EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Ludy Named 2011 King of Baseballtown

Published on December 8, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Reading, PA) - The Reading Phillies have announced that Dick Ludy, who guided Boyertown Legion baseball to the 1982 Legion World Series championship, will be crowned as the 2011 King of Baseballtown at the Phillies Winter Banquet on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel.

Ludy is a native of Boyertown, PA, and is a graduate of Boyertown High School, where he was the baseball MVP as a senior in 1953. A product of West Chester State, where he was a pitcher, Ludy posted an impressive mark as the head coach of Boyertown Legion baseball from 1971-1985. He directed the Bears to an overall record of 630-112, including a 313-29 Berks League mark and league winning streaks of 74 and 56 games, which ranked the Bears among the best teams in the nation.

In 1971 -- his first year at the helm, Ludy guided Boyertown to a 30-5 mark - leading the club to its second state tourney crown. In 1982, perhaps his finest season as manager, Ludy led the Bears to a Legion World Series championship. Under his watch, Boyertown Legion baseball won 14 league titles, 12 state-regional titles, a record nine state titles, four Mid-Atlantic Regional titles, and the Legion World Series in 1982. His teams finished second in the nation twice (1980 and 1983), and more than 70 of his players went on to play baseball in college, with eight signing professional baseball contracts.

Among some of his other accomplishments, Ludy compiled a 248-12 mark while head baseball coach of Boyertown High School (1974-85), he was the coach of the gold-medal East team at the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival (1981), and was elected to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (Berks County Chapter) along with 2010 King of Baseballtown, Carl Mathias, in 1991.

Ludy will be crowned the ninth King of Baseballtown, and will join Reading native and Boston Red Sox icon, the late "Broadway" Charlie Wagner (2003); former Reading Indian and long-time Reading High coach Paul "Cooter" Jones (2004); former Major Leaguer, front office executive and scout Dick Gernert (2005); fast-pitch softball manager Rocky Santilli, who owns 2,000+ wins in local, national and international competition (2006); Francis "Ducky" Turner, longtime stadium improvement activist (2007); former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player Ruth Hartman (crowned "Queen" in 2008), Reading native and Albright College professor emeritus, Dr. David Q. Voigt (2009), and Bechtelsville native and 1957 Eastern League Champion Carl Mathias (2010).

The 2011 Phillies Winter Banquet will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will feature Reading Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, 2010 Eastern League All-Star Matt Rizzotti, and Philadelphia Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock. As in previous years, the banquet will also feature prizes, autographs, highlight videos, dinner, and more.

Tickets for the banquet are $65 each and $600 for a 10-person table. Proceeds 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.

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. In 2006 Baseballtown Charities realized a dream that accomplished both of its goals when Gordon Hoodak Stadium at Lauer's Park opened in Reading. The ballpark is located behind Lauer's Park Elementary School, which was named for the former stadium that housed several professional teams and hosted barnstorming tours from 1907-1941. Both Babe Ruth and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson played there.

Gordon Hoodak Stadium is the home field of the Olivet Boys and Girls Club's RBI leagues (Revitalizing Baseball in the Inner City) and has rekindled interest in baseball among inner-city youth. Gordon Hoodak is the principal of Lauer's Park Elementary School.

The Reading Phillies will open the 2011 season at the newly-renovated FirstEnergy Stadium on Thursday, April 14 for a 7:05 p.m. game against the Akron Aeros. Fans interested in renewing their season tickets and mini-plans, can do so now by visiting readingphillies.com, or by calling 610-370-BALL. Individual game tickets will go on-sale online on Friday, February 18 and via phone and walk-up orders on Monday, February 28.

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Eastern League Stories from December 8, 2010


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