(1952) 7 x MLB All-Star Joe Price (1978) Gary Redus (1980) Pete Rose (1961) 17 x MLB All-Star; 1975 World Series Most Valuable Player; 3 x NL Batting Title (1968-1969, 1973); 1963 NL Rookie of the Year; 1973 NL Most Valuable Player Jeff Russell (1981) 2 x MLB All-Star Mario Soto (1976) 3 x MLB All-Star Danny Tartabull (1981) MLB All-Star Dave Tomlin (1968-1969) Johnny Vander Meer (1961-1962, MGR) 4 x MLB All-Star Milt Wilcox (1968-1969) Jim Wynn (1962) 3 x MLB All-Star Joel Youngblood (1970) MLB All-Star Tampa Bay Rays connections In 2006 the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, embarked on a rebranding effort that would include a name change; they considered adopting the Tampa Bay Tarpons name in honor of the minor league team before making the less radical step of shortening their nickname to simply the Rays in 2008. The (Devil)-Rays have worn Tampa Tarpons uniforms for several "Turn Back the Clock" games: On July 17, 1999, the Devil Rays wore 1960 Tarpons uniforms against the New York Mets, who wore uniforms reminiscent of those worn by their 1969 championship team. On June 24, 2006, the Devil Rays wore 1975 Tarpon uniforms against the Atlanta Braves, who wore their 1975 road uniforms. Coincidentally, two Rays coaches, third-base coach Tom Foley and hitting coach Steve Henderson, had both played for the Tarpons in the mid-1970s. On August 13, 2010, the Rays wore 1970 Tarpons uniforms against the Baltimore Orioles, who wore all-orange road uniforms used occasionally by their 1971 pennant-winning squad. See also Baseball in the Tampa Bay area Former Tarpon players References Defunct Florida State League teams Sports teams in Tampa, Florida Philadelphia Phillies minor league affiliates Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliates Chicago White Sox minor league affiliates Baseball teams established in 1957 Baseball teams disestablished in 1988 Defunct baseball teams in Florida 1957 establishments in Florida 1988 disestablishments in Florida