7th annual Morning Game set for Monday, May 12

Reading, PA – The Reading Phillies will host their annual morning game on Monday, May 12 when the team closes out an eight game home stand against the Altoona Curve at 9:35 AM. 

The morning game, which is now in its seventh season, was designed to accommodate second and third shift workers, as well as senior citizens. The first 2,000 adults 15 and older will receive a white R-Phils Morning Game t-shirt thanks to Berks Encore and Capital BlueCross.

Also included in the day’s activities will be a pre-game stroll around the warning track for all fans from 8:30-9:00 AM as well as live music from Tony Farina thanks to Rock Hits Y-102 and 69 News Berks Edition. The game also boasts a 4 for $44 ticket package special that includes four yellow box seats, four hot dogs and four sodas for only $44. 

Breakfast foods will be served at the concessions stands for those fans who do not want to miss their most important meal of the day. 

Individual tickets can be purchased by calling 610-375-8469, at FirstEnergy Stadium or by ordering online anytime. 

Morning game notes

2002
• May 8, first ever R-Phils Morning game, started at 9:05 AM
• Heavy traffic congestion around the ballpark and on the bypass prompted the R-Phils management to move first pitch to 9:35 AM in future seasons.
• Reading defeated Altoona 5-3 behind seven innings from LHP Greg Kubes.
• Manager Greg Legg, now a coach at Class-A Lakewood, was ejected in the first inning for arguing a call at third base. “Legger” was tossed at 9:44 AM, believed by Elias Sports Bureau to be the earliest ejection in the history of baseball. 
• 18 media credentials were issued the day of the game alone, not to mention several regulars that also covered the game.
• Official attendance: 7,150
2003
• 9:35 AM start made for more manageable rush hour traffic.
• Morning turned to afternoon as Reading defeated Erie, 5-4, in 14 innings.
• Time of game was 4:16.
• Jeff Inglin’s RBI single in the bottom of the 14th inning knocked in Josue Perez with the winning run at 1:51 PM.
• Official attendance: 7,071
2004
• Reading dropped their first breakfast battle, 4-2 at the hands of Harrisburg.
• It was the smallest morning game crowd despite it being the warmest morning game ever with temps reaching the low 80s. It’s believed that the “excessive heat” kept away some of the seniors who normally would attend. Again, just a theory. 
• Official attendance: 6,845 
2005
• The R-Phils were not morning people, as they were shut out by Binghamton 6-0.
• Marked the first time in Morning Game history that the tarp was not on the field the night before.
• Official attendance: 7,980 
2006
• Lost 4-2 to New Hampshire despite nine strikeouts from righty Scott Mathieson.
• Official attendance, 7,473
2007
• First time the game was not scheduled in May; played June 25
• Reading defeated Altoona 4-3 before 7,652

Average morning crowd: 7,362 (44,171 total, 6 seasons)
(Capacity = 9,000)

Record = 3-3, 2-0 vs. Altoona, Monday’s opponent.

This story was posted on May 7, 2008