Rays Senior Advisor Announces Retirement

ST. PETERSBURG, FL —Dick Crippen, senior advisor to the Tampa Bay Rays, will retire effective Dec. 31 after spending over two decades with the organization, a news release said.

Crippen joined the Rays in December 1999 when he was hired as executive director of community development before transitioning into his advisory role in 2005. As executive director of community development, Crippen was involved in the creation of the Rays Baseball Foundation, the Rays on the Runway fashion show and other galas.

In 2005, Crippen transitioned into the role of senior advisor where he worked on various projects, including the establishment of MacDillville at Tropicana Field—a section dedicated to personnel returning from deployment, families of deployed personnel and staff stationed at Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base.

"The Rays are a first-class organization from top to bottom, and I was privileged to be a part of the team for 21 years,” Crippen said. “I want to thank Stu Sternberg, Brian Auld, Matt Silverman and all of the team members on and off the field for the many opportunities and experiences, including opening a season in Tokyo and two World Series appearances. All I can say is thank you and my very best wishes to the organization.”

Rays' President Brian Auld said Crippen has been a Tampa Bay sports and broadcasting legend. Crippen spent more than five decades in Tampa Bay area sports broadcasting prior to his tenure with the Rays, serving as sports director for 19 years at WFLA-TV and 16 years at WTSP.

He serves on the board of directors for multiple philanthropic and service-oriented entities, including the YMCA of Greater St Petersburg, PARC, Pinellas Education Foundation, the Salvation Army Advisory Board and CharityWorks Advisory Board. He serves on the board of directors for multiple philanthropic and service-oriented entities, including the YMCA of Greater St Petersburg, PARC, Pinellas Education Foundation, the Salvation Army Advisory Board and CharityWorks Advisory Board. He is also a lifetime member of the board for the Suncoast Ronald McDonald House and served on the Eckerd College President’s Associates Board. In 2012, Crippen was named Honorary Commander for the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base.