By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, April 1, 2011
In what amounted to an elaborate April Fools' joke, Tampa Bay Rays mascot Raymond "retired'' at Friday night's regular-season opener against the Baltimore Orioles.
Raymond appeared after the Rays announced a "new" mascot named Sunny following the second inning.
Raymond debuted on June 21, 1998 and has appeared in 1,055 games at Tropicana Field and Al Lang Field and Charlotte Sports Park and more than 2,000 community appearances.