Rays City Connect jersey honors “grit and glow” of Tampa Bay

The Rays capture Tampa Bay’s culture and history with a nod to the black road jerseys from the team’s debut season with the their skateboarding themed “Grit x Glow” City Connect.

If you could tell one story about Tampa Bay, what would it be?

It would have been easy to default to what a beautiful place it is to live, the beaches and the sun and resort atmosphere that appeals to so many tourists who visit. But the Rays standard jersey concept already encapsulates that bright shining sun, and the City Connect jersey represents an opportunity to appeal to more than just tourism to Tampa Bay.

So let me ask a different question:

If you could tell one story about the people of Tampa Bay, what would it be? Or even more specifically, how do you recognize the story of the fans themselves?

The kids who were born and raised with the Devil Rays, in the year long heat of Florida?

The people who walk the streets from Ybor to Central Avenue surrounded by street art by day and neon lights by night?

Those who understand that lived-in grit of every city in the Tampa Bay Area, but also the fun loving, laid back nature of each place’s culture?

What is Tampa Bay?

The Rays, in the description of their “Grit x Glow” jersey concept, declare that, “Tampa Bay welcomes wild ideas, surreal expression, and daring individuality.” That’s hard to argue with. Walk the streets of St. Petersburg and you will find a place where creativity and counter cultural living are embraced.

It’s within that context the Rays have brought together the grit and glow (and gradient!) of the new Rays jersey.

Yes, the new Rays jersey takes its inspiration from the original Devil Rays colors, but take a closer look and you’ll find so much more. Let’s walk through it!

Black is back!

Leading off the concept is a mottled and faded black. There was a time when the Devil Rays proudly featured the rainbow gradient over a plain black jersey, but time has aged that memory like a hat left to roast in the Florida sun on your dash.

The Tampa Bay script, written in the font of the original Devil Rays jersey, is accented by a rainbow gradient, but eagle eyed fans will note it features the colors missing from the current yellow-to-blue rainbow gradient on the re-imagined throwbacks the Rays have worn on Friday’s the last couple years.

The theme of the jersey itself is directly inspired by Tampa Bay’s unique place in history as the birthplace of skateboard culture on the east coast, and specifically Perry Harvey Sr. Park — which started locally as the Bro Bowl, the first ever publicly funded skatepark and the first skatepark to be put on the national registry of historic places. That park, like Tropicana Field, is nestled in a part of Tampa Bay’s historically Black community.

In 2013, the park was significantly expanded to include amenities that benefit the full community, embracing fun for all ages, and featuring a wide variety of art befitting its history — something this jersey seeks to do as well.

City Connect Logo Lineup

The first design element worth noting, and easily missed unless you’re peeping the under side of the hat’s brim, is the skateboard inspired “grip tape” texture the Rays have overlaid on the flaming script across the chest, as well as the numbers on the back.

Befitting the skater vibe, the flames lighting the classic Devil Rays font evoke my personal memories of reading Thrasher magazine while purchasing Nike SB’s at the mall in the early 2000’s.

Best of all, though, is the SkyRay logo on both the batting helmet and cap, the true triumph of this jersey.

It would have been so easy to throw a flaming version of the original staggered TB logo on these caps, but by bringing the Devil Ray itself into a skyborne position — as these fish are wont to do — and by using the patters on a neon light to convey the cables of the Skyway bridge and water beneath are a stroke of genius.

But that’s not the only ray on display, there’s also one doing a “stalefish” trick on a board both on the hip of the pants, and hidden inside the jersey neckline.

Also hidden in the jersey is a multifaceted nod to both the Pelicans who played in Al Lang Stadium before the Rays were born and the city flag of St. Petersburg on the jock tag.

The pelican sits in the oval that traces its routes to Devil Rays logos of old, and sits in front of three palm trees that adorn the signs marking historical landmarks in Florida.

It’s clear the team saw this new Rays jersey as an opportunity to honor and highlight the rich history of Tampa Bay.

Conclusion

If you could tell one story about Tampa Bay, what would it be?

It’s an impossible task.

The Rays, as part of the press package for the new jersey, call Tampa Bay, “A place to call home for beach bums, punk rockers, sun worshipers, sneakerheads, skaters, pirates, acrobats, bikers, wrestlers, proud weirdos, surrealists, hipsters, locals, and tourists who never went home.”

And for each of those groups, there’s something to like in this jersey.

Tampa Bay is eclectic and bold, and these jerseys are the same. At a time when so many City Connect jerseys have lacked inspiration, the Rays put everything into this swing and — for me — hit a grand slam.

In this new look I see a particular appeal to kids like me who spent their early 2000’s poorly skateboarding sun bleached streets, listening to rock music and playing Tony Hawk on my PlayStation, desperate to grab a couple comic books for that long drive back to Tropicana Field.

I’m not sure these looks will be for everyone, there are sure to be those who would prefer the muted pastels of many of Tampa Bay’s tourist and historical attractions like the Vinoy or Don CeSar, but given the opportunity it should be no surprise the Rays chose to be bold, and this design in particular brings the missing Hit Show era Devil Rays vibes back front and center.

It’s hard to ask for more in a City Connect!

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The Rays will be hosting celebrations of the new City Connect jersey on the following dates, including a launch event on May 2 is expected to be a massive, all day celebration including a half pipe, featured musicians and artists, and a drone show in the evening:

• May 2 - Celebration at St. Petersburg Pier
• May 18 - Watch Party at Pier 60, Clearwater Beach
• May 24 - Skateboard Deck giveaway at Tropicana Field
• June 1 - Watch Party at Water Works Park, Tampa
• June 15 - Watch Party at Payne Park, Sarasota
• July 24 - City Connect Keychain giveaway at Tropicana Field
• July 28 - Pete Fairbanks Bobblehead at Tropicana Field
• August 10 - “Boards for Bros” Event at Tropicana Field

The skateboarding themed night at the Trop on August 10 will transform the 162 Landing into a skateboarding course, with profits benefitting “Boards for Bros,” which seeks to outfit local kids with free skateboarding gear.

The Rays will wear the City Connect jersey 15 times this season, beginning May 3-5 against the Mets, then on Saturday home games moving for the rest of the season, as well as twice on the road (the first MLB team to rep their City Connect at multiple away games):

• May 3 vs NYM
• May 4 vs NYM
• May 5 vs NYM
• May 11 vs NYY
• May 25 vs KC
• June 8 vs BAL
• June 15 at ATL
• June 28 vs WSH
• July 13 vs CLE
• July 27 vs CIN
• August 7 at STL
• August 10 vs BAL
• August 17 vs ARI
• August 31 vs SD
• September 21 vs TOR