Tampa Bay area businessman Vince Naimoli's deal to buy and move the San Francisco Giants falls through when National League President Bill White intervenes. Expansion franchises are awarded to Tampa Bay and Arizona. Devil Rays sign 30-year dome lease with St. Petersburg. Chuck LaMar signs on as general manager. Uniforms are unveiled.
Fans rush to the stores.
The Devil Rays announce they'll conduct spring training in St. Petersburg, becoming the first club in modern times to train in their home city. He's selected as part of the free agent amateur draft. The first Devil Rays take the field as part of the Hudson Valley Renegades, a cooperative team with the Texas Rangers in the New York-Penn league. Renegades lose 7-6. The first game involving a full Devil Rays squad takes place at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg.