Rays’ Pride Night draws largest crowd in a decade

The Tampa Bay Rays held Pride Night at Tropicana Field on Friday, drawing the biggest regular-season crowd in a decade, ESPN reports.

Officially, 40,135 people attended the event, which was reasonably priced at $5 per ticket. As promised, 100 percent of the proceeds went to the Pulse Victims Fund (over $300,000 in total), which was created in the wake of the horrific terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 49 people over the weekend in Orlando.

“It’s just a tragedy what happened, and to see how people came together, united, and poured out their hearts for what happened in Orlando really made it a special night,” San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Billy Bean, who became just the second active player in MLB history to come out as gay during his playing days, threw out the first pitch. He opened up about the event and how it can be a positive force in such a troubling time.

“I think today will be just a great moment if baseball can make everybody smile, enjoy a great baseball game, feel a little closer to one another,” Bean said. “It’s not specific to one person or another, or race or gender or color or sexual orientation or gender identity. It’s about people feeling connected and supportive.”

Rays players wore “We are Orlando” T-shirts during batting practice, and there was a moment of silence before the game.

It is heartwarming to see so much overwhelming love and support being shown after such an abominable act of hate.