R-Phils to host IronPigs in charity exhibition thanks to Capital BlueCross
Baseballtown Charities commits thousands of dollars to Reading Indians youth baseball teams

Chuck Domino, President of the Reading Phillies, Lehigh Valley IronPigs and Baseballtown Charities figuratively wears a lot of hats.  At Wednesday's news conference he literally wore the cap of each organization too.  While donning a Baseballtown cap, Domino pledged $5,000 to the Reading Indians on behalf of Baseballtown Charities.

Reading, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies longest tenured farm team will host its newest when the Double-A Reading Phillies play the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs in an exhibition game to benefit Baseballtown Charities, thanks to Capital BlueCross. The game will be held at Reading’s FirstEnergy Stadium on Tuesday, April 1 at 6:35 PM. 

Every seat in FirstEnergy Stadium will be sold as a $5 donation to Baseballtown Charities. Season ticket and mini-plan holders have the opportunity to purchase their seats immediately. Exhibition game tickets will go on sale to the general public online at readingphillies.com on Wednesday, February 20 and at the box office on Wednesday, February 27. 

“The Reading Phillies and Lehigh Valley IronPigs are truly grateful to Capital BlueCross for stepping up to the plate to make this game, and the good it will do for Baseballtown Charities, possible,” said Chuck Domino, who is the President of both teams and the non-profit charity. “This event is a celebration of Phillies baseball at the Minor League level that will give Reading fans a chance to see some of their favorite players from recent seasons, and IronPigs fans a glimpse of the future, and all for the benefit of our youth.” 

Thanks to Capital BlueCross, all proceeds from the game’s ticket sales will benefit the Reading Phillies Baseballtown Charities, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping more children, who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity, play baseball. Complete registration and financial information of Baseballtown Charities can be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State at 1-800-732-0999.

At Wednesday’s news conference to announce the exhibition game, Baseballtown Charities, already a strong supporter of the Olivet Boys and Girls Clubs RBI Leagues, expanded its reach by committing $5,000 to the Reading Indians’ 2008 season. The 16-year old Indians organization, named for the Minor League club that called FirstEnergy Stadium home from 1952-61 and again in 1965, fields three youth teams. The Indians City-County Prep League team for 13 year olds, Jr. Legion club for 14-15 year olds and City-County League entry for 14-16 year olds are all feeder programs for the city’s Gregg Post American Legion team. 

The Reading Phillies trademarked the name Baseballtown in 2002 and began programs in its name with goals to honor Reading’s rich baseball history and secure its baseball future by giving more kids the opportunity to play and learn from the game’s life lessons. For more on the charity, please visit Baseballtown.org.

There are only two teams in Minor League Baseball that have been affiliated with their parent clubs longer than Reading has been with Philadelphia: the Bluefield Orioles (1958) and the Richmond Braves (1966). Since the R-Phils were born in 1967, over 250 former players have gone on to play for Philadelphia. As that relationship heads into its 42nd season, former R-Phils have racked up eight MVP Awards in the Major Leagues, two Cy Young Awards and two Rookie of the Year Awards. Among Reading’s many notable alums are the last two National League MVPs – Ryan Howard (2004) and Jimmy Rollins (1999), and Baseball Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt (1971) and Ryne Sandberg (1980). Schmidt (24) and Sandberg’s (26) Reading uniform numbers have been retired at First Energy Stadium, which opened in 1951. The R-Phils have also enjoyed great fan support, having led the Eastern League in average and/or total attendance 15 times, including the last six seasons.

The IronPigs are new to the Phillies family and are getting set for their inaugural season in the International League. The Phillies Triple-A affiliate played in Ottawa as the Lynx in 2007 and as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons from 1988-2006. This will be their second exhibition game in three days as they’ll host Philadelphia on Sunday, March 30. It will be the franchise’s first road game. 

The R-Phils and IronPigs are separated by approximately 49 minutes and 38 miles. Craig Stein, the R-Phils owner since 1987, also owns part of the IronPigs. Domino, who is the President of both clubs, was Reading’s General Manager from 1988-2006. IronPigs pitching coach Rod Nichols (2002-2004) and hitting coach Greg Gross (2007) also served in those capacities with Reading. Five of the IronPigs full time front office members started their career with Reading: Amy Schoch, Lindsey Knupp, Brian Schuster, Ryan Contento and Jim Kelly. 

Capital BlueCross is the leading health insurer in its region, providing health insurance coverage to nearly one million people in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. Capital BlueCross is committed to making health insurance simple for its customers and members through all the stages of life by offering nationally acclaimed customer service and a full range of innovative benefit programs at competitive prices. 

The company has been providing health security to the people and communities of central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley for 70 years and employs more than 2,300 people in the region.

Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the BlueCross and Blue Shield Association.

More information about Capital BlueCross can be found at www.capbluecross.com. 

This story was posted on February 6, 2008