know that.
Nathan2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 19:39I feel there should be more yellow or none at all. I think the numbers should be powder blue outlined by white.
Kevin H.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 19:57I think this is brilliant... Brings excitement to the fan base as well as players and of course generates revenue! It's a win - win!
Matt
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 22:09nice design, i like the idea!
carg0
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 22:55i love'em but there's way too much blue and not enough contrasting yellow. whoever created them obviously took a lot of inspiration from the San Diego Padres: http://www.footballfanatics.com/MLB_San_Diego_Padres_Jerseys_Mens/Majestic_San_Diego_Padres_Cooperstown_Throwback_Replica_Jersey-Brown
Mark
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 23:28C'mon, judging from their 90s unis we all know their 70s unis would be covered in rainbows! :P
Sean Carter
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 23:40tampa bay have groovy look for their turn back clock game with tigers
Paul
Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 00:42While reaching back to 1979, perhaps the Rays can pull some fans back into 2012 to fill all of their empty seats. The Tampa experiment was tried and has failed miserably (off the field, not on). It's time to move on or contract. Enough of this farce called MLB in Tampa/St Pete.
Steve
Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 04:20Ok!! Why have the powder blues become common as "home" throwbacks?? I'm talking about recently, the Dodgers, Blue Jays and coming up, the Rangers. Powder blue's were always worn on the road! Why don't the Rays mock up a home white version and wear that? Maybe something like the 79 Padres home style. These are gonna look terrible next the Tigers road grays. gray vs. powder blue don't mix. eh :/ Just some thoughts.
DMadSport
Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 07:00Lots and lots of blue. Most definitely inspired by the late '70s Padres uniforms. Does anyone think "grapefruit" when looking at that sunburst within the Rays script?
Ron
Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 11:14Now we know why Davey Johnson called Joe Maddon a "weird wuss."
Chris
Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 15:05Hahah wow this is an interesting development. Only Joel Madden can pull off this kind of senseless move. Tigers win the game purely based on the uni's
ingmar66
Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 18:24Looks like the Padres and the old Kintetsu Buffaloes from Japan. It's not bad, but a little more yellow would have been great. And a jolly cartoon stingray on the sleeve instead of a St Pete city seal. The hat is really cool, but the sun should have pointy rays. This is too much like a grapefruit, as mentioned above, or a bicycle wheel. Or, to keep in spirit with the Kintetsu team, the chrysantheum of the Yamato emperor dynasty. Purray Boooooru!
Aaron
Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 18:55I think this definitely screams San Diego Padres from the late 70's. Two minor adjustments to these faux backs... 1) The sun could use the rays. 2) instead of the St. Pete's symbol, use the devil ray on the sleeve, just like the Padres did with their friar logo. As far as the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, perhaps moving the Rays to downtown Tampa with a new convertible stadium would help bolster attendance for this team. Downtown St. Pete's isn't bad, as long it's easily accessible for fans.
JJHoser
Friday, June 22, 2012 at 09:11http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1122283-the-most-hideous-uniform-in-the-history-of-each-mlb-team/page/24 Look no further. The obvious uniform on which this Rays one is based can be found in that link. I love this idea and uniform. I just think its funny how it is a complete copy of the Padres.
Jeff L
Friday, June 22, 2012 at 11:50I like that Detroit has gotten into the spirit of the game and are wearing their true throwback uniforms from that year.
Jeriat
Friday, June 22, 2012 at 15:15If the Rays are doing this, then the D-backs, Rockies, and Marlins better do it, too.
B. A. Smith
Friday, June 22, 2012 at 21:02Would'nt it make more sence for them to use the original name the Devil Rays? Also use the old colors as if they used them until recent. Or is it kind of a thing as if they started as the Rays, used blue, went to the Devil Rays in the '90's, went green, then went back to the Rays and the color blue? Should've tried theDevil Rays in a "shag carpet" sort of green. Would've been cool I think.
Uncle Al
Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 17:12You are correct, B.A. Smith, good eye! As for me, I'm bothered by the fact the pants include not only belt loops, but ohmygawd, there's a REAL BELT! We all know the full 70's uniform ALWAYS included a sans-a-belt at the waist!
Nathaniel Melvin
Monday, June 25, 2012 at 09:36Will June 25 be the day where they sell the whol uniform (the jersey and hat)? Great article by the way!