The 2008 Tampa Bay Rays season was a historic "worst-to-first" turnaround, as the team rebranded from the Devil Rays and captured its first American League East title with a 97-65 record. Led by manager Joe Maddon and a core of young talent including AL Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria and ace Scott Kazmir, the Rays shed a decade of futility to become the unlikeliest of contenders. The season culminated in a thrilling postseason run where they defeated the defending champion Red Sox in a seven-game ALCS to reach their first World Series, forever changing the culture of the franchise.