Plenty of attractions at Rays bash

Monday's celebration at St. Petersburg's Pier was a study in sensory overload. Thousands of Rays fans crowded the downtown location taking up the ground and top levels of the building.

There was an earnest but comical rendition of "Take me out to the ballgame," performed by members of the St. Petersburg City Council. And Mayor Rick Baker took to the stage armed with a guitar and performed with the Sunburn band.  A fan on a unicycle rode through the crowd tossing baseballs and other trinkets honoring the Rays win. Blue and yellow streamers were thrown through the air throughout the festivities.

Some in attendance wondered if the Rays would show up at the event. The players were not scheduled to attend. Still the crowd exuded excitement and pride.

"We're not going into this as the underdogs," said Jill Marie, a Pinellas Park resident. "We're solid!"

-- Nicole Hutcheson, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[Kevin Youkilis]

waaa waaaaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaa waaa

Manny: Slap!!!

WAAA WAAAAAA WAAAAAAAAA

[Craig]

Why weren't the Rays at my last birfday party???? waaaaahhhh

Oh and Rick Baker has been supporting the Rays for years - he used to be very visible at spring training games, and appeared to be enjoying BASEBALL and not just trying for a photo op.

Don't choke on your haterade, mary.

[marquelle gulley]

Thats what im talking about , yall looking good out there.

[marquelle gulley]

thats wat im talkin about boys yall out there looking raw like my football team

[Brian J]

Hey guys, let's be sophisticated enough to enjoy this. It's kind of a jinx to be too celeberatory before the series.

[haha]

I like the term "World" Series...haha I guess it is because the majority of the good players are from other parts of the world!

[QB1]

RayF:

I've actually been to many games over the years and own a Wade Boggs Rays jersey from back in the day. Believe me, I have supported this team when the majority have not. It angers me when whiners like Scott and others make stupid comments about Rays players or team management not showing up at Rick "anti new stadium" Bakers pier party. I'd LOVE to know how many Rays games Baker and his friends of the city council have acutally attended prior to this season. Way to jump on that bandwagon Rickster.

[M & M]

Rays are the next "World Series Champs", Obama next president of the U.S. (NOT!!!!)

[RFN]

John - It actually shows how smart they are. They are all going to see their personal taxes go up (they each make more than $250K), but they care more about their country than their own wallets.

Go RAYS!

[todd]

Ray F, because that is what people do these days. If their team or candidate doesn't win, they belittle the ones that do win. I see it on the boards and blogs all the time. Shamefully, it's what our country has turned into.
Personally, I'm riding the wave of fun. Go Rays.

[Ray F]

Listen to all you whiners.

The Rays players didn't need to be at the Pier. Why do some people need to be a**holes on here and talk trash about this team???

There was never a promise made that the players would be there. The city of St Pete wanted to have a community get-together to show appreciation and allow other fans to mingle and have a good time celebrating the win.

To Scott, QB1 and tunamanz: get lives you losers. Why do people like you have to try and ruin a city trying to have good fun?

The unicycler was there? I here i chose to go to a neighborhood association meeting.

But in all seriousness, Go Rays!

And Scott and John, don't go spoiling a good thing.

[Dave]

Obama IS more important than fans. He's the next President of the United States.

[tunamanz]

What a disgrace that Obama is more important then the fans. I was there and it was less then impressive. Fans show up to support the team and they can't even show up. At the very least the owner and team president should have been there. How the heck do you expect to get a new stadium when you can't even support the fans that support you? It takes more then just having a great team to win over community support.

[tim]

Don't worry; the players will show up when Sternberg orders them to poor-mouth beg for his new stadium.

[QB1]

Rick Baker playing guitar with the Sunburn band sounds like a helluva "throw down" if you ask me. And they even had a unicycler there? Now that is a riveting party St.Pete. You guys really know how to turn it up. The whole bar area should have been given the day off to be a part of Rick Bakers party. LOL

[QB1]

He Scott:

Get a clue you bitter critter. The players are coming off an intense and emotional 7 game series against the defending world champs and are two days away from starting the World Series. They were most likely celebrating with their teammates and families until early Monday morning. Maybe if you blue haired tight wads from St.Pete supported them more during the regular season they would show up at your half assed pier party.

Some people just can't seem to come in from the rain.

[cg]

Even still, it was only a handful of Rays at the Obama rally, and they should be commended for caring about that on their off day. The guys can't do it all. Rest is good, I can guarantee they will be at other major events coming up, say World Series game 1 this Wednesday, and that is all that there is to it.

Why would the Rays spend the day hanging out with a loser like Rick Baker when they had an opportunity to meet the next President of the United States of America in person?!?!

[Paul]

Nothing says FUN like posing with the mayor St. Pete city council. I can't blame them. I'm sure they will show up if they win the Series. Time for them to be relaxed and focused, not celebratory.

[mr.baseball]

I don't blame them for not showing up, a lot of them probably had late nights last night....they deserve to take it easy

[John]

I thought our players were smart enough not to support Obama.
I still love the rays though

[Joey]

I heard that the players wanted to spend the evening with their families. Can't blame them - no one said they'd be at the party. As for going to the Obama rally at noon, it shows they care about their country as much as they do about their sports. GO RAYS!!!

[Scott]

I saw 5 players taking the time to be at the Obama rally at noon today ... we could get not one at the Pier Celebration????

Shame on you Rays for not showing up.