Citi Field – From The Middle Blog

The Tampa Bay Rays have one of the most unusual histories in Major League Baseball. The franchise began play in 1998 as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, endured years of losing baseball, changed its name to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, immediately reached the World Series, and eventually became one of baseball’s most innovative small-market organizations. The franchise has won two American League pennants — in 2008 and 2020 — but has never won a World Series. Through 2026, the Rays have established themselves as one of baseball’s most successful organizations at developing players, making trades and competing despite operating in a relatively small market. The Birth of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay Tampa Bay spent decades trying to obtain a Major League Baseball team. On March 9, 1995, MLB awarded an expansion franchise to an ownership group led by Vincent J. Naimoli. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks were approved as MLB’s two expansion franchises for the 1998 season. The Devil Rays played their first regular-season game in 1998. The early years were extremely difficult. Tampa Bay finished last in the American League East in six consecutive seasons from 1998 through 2003 and again from 2005 through 2007. Everything changed after the 2007 season. The organization changed its name from the Devil Rays to the Tampa Bay Rays, adopted a new identity and began the 2008 season with a dramatically improved roster. The Rays went from years of last-place finishes to winning the American League pennant in their first season under the new name. Rays Ownership History 1. Vincent J. Naimoli and the Original Ownership Group — 1998–2005 Vincent J. Naimoli was the driving force behind bringing Major League Baseball to Tampa Bay. Naimoli led the original ownership group when the Devil Rays were awarded the expansion franchise. The group included Naimoli and several Tampa Bay-area investors. Naimoli remained the principal figure in the franchise’s ownership during its difficult first years. He brought Major League Baseball to the Tampa Bay region, but the team’s early struggles eventually led to a change in control. MLB describes Naimoli as the original owner and the person who led the group that brought the franchise to Tampa Bay. 2. Stuart Sternberg — 2005–2025 Stuart Sternberg became the franchise’s principal owner in October 2005. His ownership represented the turning point in Rays history. Sternberg hired Andrew Friedman to lead baseball operations and eventually oversaw the transformation from the struggling Devil Rays into the innovative Tampa Bay Rays. The biggest change came after the 2007 season, when the organization dropped “Devil” from its name. Under Sternberg, the Rays: Won the 2008 American League pennant Reached the 2008 World Series Won the AL East in 2008, 2010 and 2020 Reached the postseason repeatedly Won another American League pennant in 2020 Developed one of baseball’s strongest player-development systems Sternberg ultimately sold the franchise in 2025 after two decades as principal owner. 3. Patrick Zalupski-Led Ownership Group — 2025–Present The sale of the Rays was completed on September 30, 2025. The new ownership group is led by: Patrick Zalupski — Managing Partner and Co-Chair Bill Cosgrove — Co-Chair Ken Babby — Chief Executive Officer The ownership group also includes a broader collection of investors and an executive advisory board. Zalupski’s group became the third major ownership group in franchise history following Naimoli and Sternberg. One of the new ownership group’s primary goals is establishing a permanent future home for the Rays in the Tampa Bay area. In August 2026, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners approved the Rays’ proposed “Forever Home” ballpark agreement following approval by the Tampa City Council. The proposed new stadium is planned as part of a larger development at the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus. Every Ballpark the Rays Have Called Home The Rays’ history includes considerably more ballparks than most fans realize. Hillsborough College Dale Mabry— St. Petersburg, Florida 1998–2024; 2026–present Tropicana Field has been the Rays’ primary home since their inaugural season. The facility originally opened in 1990 as the Florida Suncoast Dome, later became known as the ThunderDome, and was renamed Tropicana Field in 1996. The Rays played their first season there in 1998 and returned there in 2026 after a one-season absence caused by hurricane damage. Tropicana Field hosted the Rays’ first World Series games in 2008. The Ballpark at Disney’s Wide World of Sports / Champion Stadium 2007 and 2008 The Rays played regular-season games at Disney’s complex in Lake Buena Vista. They hosted the Texas Rangers there in May 2007 and the Toronto Blue Jays in April 2008, going a combined 6-0 in those games. Tokyo Dome — Tokyo, Japan 2004 The Devil Rays played two regular-season games against the New York Yankees at Tokyo Dome on March 30–31, 2004. Tampa Bay won the opener 8-3 but lost the second game 12-1, giving the club a 1-1 record in Tokyo. Citi Field — New York 2017 Citi Field forced the Rays to relocate their scheduled series against the Yankees from Tropicana Field to Citi Field. Tampa Bay served as the home team and went 1-2 in the three-game series. Petco Park — San Diego 2020 postseason Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 American League Division Series and Championship Series were played at neutral sites. The Rays played at Petco Park and went 5-2 there while defeating the Yankees in the AL Division Series and Houston Astros in the AL Championship Series. Globe Life Field — Arlington, Texas 2020 World Series The entire 2020 World Series was played at Globe Life Field. Tampa Bay was officially the home team for Games 3, 4 and 5. George M. Steinbrenner Field — Tampa, Florida 2025 Hurricane Milton severely damaged Tropicana Field in October 2024. As a result, the Rays played their entire 2025 home schedule at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ spring-training facility and the home of the Tampa Tarpons. Tampa Bay went 41-40 at Steinbrenner Field in 2025. Cooperstown Hall of… Continue reading Tampa Bay Rays: A Complete History

The New York Mets entered Major League Baseball in 1962 as an expansion franchise created to bring National League baseball back to New York after the Dodgers and Giants left for California. The Mets struggled badly during their first seven seasons, but everything changed in 1969 when the “Miracle Mets” shocked baseball by winning the World Series. Since then, the Mets have produced Hall of Famers, Rookie of the Year winners, Cy Young Award winners, legendary pitchers, powerful hitters and two World Series championships. The Mets have played their entire history in Queens and Manhattan, first at the Polo Grounds, then Shea Stadium and, since 2009, Citi Field. The Beginning of the Mets The Mets were officially established in 1960 and began play in 1962. The franchise was awarded to New York after the departure of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants left the National League without a team in New York. The team’s colors—blue and orange—were chosen to represent the two former New York National League clubs. The Mets played their first regular-season game on April 11, 1962, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals 11–4. Their first home game was played at the Polo Grounds on April 13, 1962, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mets lost that game 4–3. The franchise’s first victory came April 23, 1962, when New York defeated Pittsburgh 9–1. The early Mets became famous for losing. They finished last in the National League in each of their first seven seasons. Then came 1969. New York Mets Owners The Mets have had several different ownership eras. Joan Whitney Payson — 1962–1975 Joan Whitney Payson was the Mets’ original owner and the first woman to own a Major League Baseball team. She was an important figure in bringing National League baseball back to New York and remained one of the most devoted owners in baseball. Payson died in 1975. Charles Shipman Payson — 1975–1980 After Joan Payson’s death, ownership passed to her husband, Charles Shipman Payson. The Payson family continued to control the Mets until the franchise was sold in 1980. Doubleday & Company — 1980–1986 In 1980, the Mets were sold to a group headed by Nelson Doubleday Jr. and publishing company Doubleday & Company. The purchase price was approximately $21.1 million. Nelson Doubleday Jr. and Fred Wilpon — 1986–2002 Fred Wilpon became increasingly important in Mets ownership after the 1980 purchase. In 1986, Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday Jr. became the principal owners. This ownership era coincided with the Mets’ greatest team of the 1980s and the 1986 World Series championship. Sterling Equities / Wilpon and Katz Families — 2002–2020 Fred Wilpon and his family eventually became the controlling owners through Sterling Equities. The Wilpon era included the 2000 National League pennant and the 2015 National League pennant. Steve Cohen — 2020–Present In 2020, billionaire businessman Steve Cohen purchased the Mets for approximately $2.4 billion. Cohen became the controlling owner and ushered in a new era of aggressive spending and high expectations. Every Mets Home Ballpark 1. Polo Grounds 1962–1963 The Mets played their first two seasons at the historic Polo Grounds in Manhattan. The Polo Grounds had previously been home to the New York Giants and was one of baseball’s most unusual stadiums. The Mets won 56 games at the Polo Grounds during their two seasons there. The final Mets game at the Polo Grounds was played September 18, 1963. 2. Shea Stadium 1964–2008 Shea Stadium opened in 1964 and became the Mets’ home for 45 seasons. It was named for William A. Shea, the attorney who helped bring National League baseball back to New York. Shea became the setting for the Mets’ greatest moments, including: 1969 World Series 1973 National League pennant 1986 World Series 1988 NL East championship 2000 National League pennant The Mets played their final game at Shea Stadium on September 28, 2008. 3. Citi Field 2009–Present The Mets opened Citi Field in 2009. The ballpark was constructed next to the site of Shea Stadium and incorporates architectural features inspired by Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. The Mets played their first regular-season game at Citi Field on April 13, 2009. The 1969 Miracle Mets The 1969 Mets are one of the greatest underdog stories in baseball history. Led by manager Gil Hodges, pitchers Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman, and stars such as Tommie Agee, Cleon Jones, Donn Clendenon and Ron Swoboda, the Mets finished the regular season with a remarkable: 100 wins – 62 losses They won the newly created National League East and defeated the Atlanta Braves three games to none in the first-ever National League Championship Series. Then came the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles had won 109 games and were heavily favored. The Mets lost Game 1 but then won four straight games. 1969 World Series Mets defeated Baltimore Orioles, 4 games to 1 The Mets won: Game 2 — Mets 2, Orioles 1 Game 3 — Mets 5, Orioles 0 Game 4 — Mets 2, Orioles 1 Game 5 — Mets 5, Orioles 3 The championship was the first World Series title in Mets history. World Series MVP: Donn Clendenon Clendenon hit three home runs during the Series. The 1986 World Champion Mets The second great Mets championship team arrived in 1986. Manager Davey Johnson led a powerhouse featuring: Dwight Gooden Ron Darling Sid Fernandez Jesse Orosco Keith Hernandez Gary Carter Darryl Strawberry Ray Knight Lenny Dykstra Mookie Wilson Wally Backman Kevin Mitchell The Mets finished the regular season: 108 wins – 54 losses The 108 victories remain a franchise record. The Mets defeated Houston four games to two in the NLCS. They then faced the Boston Red Sox in one of the most famous World Series in baseball history. 1986 World Series Mets defeated Boston Red Sox, 4 games to 3 The Mets lost Games 1 and 2 but won four of… Continue reading New York Mets History: From the Lovable Losers to Amazin’ Champions