Themed road trip a nod to Woodstock

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Joe Maddon, who showed up at the ballpark wearing a wig and in full hippie regalia on Sunday, hopes turning back the clock to the days of Woodstock, when he was 15 years old, will bring peace and harmony to the Rays' upcoming road trip to Seattle and Anaheim.

Of course, none of the current Rays were even born when Woodstock took place on Aug. 15-18, 1969, on a farm in White Lake, N.Y.

"It's going to be a difficult trip," Maddon said, looking ahead. "Seattle has got some of the best pitching on that side of the country, and the Angels are getting better."

This will be the Rays' 30th themed road trip since Maddon came up with the idea in 2008. The traveling party will dress in Woodstock theme on both the Tampa-to-Seattle and Seattle-to-Los Angeles legs of the trip.

The Rays hope this seven-game swing won't be as grueling as their last trip when they were called upon to play four games in two cities in just 51 1/2 hours.

Even so, finishing 5-5 after starting the trip 1-4 prompted Maddon to call it, "One of the best 5-5 trips in the history of the Rays."