Fans remember Evan Longoria's legacy as he retires as a Tampa Bay Ray
By Lily Belcher
June 7, 2025 at 9:29 PM EDT
Evan Longoria and fans looked back on his decorated tenure with the Rays during a ceremony prior to Tampa Bay's game against the Miami Marlins.
For Wendy Wilson, Evan Longoria's walk-off home run against the New York Yankees in Game 162 of the 2011 season was "just wonderful."
Lining up to see Longoria's retirement ceremony Saturday, she said she was thrilled to support him.
"[Because of] his actions, the way he played, the way he was in the community," Wilson said.
The former Tampa Bay third baseman signed a one-day contract to officially retire with the Rays, ending his 16-year career during a ceremony prior to the Rays' 11-10 loss to the Miami Marlins at Steinbrenner Field.
Evan Longoria signed a one-day contract to retire as a Tampa Bay Ray. (4032x3024, AR: 1.3333333333333333)
His induction into the team's Hall of Fame will come in 2026, after the Rays move back into Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
"Once we get back into the Trop, I'll be able to properly speak to the fans on the field and get inducted into the Rays Hall of Fame and do it where we all started — at the Trop," Longoria said.
The Rays are playing the 2025 season in Tampa as Tropicana Field undergoes repairs to damage from Hurricane Milton.
Longoria played his first 10 seasons with Tampa Bay. The third overall draft selection in 2006 by the Devil Rays, he went on to earn the 2008 American League Rookie of the Year, three Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger and a three All-Star appearances – all while winning the hearts of Tampa Bay fans.
More than seven years after he was traded to San Francisco, Longoria still holds a slew of Tampa Bay records, including most games played, RBIs and home runs.
Evan Longoria’s image was made into a statue placed outside of Tropicana Field to depict his celebration of a walk-off home run in the final regular-season game of 2011 that sent the Rays to the postseason. (2730x4096, AR: 0.66650390625)
Of those 261 home runs in a Rays uniform, one stands out to fans, such as Wilson.
It was the final day of 2011 season, and the Rays and Red Sox were tied for the AL wild card. The Rays needed a win over the Yankees and a Boston loss in Baltimore to clinch the postseason spot. But things looked dim in the eighth inning as Tampa Bay trailed 7-0 and the Red Sox led 3-2 in the ninth inning.
However, the Rays rallied and tied the game on a ninth-inning pinch-hit home run by Dan Johnson. And as midnight struck, Baltimore scored twice in the ninth to beat Boston.
In the bottom of the 12th inning with one out, Longoria drove his iconic Game 162 homer over a lower cutout portion of Tropicana Field’s left-field fence, giving the Rays an 8-7 win and sending them into the playoffs.
Longoria's celebration, with arms raised as he rounded the bases, was commemorated with a statue outside Tropicana Field in 2023.
"Everyone stayed in the stands and just got there and waited. So that was just one of the greatest experiences, getting out of there after midnight and just celebrating," Wilson said. "It was beautiful."
Longoria, 39, said his memories of his decade with the team are fuzzy and, while he may not remember every play, what stands out to him are the people.
"For me, it's the players that I played with, the friendships that I made, both on and off the field," he said. “This organization has been so great at creating this culture.”
Longoria joined the Rays as they were transitioning — not just in name, but in their play.
In his two years in the minor leagues, the Devil Rays were a last-place team in the AL East. Then in his rookie year, the renamed Rays made the playoffs for the first time and advanced to their first World Series.
"I think that was just a very pivotal moment in the franchise," Longoria said.
Watching Longoria play was one of Chip Watfore's first memories of baseball.
"You could tell the guys in the clubhouse respected him. It was just amazing," Watfore said.
Evan Longoria tossed the ceremonial first pitch to Rays manager Kevin Cash. (3840x2160, AR: 1.7777777777777777)
That respect goes far beyond Longoria's teammates from 2008 to 2017. Current Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe said Longoria is still the role model for the team.
"It was always somebody that was brought up to us," Lowe said. "... He enjoys doing this. He doesn't miss ground balls."
A lifelong Rays fan, Watfore said he was excited Longoria decided to retire with Tampa Bay.
"I wish he could have played his whole career here," Watfore said.
After earning that final Gold Glove in 2017, he was traded to the Giants at age 32 as the Rays looked to shed much of his pricey contract while rebuilding with younger players.
"He knew it was coming," Wilson said. "If you're a true fan, you understand ... but it still hits you in the gut."
Teral Walker has been a Rays fan since the team debuted in St. Petersburg in 1998.
Evan Longoria signed fan memoribilia before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch. (5712x4284, AR: 1.3333333333333333)
He said Longoria exemplified hard work, showing up to the stadium early and putting in extra practice.
"Evan was probably what a lot of young players need to have a leader or example for," Walker said.
Longoria anchored the Rays' defense during his time in Tampa Bay, but he was also an anchor in the community.
From signing balls before games to reading with kids in public libraries, Longoria touched fans on and off the field.
Before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday, Longoria met fans coming in droves for signatures, photos and to thank him for the impact he had.
Cathy Pearson, another longtime fan, said it was special to see her grandson get a signed ball and picture with Longoria when he was playing.
"He was just a really cool dude," Pearson said.
Evan Longoria waved to fans after he received a standing ovation. (3457x2600, AR: 1.3296153846153846)
Walker said he was glad to see Longoria come back to Tampa Bay to hang up his hat.
"It's so special because that means that he loves Tampa Bay, he loves the team," Walker said. "Even though we have fun memories of him, that means in his heart, he has memories of us."
Longoria, a Southern California native, played his last season in 2023 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Then, on June 7, he was a Ray again and said his final farewell to baseball.
"I already knew what I wanted to do," Longoria said. "I knew I wanted to come back here and end my career somehow as a Ray."
Lining up to see Longoria's retirement ceremony Saturday, she said she was thrilled to support him.
"[Because of] his actions, the way he played, the way he was in the community," Wilson said.
The former Tampa Bay third baseman signed a one-day contract to officially retire with the Rays, ending his 16-year career during a ceremony prior to the Rays' 11-10 loss to the Miami Marlins at Steinbrenner Field.
Evan Longoria signed a one-day contract to retire as a Tampa Bay Ray. (4032x3024, AR: 1.3333333333333333)
His induction into the team's Hall of Fame will come in 2026, after the Rays move back into Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
"Once we get back into the Trop, I'll be able to properly speak to the fans on the field and get inducted into the Rays Hall of Fame and do it where we all started — at the Trop," Longoria said.
The Rays are playing the 2025 season in Tampa as Tropicana Field undergoes repairs to damage from Hurricane Milton.
Longoria played his first 10 seasons with Tampa Bay. The third overall draft selection in 2006 by the Devil Rays, he went on to earn the 2008 American League Rookie of the Year, three Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger and a three All-Star appearances – all while winning the hearts of Tampa Bay fans.
More than seven years after he was traded to San Francisco, Longoria still holds a slew of Tampa Bay records, including most games played, RBIs and home runs.
Evan Longoria’s image was made into a statue placed outside of Tropicana Field to depict his celebration of a walk-off home run in the final regular-season game of 2011 that sent the Rays to the postseason. (2730x4096, AR: 0.66650390625)
Of those 261 home runs in a Rays uniform, one stands out to fans, such as Wilson.
It was the final day of 2011 season, and the Rays and Red Sox were tied for the AL wild card. The Rays needed a win over the Yankees and a Boston loss in Baltimore to clinch the postseason spot. But things looked dim in the eighth inning as Tampa Bay trailed 7-0 and the Red Sox led 3-2 in the ninth inning.
However, the Rays rallied and tied the game on a ninth-inning pinch-hit home run by Dan Johnson. And as midnight struck, Baltimore scored twice in the ninth to beat Boston.
In the bottom of the 12th inning with one out, Longoria drove his iconic Game 162 homer over a lower cutout portion of Tropicana Field’s left-field fence, giving the Rays an 8-7 win and sending them into the playoffs.
Longoria's celebration, with arms raised as he rounded the bases, was commemorated with a statue outside Tropicana Field in 2023.
"Everyone stayed in the stands and just got there and waited. So that was just one of the greatest experiences, getting out of there after midnight and just celebrating," Wilson said. "It was beautiful."
Longoria, 39, said his memories of his decade with the team are fuzzy and, while he may not remember every play, what stands out to him are the people.
"For me, it's the players that I played with, the friendships that I made, both on and off the field," he said. “This organization has been so great at creating this culture.”
Longoria joined the Rays as they were transitioning — not just in name, but in their play.
In his two years in the minor leagues, the Devil Rays were a last-place team in the AL East. Then in his rookie year, the renamed Rays made the playoffs for the first time and advanced to their first World Series.
"I think that was just a very pivotal moment in the franchise," Longoria said.
Watching Longoria play was one of Chip Watfore's first memories of baseball.
"You could tell the guys in the clubhouse respected him. It was just amazing," Watfore said.
Evan Longoria tossed the ceremonial first pitch to Rays manager Kevin Cash. (3840x2160, AR: 1.7777777777777777)
That respect goes far beyond Longoria's teammates from 2008 to 2017. Current Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe said Longoria is still the role model for the team.
"It was always somebody that was brought up to us," Lowe said. "... He enjoys doing this. He doesn't miss ground balls."
A lifelong Rays fan, Watfore said he was excited Longoria decided to retire with Tampa Bay.
"I wish he could have played his whole career here," Watfore said.
After earning that final Gold Glove in 2017, he was traded to the Giants at age 32 as the Rays looked to shed much of his pricey contract while rebuilding with younger players.
"He knew it was coming," Wilson said. "If you're a true fan, you understand ... but it still hits you in the gut."
Teral Walker has been a Rays fan since the team debuted in St. Petersburg in 1998.
Evan Longoria signed fan memoribilia before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch. (5712x4284, AR: 1.3333333333333333)
He said Longoria exemplified hard work, showing up to the stadium early and putting in extra practice.
"Evan was probably what a lot of young players need to have a leader or example for," Walker said.
Longoria anchored the Rays' defense during his time in Tampa Bay, but he was also an anchor in the community.
From signing balls before games to reading with kids in public libraries, Longoria touched fans on and off the field.
Before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday, Longoria met fans coming in droves for signatures, photos and to thank him for the impact he had.
Cathy Pearson, another longtime fan, said it was special to see her grandson get a signed ball and picture with Longoria when he was playing.
"He was just a really cool dude," Pearson said.
Evan Longoria waved to fans after he received a standing ovation. (3457x2600, AR: 1.3296153846153846)
Walker said he was glad to see Longoria come back to Tampa Bay to hang up his hat.
"It's so special because that means that he loves Tampa Bay, he loves the team," Walker said. "Even though we have fun memories of him, that means in his heart, he has memories of us."
Longoria, a Southern California native, played his last season in 2023 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Then, on June 7, he was a Ray again and said his final farewell to baseball.
"I already knew what I wanted to do," Longoria said. "I knew I wanted to come back here and end my career somehow as a Ray."