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Fans Celebrate Rays' Success In Downtown Tampa

Tribune photo by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER

Mayor Pam Iorio speaks to the crowd during the celebration event for the Tampa Bay Rays at Lykes Gaslight Square park.

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TBO.com

Published: November 6, 2008

Updated: 11/06/2008 03:03 pm

TAMPA - Fans turned out this afternoon to cheer the Tampa Bay Rays' remarkable season one last time.

Dozens of people attended the free rally at Lykes Gaslight Square park in downtown Tampa from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rays pitchers Dan Wheeler and Andy Sonnanstine and pitching coach Jim Hickey signed autographs while fans, some of them still sporting Rayhawks, signed a banner that will be presented to the team later.

"Thanks Rays for such a great season and especially for beating the Red Sox," David Rosenberg Sr. wrote.

"You brought lots of joy to our community. Thank you," another person wrote.

Paul Maiville, of Tampa, talked about how much fun it was to be a fan this year.

"The excitement just built with each game and our hopes just kept soaring with each game, each win, the good plays, the wonderful entertainment," he said. "The only negative thing I have to say is the umpires need some glasses."

Mayor Pam Iorio declared today "Tampa Bay Rays Appreciation Day." She talked about all the national attention during the Rays' playoff run when reporters from outside the area asked her how the Rays could be doing so well.

"How could we possibly be in the World Series? We're a city of champions. We've won the Super Bowl. We've won the Stanley Cup. We've won the Arena Bowl. We're hosting our fourth Super Bowl on Feb. 1. I said, of course, we're going to win the World Series, if not in '08, then we'll win it next year."

Tampa Bay Rays President Matthew Silverman thanked the fans for all their support during the season.

"The passion that you all displayed helped carry us to the best home record in the major leagues. From the Mohawks to the cowbells, which hopefully won't collect too much dust this offseason, to the unbridled passion you displayed at Tropicana Field during the stretch run into the playoffs, it's something none of us will ever forget," he said.

It's only about 100 days until opening day against the New York Yankees, Silverman noted.

"We look ahead to the magic of 2009."

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