Tampa Bay Rays: 5 Unusual Moments From Historic Win Over New York Yankees

The Tampa Bay Rays are going to the 2011 MLB Playoffs.

I saw it happen and still cannot believe it to be true

Somehow, some way the team found a way to overcome every obstacle that came their way and took advantage of an opportunity to still be in contention on the final night of the regular season.

Then the magic started.

It wasn't a typical night inside of Tropicana Field when the Rays clinched their first Wild Card spot. Here are 5 of the most unusual moments from the Rays playoff-clinching win.

5.Crowd Chanting BJ Upton

B.J. Upton has regularly been ridiculed by fans of the Tampa Bay Rays during his tenure with the team.

As the trading deadline approached this season the general feeling among Rays fans was that he was useless and needed to be removed from the roster.

All of the moments when he was considered to be lazy, lack motivation, and be thought of as a liability to the team disappeared if only for one night.

On numerous occasions during the improbable game the crowd in unison began to rhythmically chant his name.

The echoes of, “BJ Upton” circled Tropicana Field in a way that I have never seen before.

The chants were after he would get on base, steal a base, and even after he made a spectacular sliding catch in the outfield.

What an amazing night for a player that has dealt with so much ridicule and never lost hope. Upton had a .333 batting average in September and was instrumental in the team staying alive for the postseason.

4. Orioles Fans Accepted in Tropicana Field

Baltimore Orioles fans felt right at home in Tropicana Field as hints of orange were scattered throughout the dome.

Normally, it is cliche for a fan to wear the gear of a team not playing in the game. That was not the case for Orioles fans.

Especially when the Tampa Bay Rays were trailing the New York Yankees by seven runs. The fans inside the dome started cheering every time Baltimore scored a run.

Numerous occasions throughout the nights chants of, "Let's go Orioles," and "Let's go Baltimore" were yelled from the stands.

Rays fans at that moment felt their hopes of a playoff with the Boston Red Sox rested on a victory by the Orioles.

Then came the magical moment in the closing moments of the game when the Orioles tied and eventually beat the Red Sox while B.J. Upton was at the plate.

For a moment, Rays fans were not divisional rivals with Orioles fans but allies on a similar mission. A mission to beat the Red Sox.

3.Attendance

This isn't the regularly scheduled jab at Tampa Bay Rays fans attendance issues.

Instead, it is a celebration to the atmosphere that was created inside of Tropicana Field.

Higher attendance levels are the norm whenever the New York Yankees are in town to play the Rays.

However, with the season on the line Rays fans were the great majority inside of the dome.

Sure, some of them left when the game seemed out of hand.

That still shouldn't take away from the atmosphere that they created initially and the fans that remained kept going during the historic comeback.

2. Dan Johnson Pinch-Hit

Dan Johnson strikes again.

If you would have told me that Dan Johnson would be the hero to hit a two out, two strike home run to cap off a seven run comeback I would have taken the bet.

Joe Maddon pulled Sam Fuld to put Johnson in and the decision paid off amazingly.

With one swing of the bat Johnson kept the improbable alive.

1. Epic Comeback

The Tampa Bay Rays can't hit.

That has been the mantra all season long. Fans have called for the hitting coach's head and the trade of numerous roster pieces.

Eight innings into the final game of the season it seemed to ring true once again. The Rays trailed by seven runs and only had one-hit.

Then the ultimate improbable comeback was sparked.

The Rays worked their way into a bases loaded situation and sent Sam Fuld to the plate. A walk and hit-by-pitch later and the first two runs were on the board.

The magical home runs by Evan Longoria and Dan Johnson capped off the historic moment.

No matter what the team does in the playoffs, the comeback will surely be remembered as one of the best, if not the greatest single sporting even in Tampa Bay history.

Jamal Wilburg is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Follow his thoughts, insights, and ramblings on Twitter @JWilburg