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Celebrate Rays On Both Sides Of Bay

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By STEVEN GIRARDI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2008

Signs of the Tampa Bay Rays' improbable run for a World Series championship are popping up everywhere, from banners at Tampa City Hall to the Rays apparel dress-down days promoted for businesses by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker.

Here are some of them:

•Tampa hosts "Catch the Rays on the Riverwalk" at 6:30 p.m. today at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, adjacent to the Tampa Waterside Marriott. Team mascot Raymond will be there, along with a giant TV screen for the 7:05 p.m. Rays-Tigers game. Bring food, chairs and coolers if you like.

•The Rays host a celebration with live music at 5 p.m. Monday at Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg.

•The Rays have scheduled a similar party from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Lykes Gaslight Square in Tampa.

•Baker and the St. Petersburg City Council plan to proclaim 2008 the "Year of the Rays" and will open council meetings with a rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" until the season ends.

•Baker is rounding up support for a public greeting at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport when the team returns from Detroit about 8 p.m. Sunday.

•The Pier, on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront, will be trimmed with blue lights, reflecting the team's colors, and offer $1 off admission to its aquarium for anyone wearing a Rays shirt.

The best-of-five American League Division Series will begin next week, and the Rays' first playoff game is scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday.

Reporter Steven Girardi can be reached at (727) 451-2333 or sgirardi@tampatrib.com.

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