Overview
Vincent J. "Vince" Naimoli (September 16, 1937 – August 25, 2019) was an American businessman and philanthropist best known as the first principal owner of the Major League Baseball Major League Baseball expansion franchise that became the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. A native of Paterson, New Jersey, Naimoli played a key role in securing a major league team for the Tampa Bay region and in establishing the club, which began play in 1998.
Business career and path to ownership
Naimoli made a career in private industry, building a reputation as a financier and entrepreneur. He used his business experience to lead a consortium that pursued a Major League Baseball expansion franchise for the Tampa Bay area. His efforts included navigating local political and financial negotiations needed to obtain a team and a suitable stadium arrangement.
Founding and management of the Tampa Bay franchise
As the franchise’s first owner, Naimoli oversaw the club during its formative years. The expansion team debuted as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998. Naimoli’s tenure involved typical challenges of a new franchise: player development, establishing a front office, cultivating a fan base, and addressing stadium and revenue issues. During his ownership he drew both praise for delivering a major league team to the region and criticism over some management decisions and style. In the mid-2000s he sold controlling interest in the club to a group led by another investor, after which the franchise continued its evolution and was later renamed the Tampa Bay Rays.
Philanthropy and community involvement
Naimoli was active in charitable giving and local community efforts, supporting civic projects and cultural institutions in the Tampa Bay area. His role as a sports owner also involved outreach to youth programs and community-based initiatives intended to grow interest in baseball and local economic development.
Illness, death and legacy
In 2014 Naimoli was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological condition that affects balance and movement; this diagnosis was publicly reported and described in media coverage of his later years (progressive supranuclear palsy). He died from complications of the disease on August 25, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida, at the age of 81. Naimoli's legacy is tied to bringing Major League Baseball to Tampa Bay, creating the organizational foundation for a franchise that has since become an established part of the region's sports landscape.
Notable facts
- Led the ownership group that launched the Tampa Bay expansion franchise in the late 1990s.
- Known for both his business acumen and a sometimes polarizing public persona among fans and local leaders.
- Active in philanthropic efforts connected to the Tampa Bay community.