The Tampa Bay Rays will hold their annual Fan Fest this Saturday with a number of opportunities for collectors.
As part of a charity ‘yard sale’, the team is offering game-used and autographed memorabilia, some dating back to the inaugural season of 1998. Among the items for sale are game-used and autographed bats, baseballs, jerseys, batting helmets and lineup cards. There will be authenticated game-used baseballs from the 2008 playoffs, authenticated champagne bottles from 2008 playoff celebrations, authenticated game tickets from Rays first-ever no-hitter and autographed clubhouse player nameplates.
Forty former major league players will be signing autographs for free throughout the day.
For $25 fans can purchase one-by-one foot squares of Tropicana Field’s playing surface that was removed earlier this month. It is the turf on which the Rays won two American League East Championships and an American League pennant. Also on sale at the same price are one-by-one foot squares of the carpet from the Rays clubhouse still soaked with champagne from the Rays 2010 postseason clinching celebration.
Admission and parking are free for the event, and a $40 charitable donation will allow fans the opportunity to get autographs from players and coaches. Autographs for season ticket holders and kids 14 and under are free.
Proceeds from Fan Fest will go to the Rays Baseball Foundation, the families of slain St. Petersburg policemen Sergeant Thomas Baitinger and K-9 Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz, the ALS Association and the Salvation Army Centers in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Bradenton.
