News

July 1, 2009
Four R-Phils to play in All-Star Game
Reading, PA – The Eastern League has announced the rosters for the Northern and Southern squads for the annual All-Star Game to be held in Trenton on July 15 at 7:05 PM. The four R-Phils selected to play are: LHP Joe Savery, 3B Neil Sellers, OF Michael Taylor and RHP Vance Worley. Savery and Taylor were fan selections.

June 26, 2009
R-Phils on MLB Network on June 28
The R-Phils and FirstEnergy Stadium will be prominently seen on “The Pen” MLB Network’s hit show that documents the daily happenings of the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen. The 3rd episode of the show, much of which was shot in Reading, will air on Sunday, June 28 at 8:30 PM on MLB Network.

June 25, 2009
Reading’s Drabek and Clearwater’s Flande selected for Futures Game
Reading, PA -- Rosters for the 11th annual XM All-Star Futures Game were announced today by Major League Baseball. The Phillies will be represented by Reading righty Kyle Drabek and Clearwater lefty Yohan Flande, both starting pitchers.

June 22, 2009
Reading's Savery named EL Pitcher of the Week
Reading, PA – The Eastern League has announced the winners of their weekly awards for the week ending June 21st.  Joe Savery, a left-handed starting pitcher for the Reading Phillies, is the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week. 

June 2, 2009
Drabek’s first AA start moved up to Wednesday
Reading, PA – RHP Kyle Drabek, promoted from Clearwater to Reading on Monday, will make his first start for the R-Phils on Wednesday, June 3 vs. the Akron Aeros at FirstEnergy Stadium. 

June 1, 2009
Phillies 2006 top pick, Kyle Drabek, joins Reading
Reading, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies have promoted RHP Kyle Drabek from Clearwater to Reading.

May 17, 2009
Reading's Escalona gets called up to the Majors
Reading, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies have recalled Reading lefty Sergio Escalona.  He will be with the big club for Sunday's game in Washington. 

May 14, 2009
Grand Slam Sports Complex R-Phils Camp
Reading, PA – Grand Slam Sports Complex and the Reading Phillies are teaming up to offer baseball players ages 8 and up a tremendous summer camp. 

May 12, 2009
Auto clearance event to Benefit Baseballtown Charities
Reading, PA – Enterprise Rent-A-Car's car sales division will have 150 use cars available for purchase at FirstEnergy Stadium June 5-6.  For every car sold in this hassle and haggle-free environment, a donation of $50 will be made to Baseballtown Charities. 

May 5, 2009
R-Phils to giveaway Instant Vacation on May 15
Two additional baseball road trips are also being offered for late summer
Reading, PA – The Reading Phillies, White Star Travel Center and 830 AM WEEU have teamed up to offer fans three great baseball road trips. There are a total of seven games to be seen on the three trips.

April 29, 2009
Strike out breast cancer on Mother's Day
Reading, PA – The Reading Phillies 5th annual Mother’s Day game to fight breast cancer will be Sunday, May 10 when the R-Phils take on the Altoona Curve, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, at 1:05 PM.

April 25, 2009
Zagurski rejoins R-Phils
Reading, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies have activated LHP Mike Zagurski from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Reading. 

April 14, 2009
R-Phils and B-Mets postponed on April 14
Reading, PA – The Eastern League game between the Reading Phillies and Binghamton Mets scheduled to be played at 6:35 PM at FirstEnergy Stadium on Tuesday, April 14 has been postponed due to rain.

April 4, 2009
R-Phils 43rd Opening Day roster announced
Reading, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies have announced the 24-man roster for Double-A Reading. Seven members of the club are among the Phillies Top 30 Prospects according to Baseball America.

April 3, 2009
FirstEnergy Stadium ranked 3rd in Minors by Baseball America
Reading, PA – Baseball America has ranked Reading’s FirstEnergy Stadium 3rd in an article titled “The Top 10 Minor League Ballparks” in their April 6-19 issue, available now.

March 26, 2009
How much can Baseballtown eat?
Reading, PA -- The Reading Phillies are looking for big eaters to attend Gluttony Night when the New Britain Rock Cats (Twins) visit FirstEnergy Stadium on Tuesday, May 19 for a 6:35 PM game. For just $12.00 fans can eat as much as they want from the time the gates open at 5:30 PM until the 7th Inning Stretch.

March 26, 2009
R-Phils' intern works NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in Philadelphia
John Saeger, an intern in the Reading Phillies PR Department, was part of St. Joe's athletic staff that hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament in Philadelphia.  The St. Joe's alum recall his experience here.  

March 18, 2009
R-Phils game operations among top four of over 500 teams reviewed 
Reading, PA – The Reading Phillies received an honorable mention for “Best Team Operations” in GameOps.com’s Best of 2008 awards. Jon Cudo, GameOps.com Vice President, said over 500 teams at the Major, Minor, College and Independent level were considered.

March 11, 2009
R-Phils continue tradition of being family-oriented
Reading, PA – The Reading Phillies have finalized details on several family oriented promotions. In addition to a strong promotional lineup of giveaways, fireworks and all-you-can-eat tickets, these promotions will be recurring themes throughout the 2009 season.  A new Kids Club with free membership is one of many family focused efforts by the team.

March 3, 2009
Oppermann takes over in R-Phils radio booth
Reading, PA – Anthony Oppermann has been hired as the Reading Phillies new radio play-by-play broadcaster. He’ll handle all 143 broadcasts for the team on ESPN 1240 WIOV and readingphillies.com. ESPN 1240 and the R-Phils will celebrate 10 seasons together in 2009.

March 2, 2009
Snowfall doesn't keep fans from R-Phils stadium as ticket office opens
Reading, PA -- For Mike Reichart it didn’t matter that the pitcher’s mound was covered in snow. Instead, it only made him look forward to the baseball season.

February 27, 2009
R-Phils to celebrate parent club’s World Series at eight games
Reading, PA – The Reading Phillies 2009 promotional schedule, which was revealed last week, features eight games with events and/or giveaways that will celebrate the 2008 World Series championship of their long-time affiliate.

February 19, 2009
Degler leaves radio booth, new TV deal announced
Reading, PA – Long-time Reading Phillies radio broadcaster Steve Degler will leave the booth to join Service Electric Cable TV2 Sports television broadcasts for both the Double-A R-Phils and the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Chuck Domino, President of both teams, announced February 19.

February 9, 2009
Important dates leading up to Opening Day
Reading, PA -- The Reading Phillies 43rd season begins soon. Listed here are the important dates leading up to Opening Day.

February 4, 2009
President’s Day sale on tickets for Opening Day
Reading, PA -- The Reading Phillies are holding a one-day President’s Day sale on tickets for the team’s April 9 Opening Day on Monday, February 16. World Champions blanket is season’s first giveaway.

January 27, 2009
R-Phils new manager visits Baseballtown for introductory news conference
Reading, PA -- Pennsylvania native Steve Roadcap was introduced as the 23rd manager in the Reading Phillies’ 43-year history at a morning news conference at FirstEnergy Stadium on January 27. 

January 23, 2009
R-Phils to host IronPigs in charity exhibition thanks to Capital BlueCross
Reading, PA – The top two farm teams for the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies will play each other in a pre-season exhibition game at Reading’s FirstEnergy Stadium on Tuesday, April 7 at 6:35 PM.

January 15, 2009
Winter hitting camps for youth baseball/softball players
Winter hitting camps will start January 25th and run approximately 9 weeks. Sessions will take place in the hitting tunnel at First Energy Stadium from 9 am - 11 am on Sunday mornings. The camp is for ages 8-15.

January 14, 2009
Job Fair to be held on Saturday, January 17
Reading, PA – The Reading Phillies will be holding a Job Fair for part-time seasonal game staff positions on Saturday, January 17 at FirstEnergy Stadium from 9:00 - 11:30 AM.

January 12, 2009
Contest: Last chance to see attend the Phillies World Series Trophy Tour banquet
It’s the bottom of the 9th, there are two outs and you’re up to bat with a chance to score tickets to the SOLD OUT Philadelphia Phillies World Series Trophy Tour and King of Baseballtown Banquet on January 22.

January 12, 2009
First of 11 family friendly Mascot Band Concerts set for January 19 at Ice Cap Ice Rink
Reading, PA – The Reading Phillies Mascot Band, presented by Ice Cap Ice Rink, will play their first performance of the new year at their sponsor’s location at 6:00 PM on January 19. Fans will notice a difference in show times when the FirstEnergy Stadium portion of the band’s 2009 schedule kicks off. 

January 7, 2009
Lineup announced for World Champs’ Winter Tour stop
Reading, PA – The lineup for the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies sold out Winter Tour stop in Reading has been announced. The event takes place on January 22 at the Reading Crowne Hotel, formerly the Sheraton Reading Hotel.

January 7, 2009
Three 2008 R-Phils among latest invited to big league Spring Training
Nine additional players have been invited to Spring Training with the Phillies as non-roster invitees, announced Chuck LaMar, Philadelphia Phillies assistant general manager, player development & scouting. Three of the nine played for Reading in 2008.  

December 22, 2008
Reading stop on World Champs’ Winter Tour sold out
Reading, PA – The World Champion Philadelphia Phillies Winter Tour stop in Reading, scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2009, is sold out. The dinner also serves as the 7th annual King of Baseballtown fundraiser.

December 17, 2008
Phillies sign 21 players to Minor League contracts
Twenty-one players have signed Minor League contracts, Chuck LaMar, Phillies assistant general manager, player development & scouting announced on December 17.  Ten of the players were invited to Major League spring training.   

December 16, 2008
R-Phils new manager has strong ties to the area
Reading, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies named their 2009 coaching staffs for all of their Minor League affiliates, Chuck Lamar, Philadelphia Phillies assistant general manager, player development and scouting, announced December 16.

December 1, 2008
Baseballtown loses a home grown legend
Reading Baseball Hall of Famer, life-long Berks County resident and long-time Major League pitcher Randy Gumpert passed away two days before Thanksgiving. He was 90-years old.

December 1, 2008
Phillies prospects wrap up successful Arizona Fall League season
The Arizona Fall League has to be considered a success for the nine Philadelphia Phillies prospects that took part in the league. The AFL has long been considered “finishing school” for players just a heartbeat away from the Majors. 

December 1, 2008
Phillies prospect wins Hawaii Winter Baseball League batting title
The Phillies burdened four younger prospects with the hardship of working on their games in the Hawaii Winter Baseball League. The Aloha circuit is typically for players that have full-season A-ball experience but no Double-A time.

November 11, 2008
Herb Score, Reading Baseball Hall of Famer, passes away
Reading Baseball Hall of Famer, long-time Major League pitcher and broadcaster Herb Score passed away early Tuesday morning at his home in Rocky River, Ohio. He was 75-years old.

October 24, 2008
Wyomissing native Taylor Swift to sing anthem at World Series
Nashville, TN – Two of country music’s brightest stars, Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift, will take the field Saturday night at Philadelphia’s Citizens’ Bank Park for Game 3 of the 2008 Major League Baseball World Series. Swift will sing the national anthem, McGraw will throw out the first pitch.

October 16, 2008
Big Phils World Series run started in Reading 10 seasons ago
Reading, PA -- Since 1999, the furthest back the Phillies active playoff roster can be traced to Reading, 4.6 million fans have passed through the gates at FirstEnergy Stadium, the most in the Eastern League. If you’re part of that total, you’ve witnessed in person the core of the sixth World Series team in Philadelphia Phillies history come together the past decade. Let’s take a look back.

October 15, 2008
11th annual Toys for Tots event set for Nov. 2
Reading, PA – The United States Marine Corps and the Reading Phillies are teaming up for the 11th consecutive season to bring holiday cheer to children as FirstEnergy Stadium will serve as a Toys for Tots drop-off point on Sunday, November 2 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

October 1, 2008
FirstEnergy Stadium is now smoke free
Reading, PA -- FirstEnergy Stadium, like your favorite bar and/or restaurant, is now smoke free. The change occurred due to the new state smoking regulations.
The impact should be minimally noticed by R-Phils fans. Smoking has been prohibited in spectator seating areas for well over a decade. Fans will still be permitted to smoke outside the ballpark.