EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Opening Day at Gordon Hoodak Stadium

Published on June 11, 2007 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


Reading, PA - Opening Day for the Olivet Boys and Girls Club's 10-12 year old RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner City) League will be held at Gordon Hoodak Stadium at Lauer's Park on Monday, June 18. 2007 marks the second season the league will play its games at Gordon Hoodak Stadium.

The first of two games will be held at 11:00 AM with Opening Day Ceremonies to be held approximately at 12:30 PM. The second game will start at 1:00 PM.

There are 320 children playing in the league this season, up from 180 in the stadium's inaugural year. The Club serves 5,808 children at its 12 locations. According the www.olivetbgc.org, 84% of the members live at or below the national poverty line.

The league plays two games, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, every Monday and Wednesday through August 6. The only exception is July 5 when the Reading Phillies players will visit to hold a baseball clinic for the entire league. The playoff schedule will be determined at a later date.

There is free admission to all games. An affordable concession stand, complete with picnic tables, is open on game days and makes Gordon Hoodak Stadium an ideal place to stop for lunch and watch some great kids playing ball in a great setting.

The stadium sits on the grounds of Lauer's Park Elementary School. The school was named for the professional stadium that sat there from 1907-1941. Babe Ruth and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson both played there and Reading's own baseball legend, the late "Broadway" Charlie Wagner began his 70+ year career with the Red Sox there. The new youth stadium is named for Gordon Hoodak, the current and longtime principal at the school.

As part of the Opening Day ceremonies, a special red seat among all of the green ones in the grandstand will be dedicated for Wagner. It's the seat he watched last year's championship game from. It was the last time he visited Lauer's Park, where the Red Sox signed him in 1935.

The ballpark was built by Baseballtown Charities for $950,000 and opened in 2006. Baseballtown Charities was founded by the Reading Phillies in 2002. It is recognized by the state of Pennsylvania as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more please visit baseballtown.org.

Ballpark amenities:

- Brick and mortar stadium with grass and dirt field

- Covered grandstand with seats identical to those at FirstEnergy Stadium

- Dugouts, press box, ticket window and concession stand

- Asymmetrical outfield, with home run wall that varies in height, complete with foul poles, billboards and digital scoreboard

- View of Reading skyline

How do I get there? Make three lefts, just like running the bases From RT 422 take the Penn Street exit across the bridge and into Reading. Make a left onto 3rd Street. Make a left onto Buttonwood Street. Make a left onto 2nd Street. Lauer's Park Elementary School is halfway down the block on the left. Gordon Hoodak Stadium sits behind the school.

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Eastern League Stories from June 11, 2007


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