Rays unveil all-time Al Lang team

The Rays named 25 players - including 21 Hall of Famers - to their all-time Al Lang Field (and Waterfront Park) team today, picking from the Boston Braves (1922-37), New York Yankees (1925-42, 1946-50, 1952-61), St. Louis Cardinals (1938-42, 1946-97), New York Giants (1951), New York Mets (1962-87), Baltimore Orioles (1992-95) and Tampa Bay Rays (1998-2008).

Their choices:
Catcher -  Yogi Berra, Gary Carter
First base - Stan Musial, Lou Gehrig
Second base - Rogers Hornsby, Red Schoendienst
Third base - Wade Boggs, Ken Boyer|
Shortstop - Ozzie Smith, Cal Ripken
Outfield - Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Monte Irvin, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Lou Brock, Babe Ruth, Darryl Strawberry
Starting pitchers - Bob Gibson, Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Whitey Ford, Steve Carlton
Relief pitchers - Dennis Eckersley, Lee Smith

Going to the game?

If you don't have tickets for Friday's final spring training game in St. Petersburg, you might be out of luck. Or you had better head down early to Progress Energy Park, home of Al Lang Field.
The Rays announced Thursday night the game was sold out except for scattered singles and limited berm seating. The stadium box office opens at 10. There will be TV (FSN) and radio (1250-AM) coverage and, of course, The Heater's live blog.

Share your memories from Al Lang Field

Friday marks the end of an era at Al Lang Field, when the Tampa Bay Rays are scheduled to play their last spring training game, against the Cincinnati Reds.

The game signals the end of a more than 90-year history between the city of St. Petersburg and spring training, decades that spawned countless ballpark memories for residents and visitors.

Share your memories here and we'll highlight them on tampabay.com and possibly in the St. Petersburg Times on Saturday.

Check the Times on Friday for a series of ballpark memories by famous baseball players.

Mitchell Klein yells "Jeter" during a Yankees-Rays game with his grandfather Jerry Charnow at Al Lang Field on March 2: Dirk Shadd | Times