Players greet fans at stadium gate - Don Zimmer's 52nd Opening Day

[yankeebiscuitfan]

In what has become a tradition at Opening Day, the players of the Tampa Bay Rays stood at the gates of Tropicana Field yesterday to greet the fans.

I really think this is a great initiative. In this way you bond with your fans. This should be done more.

Side step to Don Zimmer; it was his 52nd Opening Day yesterday.

[RickD]

That would be awesome if all teams did this but the autograph seekers would probably delay things for hours!

[yankeebiscuitfan]

That would be awesome if all teams did this but the autograph seekers would probably delay things for hours!

They could easily announce in the days before that this is not for getting autographs.

[Mex86]

I agree - this is a wonderful idea that should be practiced more often.

Just think - if the Mets had done it, they could've gotten donations from the fans to help raise money so that the Wilpons could make payroll.

[Mudge]

I wonder. Do all the Rays players do this or are there some who are exempt (besides maybe the starting pitcher -- I could certainly understand that exemption)..

[yankeebiscuitfan]

I wonder. Do all the Rays players do this or are there some who are exempt (besides maybe the starting pitcher -- I could certainly understand that exemption)..

The article didn't say that.

[CoreyR]

That's really cool! I wish all teams would do this. Autographs should be prohibited during the Opening Day greetings for sure.