Manager Joe Maddon sports the Tampa Bay Rays 1979 throwback uniform

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Rays skipper Joe Maddon shows off the team's fake 1979 throwback uniform.

From a Tampa Bay Rays press release:

The Tampa Bay Rays will turn back the clock to 1979 when the Detroit Tigers visit Tropicana Field on Saturday, June 30 at 7:15 p.m.  Tropicana Field will be accented in a ‘70s theme and Earth Wind & Fire will perform following the conclusion of the game as part of the Rays 2012 Summer Concert Series produced by Ruth Eckerd Hall on the Road.  This marks the tenth “Turn Back the Clock” game in Rays history.

The Rays have designed a hypothetical uniform from 1979 that is intended to be a lasting fixture for Rays fans, fully embracing the style of the era while keeping the Rays modern colors.  A patch on the left sleeve of the jersey features a City of St. Petersburg seal that was used in 1979.

“We want to thank our great partners at Majestic Athletic and Major League Baseball for helping bring this unique concept to life,” said Rays Senior Vice President Mark Fernandez.  “Everyone with the Rays is excited to make this an annual event, and something Rays fans will look forward to every year with great anticipation, starting with our Turn Back the Clock night on June 30.”

The Tigers will wear a uniform based on their actual 1979 road gray jersey.  Versions of the select jersey were worn by Detroit from 1972 until 1993.

The ’79 Tigers finished fifth in the American League East, 18 games behind the Baltimore Orioles, with an 85-76 record.  That season the Tigers hired Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson during the middle of June.  Anderson skippered the Tigers for the next 17 seasons, winning one pennant and one World Series title, while winning AL Manager of the Year two seasons (1984, ’87).

The Rays retro jerseys will be auctioned off on raysbaseball.com following the game with proceeds benefiting the Moffitt Cancer Center and the Rays Baseball Foundation.

Merchandise will be available June 25 at the Rays Team Store at Tropicana Field (1 Tropicana Dr.), Rays Pro Shop in Downtown Tampa (400 N. Tampa St.), Sports Fan Attic, Lids Locker Room and other participating retailers, or online at raysbaseball.com.

Single game tickets for Rays 2012 regular season home games are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Rays Tampa Store (400 N. Tampa St.) and the Gate 1 Tropicana Field Box Office, as well as over the phone at 888-FAN-RAYS and 1-800-745-3000, or online at raysbaseball.com.