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World Series Glow Still Evident At Rays Fan Fest

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JIM FARQUHAR

TBO.com

Published: February 14, 2009

Updated: 02/13/2009 03:39 pm

Thousands of fans came out to Tropicana Field Saturday, but not to sit in the stands and watch the Rays play.

They came to shop, walk the field and meet the American League Champions.

Rays Fan Fest is the last chance Rays fans will have to see their team before it departs for its new spring training home in Port Charlotte.

Grown men lined up to sit in the dugout and take pictures with players.

Families with young children walked through the locker room.

"Go Rays!" said one woman, holding a toddler in her arms as she passed through the room where Kaz and Aki and Longoria get ready for games.

Long-time fan David Barclay, dressed in a blue Ray's shirt and cap, carried a bat he was going to purchase as he picked through a bin full of the now-infamous cow bells.

"I am out here because I am a diehard Rays' fan," said Barclay, as he shopped for team goodies. "I have been a Rays' fan before the Rays existed. I went to my first spring training game in 1957 and dreamed of a major league team here and we made it to the World Series after only 10 years, which isn't bad."

Fans, said Barclay, seem more excited about the start of this year.

"We got here early and the parking lot was pretty full," he said.

Jason Henbest, holding up his young son Alex, stood on the field and said he came because Alex "is a huge Rays' fan."

But the boy wasn't the only one impressed by being on the field that last saw a full house watch the Rays play their biggest games ever.

"This is pretty cool," he said.

For some fans, it is more than just fun.

The hair on the heads of the Johnson kids just grew back from the Mohawk haircuts they received during last year's pennant run.

"We are season ticket holders," said Alisha Johnson, adding that she and her family went to all the playoff and World Series home games. "They like wearing their hair in a Mohawk. We just got their hair long again, but blue Mohawks and tattoos all the way!"

Jason Lipton walked the artificial turf with his three young daughters.

"I wanted to bring them out here because this is the first time we have season tickets."

The girls, said Lipton, were excited to be here.

"They think it is neat to be on the field and touch the grass," he said.

Well, turf, anyway.

Lipton said that having been in the Tampa Bay area for 20 years, "it is great to see excitement for a local baseball team."

He said he purchased a season ticket this year to pay off a promise me made last season.

"They had a promotion," said Lipton. "Last season I got to get tickets to the playoff and World Series games if I promised to buy a season ticket this year. I went to all the playoff games. It was pretty exhausting, but fun."

Lipton said he is preparing for another fatigued October.

"I think they still have a shot," he said. "They have the same team. There is no reason they can't get back out there and get to the World Series."

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