Ready to go retro at the ballpark?
Wearing sunglasses indoors, going heavy on the hairspray and kicking back to the retro hits of Kool & The Gang. You don't need to borrow Doc Brown's DeLorean to have it all -- just a ticket to the Tampa Bay Rays game on Saturday.
"80s Night" at Tropicana Field is Saturday, June 21, and features the Rays and Houston Astros wearing throwback jerseys. The game start moves up to 6:10 p.m. to accommodate the post-game jam by Kool & The Gang.
But the time traveling starts much earlier. Rubix Cubed, an 80s cover band, will be playing the TBT Party Deck above left field from 4:10 to opening pitch. The first 10,000 fans in the gates also receive free Rays sunglasses.
Better yet, there's an 80s costume contest. (Head to Centerfield Street in the Trop to sign up before gametime.) Every entrant gets a free Rays hat, and the winner gets two tickets the Home Plate Club for a future game. Added bonus: The finalists will be introduced on the field immediately following the game (before the concert) by yours truly and Stuck in the 80s co-host Sean Daly.
Come party with me, Sean and Rubix Cubed during the game on the TBT Party Deck. It's a cheap way to enjoy the 80s and some Rays baseball.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
Clark, thanks for confirming, at least on this matter, that I have not totally lost my mind. Indeed, that was a great concept that just never got the structure it needed.
Posted by: jane | June 20, 2008 at 05:37 PM
Jane,
Your memory is just fine. the Pelicans were St. Pete's hometown entry in the awesome-concept-poorly-executed Senior Professional Baseball League. Seriously, that league should've been awesome.
Posted by: Clark | June 20, 2008 at 04:45 PM
If my CRS (Can't Remember... Stuff) isn't interfering, I would swear that the St. Pete Pelicans were the Sr. League franchise that played here in the late '80s- early '90s. Those were some fun games -- sort of like the bizzaro minors.
Posted by: jane | June 19, 2008 at 05:37 PM
HA! That's a lot of leg, Jeff. You'd -- I'd -- sacrifice quite a bit.
Posted by: Marissa | June 19, 2008 at 05:11 PM
I'm not happy with your Rays winning two squeakers against my Cubbies. Cubs need to win tonight to stay .500 on the road. If the Rays had come to Wrigley, it would have been a fish fry. Cubbies are unstoppable at the friendly confines.
Posted by: Bassnote | June 19, 2008 at 01:42 PM
This is killing me.
Steve, Sean, 80's music, American League baseball, and minor league uniforms all rolled up into one fun-filled evening?
I'd give Marissa's left leg to be there!
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | June 19, 2008 at 01:37 PM
If I was still down in Florida I definitely would have gone. If they were playing the Cubs that would be the trifecta for me, Cubs, "80's Night" and Florida. Can't get much better than that.
Posted by: Neil | June 19, 2008 at 01:17 PM
A pelican once nipped at my hiney on a pier. Evil creature.
Posted by: Marissa | June 19, 2008 at 01:04 PM
We are actually on our THIRD jersey design here now. (I still own the first two kinds; waiting to buy the third.)
But for Saturday, the Rays will be wearing the old St. Pete Pelicans jerseys.
Posted by: Spears | June 19, 2008 at 01:02 PM
OK, I give up -- what does a Rays "throwback" jersey look like, exactly?
Posted by: David P | June 19, 2008 at 12:51 PM
::stomping feet::
I feel better now. Thanks.
Posted by: Marissa | June 19, 2008 at 12:50 PM