Baseballtown blossoms in Reading

READING — Its Hall of Fame includes former major league superstars Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski, Larry Bowa, Ryne Sandberg, Andre Thornton and Roger Maris.

Its active alumni include all-stars Scott Rolen, Johnny Estrada, Curt Schilling, Randy Wolf and Billy Wagner.

It's been a stop on the road to the major leagues for current Philadelphia Phillies Pat Burrell, Mike Lieberthal, Jimmy Rollins, Jason Michaels, Tomas Perez, Todd Pratt, Geoff Geary, Ryan Madson and Brett Myers.

Where is this baseball heaven, where legends begin and memories are made?

It's Baseballtown — Reading, Pa., home of the Reading Phillies.

Located just 33 miles from Pottsville down Route 61, Reading's FirstEnergy Stadium is one of the premier minor league baseball stadiums in the country.

The home of the Philadelphia's Phillies' Double-A minor league team, FirstEnergy Stadium seats 9,000 people and offers other areas for standing-room only crowds.

The stadium includes many amenities for the whole family, ranging from the Coors Light Deck, Coors Light Picnic Area, Y-102 Power Alley Pub and Classic Harley-Davidson Cafe for adults and groups, to the Fairgrounds Square Mall Picnic Area for large groups, to a pool for the kids.

A kids' Phunland Games area that includes miniature golf, a moon bounce and SpeedPitch is located in the right-field food court, and the new BodyZone Baseball Academy that features an indoor batting cage is an attractive item for youth teams.

Tickets are reasonably priced, ranging from $9 for field boxes to $5.50 for adult general admission.

Special discounts are offered for groups of 20 or more, and picnic buffets in the Coors Light Deck, Coors Light Picnic Area, Fairgrounds Square Mall Picnic Area or for the pool pavilion are available for groups of 10 or more.

With a right-field food court and concession areas located throughout the stadium that feature a wide variety of food for reasonable prices, FirstEnergy Stadium offers something for the whole family.

"Our whole approach here is family-oriented," said Scott Hunsicker, assistant general manager. "Our nieces and nephews, that's who we want to come to the game, not their parents only.

"The hardest thing to do is to do something without your kids. That's the way the stadium should be. It should be a place where you don't even consider not bringing your kids. That's why we have picnic areas instead of luxury suites."

The Reading Phillies' promotions, the coordinating of which Hunsicker is in charge, are also a big attraction for fans.

Every one of the club's 71 home games has some sort of promotion, ranging from big items like game caps, bats, jerseys, baseballs, helmets, beer mugs and bobbleheads to special theme nights like "Country Music Night," "Polish Heritage Polka Night," "Beatles Tribute Night," "Friends TV Tribute Night," "Jimmy Buffett Parrot Head Night" and "Irish Night."

Most of the promotions are sponsored by corporations from Berks and Schuylkill counties, thus offering a unique gift for fans and giving local companies some recognition.

During the game, different contests, giveaways and other fun things are held between innings, including the "Willow Hollow Press Your Luck" game, the "J.P. Mascaro Dumpo Bungee Tug-of-War," the "Subway Shuffle," and various T-shirt, soft baseball, rally towel and hot dog giveaways.

In addition, every Sunday is kids' day, where kids can run the bases after the game and includes free player autographs, clowns and balloon art.

Friday home games feature "Happy Hour" in the Classic Cafe, the Reading Phillies' mascot band performs following every Saturday home game, and "Baseball Bingo" is played during every Tuesday home game.

Over the course of the 2004 season, 17 fireworks nights will be held.

On the field, the Reading Phillies offer a brand of baseball that often includes top-notch prospects that go on to become major league superstars, either with the Philadelphia Phillies or other major league teams.

Members of the 12-team Eastern League, the Reading Phillies face minor league teams of the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos, Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers.

The Double-A level is where most of the major league organizations house their top prospects, and this year is no different.

The current R-Phils squad, although it has a losing record, contained two of the parent club's brightest young players, pitcher Gavin Floyd and first baseman Ryan Howard, until they were called up to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

In the past few years, current MLB superstars like Rolen, Estrada and Burrell have had all-star seasons in Reading.

Through its on-and-off-the field activities, Reading has blossomed into one of the most attractive minor league stadiums for baseball fans.

Through 50 playing dates this season, the Reading Phillies have drawn 348,405 fans, an average of 6,968 per game. They've drawn seven crowds of 9,000 or more, and 11 others of 8,000 or more.

They currently rank second in the Eastern League in attendance average to Akron, which is drawing 7,042 per game.