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Reading Fightin Phils

5,000th Game this Sunday

August 21, 2002 - Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


FirstEnergy Stadium -- On April 6, 1967, the Reading Phillies played their first ever game. Thirty-five years later, the R-Phils will play their 5,000th game ever on Sunday, August 25 against the Akron Aeros in the last regular season game at FirstEnergy Stadium this season. Reading's 36 years of serving as the Double-A affiliate to the Philadelphia Phillies is the fourth longest association of any city with the same big league team in professional baseball. The day is filled with special events and promotions both on and off the field, commemorating this historical milestone in Baseballtown.

The R-Phils entered the 2002 season with an all-time record of 2,481-2,384. Reading is 73-58 through games of August 20, giving the club 4,996 games played.

The first 5,000 fans through the gates will receive a baseball featuring the date of the very first game and the date of game number 5,000, as well as both the Reading and Philadelphia Phillies logos.

During a special pre-game ceremony on the field, the Reading Phillies will select an honorary fan at random to represent the 5,000th game. The lucky winner will receive a prize pack and the official game lineup card presented by Greg Legg and a Sunday Reading Phillies jersey autographed by the entire team.

Dallas Green, who will be on hand to talk about the relationship between the big league Phillies and the Reading Phillies, will present the prize pack to the winner. Green, who now serves as a Senior Advisor to Phillies G.M. Ed Wade, was a player/coach for the inaugural Reading Phillies in 1967. He is best known for leading the 1980 Phillies to a World Series win over Kansas City.

Rather than pick the 5,000th fan to come through the turnstiles for the game, the R-Phils are choosing an individual at random so fans can feel comfortable entering the stadium and receiving their commemorative baseballs, as opposed to worrying about being selected as number 5,000.

The Reading Phillies Mascot Band will also be performing outside the stadium between 11:30-12:30, giving fans incentive to show up early and watch the band and subsequently receive the giveaway ball.

Sunday is also a Kid's Day, meaning two Phillies players will be signing autographs in the right field food court prior to the game, and all kids can run the bases on the field after the game. The R-Phils will be battling first place Akron on the field, as they continue to fight with Harrisburg for the second and final playoff spot in the Southern Division. Great seats in the main grandstand are still available for the 5,000th game. Gates open at 12 p.m.

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