Tom Layberger

4 days ago | forbes.com | Tom Layberger

Two days after the Rays were swept in a three-game series by the Phillies for the third time in as many years and in as many cities – St. Pete, Philly and Tampa – yet another first took place during this unique 2025 season. It is unique thanks to Mother Nature delivering a wallop to Florida’s Gulf Coast last October in the form of Hurricane Milton, a pounding that included tearing apart the roof of Tropicana Field.

4 days ago | tampafp.com | Tom Layberger

TAMPA, Fla. – Head groundskeeper Dan Moeller and his crew rolled out the tarp for the first time at Steinbrenner Field on Saturday afternoon. Because of a threat of rain that pushed the start time back from 4:10 to 4:35, the Rays had their first-ever home weather delay. The Rays, playing the middle game of a three-game series against the Brewers, played one series in Orlando in 2007 and 2008 without the need for a tarp. Hence, history was made on Saturday.

5 days ago | tampafp.com | Tom Layberger

The Topps Company has long produced cards of subjects far removed from the fields of play. The New York-based trading card and collectibles firm, which Fanatics acquired in 2022, issued a set devoted to Elvis Presley in 1956, the Beverly Hillbillies in 1963, the Beatles a year later and Star Wars in 1977, to name a few. The company began issuing a Topps Now brand in 2016. The idea was to immediately produce cards devoted to noteworthy events and make them available on the manufacturer’s website.

1 week ago | forbes.com | Tom Layberger

While the atmosphere at Steinbrenner Field has been wonderful to this point in the 2025 season, the home team’s inability to cross the plate in its temporary place of residence has been a major issue. Examples of the Rays’ run-scoring difficulties include being blanked four times in a seven-game span at home. During that stretch they went 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position in a three-game series sweep at the hands of the visiting Royals, a series in which the Rays scored three runs.

1 week ago | forbes.com | Tom Layberger

When Montana State’s Tommy Mellott was selected by the Raiders with the first of their two sixth-round picks, at No. 213, he became the first quarterback from an FCS program taken in the NFL draft since 2022. For good measure, Las Vegas selected North Dakota State’s Cam Miller two picks later. Perhaps general manager John Spytek wanted to relive last season’s FCS title game, which NDSU won, 35-32.