Saturday’s Rays game against the St. Louis Cardinals will feature the home team sporting throwback jerseys. Given that the Rays’ history only throws back to 1998, they will be exercising another uniform option: wearing the jerseys of the Tampa Smokers of the old Class B Florida International League. Vintage 1951.
Only one retro problem. The Rays are altering the original design. The Smokers jersey–paying homage to Tampa’s well-earned reputation as the “Cigar City”–included the image of a lit cigar stitched into the (Smokers) logo’s underscore. The Rays have eliminated the cigar and called the result a “slightly more contemporary version of that wonderful history.”
Let’s give the Rays the benefit of the doubt here. The organization takes its community involvement seriously and is an active supporter of a “Tobacco-Free Florida.” The un-stitched stogie comes from a good place.
But Lighten up. Or go with the Devil Rays look again.