What an incredible story 2008 was for the Tampa Bay Rays.  The Rookie of the Year led the worst team in the AL East beyond the legends of the division to the World Series.  At the age of 23, Evan Longoria was a driving force in the Rays victory. 

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Although the man in Tampa Bay Rays jersey number 3 was expected to start the year in the big leagues, in fact he didn’t.  He was optioned to the Durham Bulls after spring training.  Called up to the majors when Willy Aybar was placed on the disabled list, he proceeded to prove that he belonged there.

Here are some of Evan Longoria’s big league “firsts,”  all performed in a Tampa Bay Rays jersey:

• April 12, 2008:  first game in the Major Leagues, went one for three and drove in a run
• April 14, 2008:  first home run in the Majors
• May 24, 2008:  first two-home run game.  Longoria drove in six runs in that one
• July 19, 2008:  first career grand slam home run
• September 18, 2008:  first three-home run game
• September 20, 2008:  caught the game-ending out in a win that sent the Rays to the play-offs for the first time ever

And then, more firsts.  Home runs in the first two at-bats in the AL Division Series.  Six home runs and 13 RBI’s in the post-season.  And then, finally, the American League Rookie of the Year and the Sporting News Rookie of Year.

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The story of the Rays is fascinating, too.  Founded in 1998, the guys in the Tampa Bay Rays jerseys broke their string of last-place finishes only once in their first ten years.  In 2004, they finished next to last.  Then in 2005, Stuart Sternberg took over as managing general partner of the Rays’ ownership group.  He brought in Joe Maddon as the manager.  Sternberg’s strategy was to groom prospects rather than trade for high-priced, high-producing veterans.  By 2007, the Rays had the youngest starting line-up since the 1983 Twins. 

By 2008, one of their hottest prospects, Evan Longoria, made it to the majors as one of the hottest players.  The guys in the Tampa Bay Rays jerseys beat the Chicago White Sox in the American League Division Series.  They beat the defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series, winning the American League pennant.  And they went to the World Series, losing to the Philadephia Phillies.

What can they do for an encore?