ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays are pulling out all the stops this July to honor the franchise’s most iconic third baseman. The team announced new details for “Longo’s Legacy Weekend,” a two-day celebration on July 11-12 that will see Evan Longoria inducted into the Rays Hall of Fame and his No. 3 jersey officially retired.
The festivities begin Saturday, July 11, before the Rays face off against the Seattle Mariners at 4:10 p.m. Longoria will formally enter the Rays Hall of Fame during a pregame ceremony. The first 10,000 fans through the gates at Tropicana Field will receive a commemorative Evan Longoria snapback hat, sponsored by Union Home Mortgage.
The celebration continues Sunday, July 12, when the Rays permanently retire Longoria’s No. 3 jersey. To mark the occasion, rock band Tantric will be on hand to perform a live version of “Down and Out,” the iconic track that served as Longoria’s walk-up song throughout his career in Tampa Bay. The first 10,000 fans at Sunday’s game will take home an Evan Longoria bobblehead presented by DEX.
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Following the game, the party moves across the street, where Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill will host Tantric for a postgame concert starting at 5 p.m.
“Evan Longoria’s contributions on and off the field were transformative for the Tampa Bay Rays franchise. He delivered countless memorable moments for our fans and set a standard for professionalism that has impacted countless players in our organization,” Rays President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander said. “His legacy in Tampa Bay endures to this day. He helped establish a winning culture and left an indelible mark on this franchise and community. We couldn’t be prouder to induct Evan into the Rays Hall of Fame.”
Fans attending games throughout the weekend will see specially branded “Longo’s Legacy Weekend” baseballs used in play. Inside Tropicana Field’s Gate 1, the team will showcase custom chalk art honoring the third baseman. A pop-up barbershop will also be set up inside the stadium, offering fans Longoria-inspired haircuts, including the “Draft Day cut,” the “Longo-Hawk,” and the “Big #3.” Exclusive merchandise will be available at the Bay Republic Team Store.
Longoria will also make an impact off the field during the weekend by returning to the “Reading with the Rays” program. Sponsored by Suncoast Credit Union, the initiative encourages local students to read for at least 24 hours over the summer to prevent learning loss. Longoria was a major champion of the program from 2013 to 2017, hosting 12 events during that span. For this weekend’s closed community event, he will read to children at the President Barack Obama Main Library in St. Petersburg.
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