Day 2 of my mini trip took me to Reading PA to see the Reading Fightin Phillies. Reading is the AA affiliate of the Phillies. This is Game 20 on the season for me. This is my 29th stadium to date I've seen a game at.
The Fightin Phillies play at First Energy Park which was opened in April 1951 and is currently the 2nd oldest minor league ballpark in use behind Historic Grayson Field in Savannah Georgia. With the Savannah Sand Gnats relocating after the season. First Energy will be the oldest active park in the minors.
The stadium was built for $656,674, in today's market it would have cost $5.97 million
The Reading Indians were the first to play in what was known at the time as Reading Municipal-Memorial Stadium between 1952-1961. Then the Reading Red Sox played in 1963-1964.
The stadium was without affiliated ball for the 1965 and 1966 season.
The Phillies have had there AA affiliate in Reading since 1967. The team was known as the Reading Phillies up to a couple of years ago when the team was rebranded the Reading Fightin Phillies.
The stadium has gone thru a series of renovations over the years to become what it is today. In my opinion it still needs upgrades. Most notably the dugout which are small.
The stadium in my opinion has one of the best atmospheres in minor league baseball of the stadiums I've visited.
As for graphing. I got to the stadium early to graph the Reading side of the stadium. The visitors bus lets the team out on the other side of the stadium and didn't bother with Trenton since I've graphed them earlier in the year and plan on going back.
Just as the gates opened a steady rain started and lasted to almost game time. Which didn't leave me much time to graph. One unique thing about First Energy is, the players have to cross the concourse to get to the field. The stadium is set up with a aisle that separates the crowd and the players with a metal fence. But, you can put balls and binder thru the fence and have players sign. Most players stopped and signed. The only player that I didn't get outside the stadium was the Phillies #1 prospect, J.P. Crawford. who did stop and sign.
I was able to get the following:
Ben Lively, 4 cards. Ben was a 4th rd pick in 2013 by the Reds. Ben sent to the Phillies in the Marlon Bryd trade. Ben is ranked #6 as the a Top prospect in the Phillies system
Tommy Joseph, 1 custom IC. Tommy was a 2nd rd pick in 2009 by the Giants and came to the Phillies in 2012 as part of the trade that sent Hunter Pence to the Giants. Tommy is currently rehabbing and is also changing positions from catcher to 1st base. Tommy is also on the Phillies 40 man roster
Ethan Martin, 3 cards. Ethan was a 1st rd pick in 2008 by the Dodgers and came to the Phillies in 2012 in a trade that sent Shane Victorino to the Dodgers. Ethan has pitched in 2 brief stints in the majors. Both with the Phillies, 2013 15 games and in 2014 in 2 games
Dusty Wathan, team card. Dusty is currently the Fightin Phillies Manager and as a player signed as a free agent in 1994 with the Mariners and played 2 games in 2002 with the Royals. Dusty's father John Wathan is a former major league catcher who spent 10 seasons with the Royals and managed for 6 seasons also with the Royals from 1987-1992
Gustavo Pierre, team card. Gustavo signed as a free agent in 2009 with the Blue Jays and sign as a free agent with the Phillies before the 2015 season
Stephan Shackleford, team card. Stephan was a 35th rd pick in 2010 by the Giants. James played in the Giants system for the 2010 and 2011 season, the Mariners system 2012-2014 and now the Phillies.
Rene Garcia, team card. Rene was a 35th rd pick in 2008 with the Astros. Rene spent 2008-2014 in the Astros system before signed as a free agent with the Phillies
Harold Martinez, team card. Harold was a 2nd rd pick in 2011 by the Phillies
Dave Lundquist, team card. Dave was a 5th rd pick in 1993 by the White Sox and pitched in the majors with the White Sox in 1999 and then the Padres in 2001 and 2002
Kelly Dugan, 2 card. Kelly was a 2nd rd pick in 2009 by the Phillies. Kelly is currently ranked the #15 prospect in the Phillies system
Andrew Knapp, 3 cards. Andrew was a 2nd rd pick in 2013 by the Phillies. Andrew is currently ranked the #12 prospect in the Phillies system
Tom Windle, 4 cards. Tom was a 2nd rd pick in 2013 by the Dodgers. Tom came to the Phillies in a trade that sent Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers, the Phillies also recieved Zach Eflin. Tom is currently ranked the #5 prospect in the Phillies system
Ryan O'Sullivan, team card and 1 card. Ryan was a 4th rd pick in 2011 by the Dodgers. Ryan came to the Phillies in 2012 when the Joe Blanton was traded to the Dodgers
Tyler Knigge, Lakewood team card. Tyler was a 12th rd pick in 2010
Colton Murray, Lakewood team card. Colton was a 13th rd pick in 2011 by the Phillies
Brian Pointer, 1 card. Brian was a 28th rd pick in 2010 by the Phillies
Joely Rodriguez, custom IC.Joely signed as a free agent in 2009 by the Pirates and signed as a free agent in 2014 with the Phillies
J.P. Crawford, OMLB. J.P. was a 1st rd pick, 16th overall in 2013. J.P. is currently ranked the #1 prospect in the Phillies system and 21st in the top 100 by MLB
I was able to get 30 autographs on the day and I'm sure I could have gotten another 12 or so If I would have stayed.
I left in the 7th and soon after leaving a light rain started again.
My season total is up to 407 autographs.
This is the first year I kept track of my autographs for each game. But, I'm sure I'm ahead of my pace from last season since I've gone to 4 more games than I had last season to date.
Tomorrow night I'm graphing the Atlantic League Legends game in Bridgeport and then the Cyclones game on Sunday
I reached a milestone recently with 70k pageviews and would like to Thank everyone for reading. Check back soon!!
The Fightin Phillies play at First Energy Park which was opened in April 1951 and is currently the 2nd oldest minor league ballpark in use behind Historic Grayson Field in Savannah Georgia. With the Savannah Sand Gnats relocating after the season. First Energy will be the oldest active park in the minors.
The stadium was built for $656,674, in today's market it would have cost $5.97 million
The Reading Indians were the first to play in what was known at the time as Reading Municipal-Memorial Stadium between 1952-1961. Then the Reading Red Sox played in 1963-1964.
The stadium was without affiliated ball for the 1965 and 1966 season.
The Phillies have had there AA affiliate in Reading since 1967. The team was known as the Reading Phillies up to a couple of years ago when the team was rebranded the Reading Fightin Phillies.
The stadium has gone thru a series of renovations over the years to become what it is today. In my opinion it still needs upgrades. Most notably the dugout which are small.
The stadium in my opinion has one of the best atmospheres in minor league baseball of the stadiums I've visited.
You can't tell from this photo. Just behind he right field wall is a pool that has a great view of the field.
The concourse is full of Reading Phillies history
As for graphing. I got to the stadium early to graph the Reading side of the stadium. The visitors bus lets the team out on the other side of the stadium and didn't bother with Trenton since I've graphed them earlier in the year and plan on going back.
Just as the gates opened a steady rain started and lasted to almost game time. Which didn't leave me much time to graph. One unique thing about First Energy is, the players have to cross the concourse to get to the field. The stadium is set up with a aisle that separates the crowd and the players with a metal fence. But, you can put balls and binder thru the fence and have players sign. Most players stopped and signed. The only player that I didn't get outside the stadium was the Phillies #1 prospect, J.P. Crawford. who did stop and sign.
I was able to get the following:
Ben Lively, 4 cards. Ben was a 4th rd pick in 2013 by the Reds. Ben sent to the Phillies in the Marlon Bryd trade. Ben is ranked #6 as the a Top prospect in the Phillies system
Tommy Joseph, 1 custom IC. Tommy was a 2nd rd pick in 2009 by the Giants and came to the Phillies in 2012 as part of the trade that sent Hunter Pence to the Giants. Tommy is currently rehabbing and is also changing positions from catcher to 1st base. Tommy is also on the Phillies 40 man roster
Ethan Martin, 3 cards. Ethan was a 1st rd pick in 2008 by the Dodgers and came to the Phillies in 2012 in a trade that sent Shane Victorino to the Dodgers. Ethan has pitched in 2 brief stints in the majors. Both with the Phillies, 2013 15 games and in 2014 in 2 games
Dusty Wathan, team card. Dusty is currently the Fightin Phillies Manager and as a player signed as a free agent in 1994 with the Mariners and played 2 games in 2002 with the Royals. Dusty's father John Wathan is a former major league catcher who spent 10 seasons with the Royals and managed for 6 seasons also with the Royals from 1987-1992
Gustavo Pierre, team card. Gustavo signed as a free agent in 2009 with the Blue Jays and sign as a free agent with the Phillies before the 2015 season
Stephan Shackleford, team card. Stephan was a 35th rd pick in 2010 by the Giants. James played in the Giants system for the 2010 and 2011 season, the Mariners system 2012-2014 and now the Phillies.
Rene Garcia, team card. Rene was a 35th rd pick in 2008 with the Astros. Rene spent 2008-2014 in the Astros system before signed as a free agent with the Phillies
Harold Martinez, team card. Harold was a 2nd rd pick in 2011 by the Phillies
Dave Lundquist, team card. Dave was a 5th rd pick in 1993 by the White Sox and pitched in the majors with the White Sox in 1999 and then the Padres in 2001 and 2002
Kelly Dugan, 2 card. Kelly was a 2nd rd pick in 2009 by the Phillies. Kelly is currently ranked the #15 prospect in the Phillies system
Andrew Knapp, 3 cards. Andrew was a 2nd rd pick in 2013 by the Phillies. Andrew is currently ranked the #12 prospect in the Phillies system
Tom Windle, 4 cards. Tom was a 2nd rd pick in 2013 by the Dodgers. Tom came to the Phillies in a trade that sent Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers, the Phillies also recieved Zach Eflin. Tom is currently ranked the #5 prospect in the Phillies system
Ryan O'Sullivan, team card and 1 card. Ryan was a 4th rd pick in 2011 by the Dodgers. Ryan came to the Phillies in 2012 when the Joe Blanton was traded to the Dodgers
Tyler Knigge, Lakewood team card. Tyler was a 12th rd pick in 2010
Colton Murray, Lakewood team card. Colton was a 13th rd pick in 2011 by the Phillies
Brian Pointer, 1 card. Brian was a 28th rd pick in 2010 by the Phillies
Joely Rodriguez, custom IC.Joely signed as a free agent in 2009 by the Pirates and signed as a free agent in 2014 with the Phillies
J.P. Crawford, OMLB. J.P. was a 1st rd pick, 16th overall in 2013. J.P. is currently ranked the #1 prospect in the Phillies system and 21st in the top 100 by MLB
I was able to get 30 autographs on the day and I'm sure I could have gotten another 12 or so If I would have stayed.
I left in the 7th and soon after leaving a light rain started again.
My season total is up to 407 autographs.
This is the first year I kept track of my autographs for each game. But, I'm sure I'm ahead of my pace from last season since I've gone to 4 more games than I had last season to date.
Mascot Band before game
Crazy Hot Dog Vendor
Not really sure what this was about
Veggie race
Probably the most oddest looking grounds crew in baseball
I reached a milestone recently with 70k pageviews and would like to Thank everyone for reading. Check back soon!!
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