Everything old is new again. At least in Florida.
First, on Monday, the Miami Hurricanes revealed new Adidas uniforms honoring the team’s legendary 2001 National Champions. Then, just a few hours later, the Tampa Bay Rays announced that they will be throwing it back to 1998 with new road uniforms that they will be wearing for the rest of the 2026 Major League Baseball season.
The Rays announced that their new primary road jerseys will have a gradient color scheme and the words “Tampa Bay” across the chest, which was a feature of their jerseys during the team’s 1998 American League debut.
The team will begin wearing them during the second game of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees on Tuesday and serve as the Rays’ primary road uniforms moving forward. The Rays could clinch their first American League East championship since 2021 on Tuesday.
“These uniforms celebrate our long-term commitment to Tampa Bay,” Rays CEO Ken Babby said. “As our team travels the country, we do so with tremendous admiration for our home. Tampa Bay is always in our hearts, and that’s why we will wear it across our chest.”
About the only thing missing is the ‘Devil’
Since rebranding and removing the “Devil” from their team name in 2007, the Rays have not worn “Tampa Bay” on a primary jersey. These gray jerseys are a contemporary version of the ones the Devil Rays wore from 1998 to 2000.
Additionally, the team’s helmet and cap will be modernized versions of the Devil Rays’ 1998 uniforms, just replacing most of the black coloring with the team’s more contemporary navy blue.
Earlier this year, the Rays ran surveys on their social media platforms asking fans for their thoughts on four different designs. They ultimately chose the jersey the Rays will wear.
“We are particularly proud that our fans helped choose this design and we love the fact they want the baseball world to see ‘Tampa Bay’ when we play on the road,” Babby said.