Overview
- Evan Longoria was inducted into the Tampa Bay Rays Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony on Saturday and had his No. 3 officially retired in a pregame ceremony on Sunday.
- The jersey retirement featured a live performance of his longtime walk-up song “Down and Out” by Tantric and an unveiling led by longtime teammate James Shields and former coach Tom Foley.
- Longoria is the Rays’ career leader in home runs, RBIs, runs and games played and is widely regarded as the face of the franchise during the era he helped turn the club into a contender.
- Both ceremonies drew packed stands and many former teammates and franchise leaders, who gave speeches and tributes that emphasized his connection to fans and to the organization.
- The retirement of No. 3 joins the club’s other honored numbers and follows prior tributes such as a statue and a ceremonial one-day retirement contract, reinforcing Longoria’s role in the Rays’ institutional memory.