The Tampa Bay Rays raised more than $300,000 for the victims of the Pulse shooting at their 10th annual Pride Night against the San Francisco Giants June 17.
The team announced June 14 that all remaining tickets for the game would be $5 and that the proceeds raised for and during the game would go to the Pulse Victims Fund.
The crowd on Friday night was only the second sellout of the Rays’ season, and the overall attendance of 40,135 made it the team’s largest regular season crowd in 10 years.
The Rays wore shirts that said “We Are Orlando” with rainbow colors and the Rays’ logo during batting practice. The same shirts were handed out to everyone who attended the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzwAbw8Jx5s
The memorial service began before the game with a video montage of the events in Orlando June 12. A video message of condolence from Rob Manfred, Commissioner of Major League Baseball, was played to the sold out crowd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv8Z6JKGSpw
Billy Bean, Major League Baseball’s VP of Social Responsibility, and retired and openly gay player, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Rays announced on Facebook after the game that they had helped raise more than $300,000 for the Pulse Victims Fund.
Photos by Jeremy Williams.
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