Beyond Tony: The Legacy of Roger Jannus
June 19, 2026
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays made franchise history on June 22, 1998, when they played their first interleague game, hosting the Florida Marlins at Tropicana Field. The matchup marked the beginning of what became known as the Citrus Series, an in-state rivalry between Florida’s two Major League Baseball teams.
A crowd of 23,890 fans turned out to watch the historic contest, which quickly became a memorable battle. The Marlins struck first, but the Devil Rays responded and kept the game close throughout the evening. Strong pitching and timely defensive plays carried the game into extra innings, where neither team could break the deadlock for several frames.
After more than four hours of play, the Marlins finally pushed across the winning run in the 12th inning, handing Tampa Bay a tough 3-2 loss. Despite the outcome, the game represented another milestone during the Devil Rays’ inaugural season and gave local fans their first opportunity to watch a regular-season matchup against Florida’s other major league club.
Today, the Citrus Series remains a unique chapter in Florida baseball history, connecting fans on both coasts through a friendly in-state rivalry.