Sports
25,000 Rays Fans Raise More Than $100,000 for Charities at Saturday Fest
If for no other reason, the Rays Fan Fest was a success for helping local charities.
ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays Fan Fest Saturday had just about everything a baseball fan could want.
From autograph sessions with players to a spaghetti dinner with perogies hosted by Rays manager Joe Maddon, the event whipped locals into baseball fever.
It even served to remind fans of higher priorities, such as the fund raiser to help the families of slain St. Petersburg Police Sgt. Thomas Baitinger and K-9 Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz. Through various fundr aisers at Fan Fest, the Rays collected more than $100,000 to be distributed to various nonprofits.
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Rays officials estimated some 25,000 people attended, though it seemed like more. The crowds were so thick that the Rays had to open auxiliary parking lots to handle everyone.
The Fan Fest was mostly a family-oriented event. Throughout the stadium, parents could be found playing catch with their children in the outfield or running the bases.
