lˌæ mˈɑːɹ wʌzðə fˈɜːst dʒˈɛnɚɹəl mˈænɪdʒɚɹ ʌvðə tˈæmpə bˈeɪ dˈɛvəl ɹˈeɪz, hˈaɪɚd ɐpɹˈɑːksɪmətli θɹˈiː jˈɪɹz bᵻfˌoːɹ ðeɪ bɪɡˈæn plˈeɪ ɪnðɪ ɐmˈɛɹɪkən lˈiːɡ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt.
LaMar was the first general manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, hired approximately three years before they began play in the American League in 1998.