RAYS OFFICIAL
PRESS RELEASE
02/23/2007 10:48 AM ET
New Pepsi/Devil Rays Fan Wall of Fame members cheer for the team in unique ways
ST. PETERSBURG -- Seven avid Devil Rays fans have been handpicked for induction into the Pepsi/Devil Rays Fan Wall of Fame this Saturday at Tropicana Field. The 10th annual induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Noon on the field during the Progress Energy / Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2007 Fan Fest.
The Fan Wall of Fame was created by Pepsi and the Devil Rays to recognize fans that show undying support and team spirit. Those chosen for this honor will have their names permanently displayed at Tropicana Field on the Fan Wall of Fame. Wall of Famers are selected annually based on their enthusiasm and dedication to the Devil Rays and are officially recognized during Fan Fest.
The Fan Wall of Fame was originally unveiled in May 1997 to recognize the outstanding efforts of the Devil Rays fans that helped bring a Major League Baseball team to Tampa Bay.
Matt Silverman, President of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, along with Dick Crippen, Rays Senior Advisor, and Tim Hoey (Director of Foodservice Sales) and Mike Mortensen (Marketing Manager) from Pepsi will lead the induction ceremony.
Past Fan Wall of Famers are also invited back to share the excitement with this year's inductees.
2006 Fan Wall of Fame Inductees:
•Pat & Christin "The Inseparables", Massachusetts. Pat and Christin have been spotted at Rays games all over the country while chronicling their travels on their web site. They have been featured in numerous newspaper articles and interviewed on FSN by Todd Kalas. The mother/daughter team always travel and attend games together.
•George "Believe in Miracles" Stone, St. Petersburg, Fla.
George is known to many in the St. Pete area as the Director of the Gulf Beaches Kiwanis Club. A season ticket holder and a regular at Rays charity functions, this inductee goes beyond charitable donations. He has contributed countless hours helping to build Miracle League baseball fields around the Bay area with the help of Rays players.
•Margarita "Faz" Fazioli, Bradenton, Fla.
Margarita is a fan from south of the Skyway. She is a nurse who schedules her shifts so she can attend Rays games. Not only is she a regular here at Tropicana Field, but she has also been known to show up at other American League ballparks to support the Rays. She's also been known to post Rays information and promotions on the employee board at work in Bradenton.
•Dr. Ron "Doc" White, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Dr. White has been helping the Rays from the start-literally. "Doc" as they call him worked as a physician consultant in the early years of the Rays existence. Not only does he support the Rays, but he's also been known to support the Rays minor league teams as well.
*Kathy "Cowbell Queen" Plank, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Kathy is a member of the Maddon's Maniacs die-hard fan club. She's a VERY vocal fan that we see at most of the Rays home games with her trusty cowbell.
•Joey "The Proposer" Castro, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Joey is another of the Maddon's Maniacs that has been described as obsessed, dedicated, loud, and loyal. That sounds much like the rest of the Pepsi Fan Wall of Fame inductees. But this is also a guy that won't go to bed until he gets an update on the Rays score. All that would've been enough to get him on the Wall of Fame, but he took it a step further. He used the Sept. 9 game vs. Seattle as the place to propose to his girlfriend. Coincidently, that's the same game the Rays turned a triple play.
The next search for Pepsi Fan Wall of Fame inductees continues throughout the year. Fans may nominate themselves or others by submitting a nomination form at Fan Fest, at Tropicana Field guest services desks, on www.devilrays.com, or via mail at Pepsi/Devil Rays Fan Wall of Fame, Tropicana Field, One Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg, Fla., 33705. The deadline for 2007 nominations is Dec. 1. Entries are judged on originality, creativity and enthusiasm for the Devil Rays organization.
