Last of the 300
The Tampa Bay Rays recently announced that they would be closing off the 300 level of Tropicana Field for the upcoming season, in order to create a “more intimate” experience for fans, though I’m sure that cost-cutting also played a major factor in the decision. While the upper deck has slowly seen its population dwindle over the past few seasons, some of us are still lamenting the loss of our original baseball home. I thought it would be fun to share some of my memories from the 300 level, always the best seats in the house.
July 8, 2005
Tigers 7 – Rays 3 Attendance: 10,582
What could be so memorable about a random game in the middle of July? Well, to be quite honest, I don’t actually remember much about this game because it was the first stop on my tour of Tampa bachelor party. What I do remember is that rookie Scott Kazmir started for the Rays and hit Placido Polanco on the very first pitch of the game. The Tigers proceeded to hang four runs on the 21-year old in the first inning. We had seats in the front section of either 311 or 313 on the third-base side, but at that point decided it would be more fun to go all the way up to the top of the section, where the already thin crowd was non-existent. In the bottom of the first, Tigers pitcher Nate Robertson was ejected on his first pitch, which sailed behind Carl Crawford (presumably in retaliation for Kazmir’s HBP). The rest of the game was spent guzzling eight dollar beers that, thankfully, I did not have to pay for.
June 25, 2006
Braves 4 – Rays 1 Attendance: 20,556
Another mid-season game of no real consequence, this one holds a few interesting memories for me. First, my wife and I had been able to buy a six-game ticket pack for Sunday games which, while not exactly season tickets, was not easy while living paycheck to paycheck. We got to sit in the same seats each game (section 300, row P, seats 1 and 2, to be exact) so it felt like season tickets. Those were our seats! Second, this was a busier game than usual, so the only parking we could find was in a lot directly under Interstate 275 by Lighthouse Books, about a ten-minute walk from the stadium. Of course, anyone who has lived in Florida can tell you that the only time you can guarantee rain is during a summer afternoon. It may not rain for long, but it’s going to happen and you will be soaked (hence, the reason the Rays play in a dome). As we entered the stadium, drenched and freezing, my wife noticed a credit card application table that was giving out oversized beach towels with every application. Knowing full well that we would not get approved for the card, we filled out the application and spent the game in our seats (our seats!) huddled together under the towel. Third, I experienced one of the most important moments of my sports fandom at this game. You see, the Atlanta Braves are the team of my youth, as part of my family is from Georgia and we had no Florida teams until 1993. The Rays had been my American League team since their inception (I moved to Tampa in 1997), but they were still number two in my heart. Anyone who has ever watched a Rays game knows that I’m not the only who had trouble letting go of their favorite team growing up. It’s why some games seem like home games for the other team. But at some point during the game, Bobby Cox, the Atlanta manager, came out to argue a call. And I booed him. I booed the man that had led my team to fourteen consecutive divisional titles and a World Series championship in 1995. I couldn’t help myself. That’s when it finally set in that the Rays were truly my number one team and the Braves were now just my National League team.
October 2, 2008
Rays 6 – White Sox 4 Attendance: 35,041
After ten years of permanent residence at the bottom of the American League East, the Rays had finally arrived on the national stage. This was the team’s first postseason game and this time we sat on the first base side. We were back up towards the top of the section, though this time it was because that’s where the available seats were. The stadium was loud and the crowd was electric, showing that there may actually be a solid fan base for the team. This game was also the coming out party for a rookie third baseman named Evan Longoria. Evan smashed home runs in his first two plate appearances, finishing with three hits, three runs batted in, and he even threw in a stolen base for good measure. We celebrated after with a dinner at Outback that didn’t cost us a thing (thanks, Neil!).
I have a few more memories from section 300 (including Game 1 of the ALCS and another featuring a huge home run from Travis Lee against Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon), but these are the ones that stand out the most. What are some of you’re favorite memories from the upper deck at Tropicana Field? Let me know by using the comment section below.
