Reading Phillies

MiLB infobox
name = Reading Phillies
founded = 1967
city = Reading, Pennsylvania
misc =

uniform
class level = AA
past class level=
current league = Eastern League
conference =
division = Southern Division
past league =
majorleague = Philadelphia Phillies
pastmajorleague =
uniform =
nickname = Reading Phillies (1967-present)
pastnames =
ballpark = FirstEnergy Stadium
pastparks =
leaguechamps = 1968, 1973, 1995, co-champions in 2001
divisionchamps = 1995, 2000
misc6 =
owner = Craig Stein
manager = P.J. Forbes
gm =

The Reading Phillies are an Eastern League team based in Reading, Pennsylvania. Since the 1967 season, they have played in the South Division of the Eastern League, and are the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The affiliation with the Phillies has lasted unbroken since 1967. The Phillies play in FirstEnergy Stadium, previously known as Reading Municipal Memorial Stadium. Built in 1951, the stadium seats 9,000 fans. On July 3rd, 2007, the stadium celebrated their ten-millionth fan to attend a game.

The R-Phils won the Eastern League championship in 1968, 1973, and 1995, and were co-champions in 2001.

History

Early baseball in Reading (1858-1932)

Reading's first official baseball team, the Reading Athletic Club, formed in November 1858 and, for the next 15 years, played other local teams for unofficial championships and bragging rights. After the National Agreement of 1883, which organized major and minor leagues, the Reading Actives became a member of the Interstate Association, one of the two original minor leagues. The Actives went 33-35 in 1883 against teams from Brooklyn, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Trenton, New Jersey, Wilmington, Delaware, Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and Camden, New Jersey (which disbanded that July), finishing in third place before the league folded after the season. The Actives played sporadically for the next 12 years.

The Reading Coal Heavers played in the Atlantic League from 1897 until the league disbanded in mid-June 1900. During this time, the world's first female professional baseball player, Lizzie Arlington, pitched the final inning of a game for the Coal Heavers. Baseball returned to Reading in 1907 when the York White Roses of the Class-B Tri-State League relocated and became the Reading Pretzels. In 1911, the Pretzels finished with the best record in the league, but lost a best-of-seven postseason series to the team from Trenton. On June 14 of that season, George "Jake" Northrop pitched the only perfect nine-inning game in Reading baseball history. The Tri-State League folded after the 1914 season, but the Pretzels were resurrected when the Albany Senators of the New York State League relocated to Reading in August 1916. That league folded at the end of 1917 due to the first World War.

Beginning in 1919, Reading played in the Class-AA International League as the Coal Barons (1919), Marines (1920), Aces (1921-22), and Keystones (1923-32). Several future major leaguers played for the Keystones, owned by the Chicago Cubs from May 1927 until the end of 1930, including shortstop Bill Jurges and pitcher Lon Warneke. In August 1929, George Quellich set a professional baseball record that still stands today by collecting 15 hits in 15 consecutive at-bats.

Reading in the Eastern League (1933-1966)

Reading became the Class-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox in the New York-Penn League (now the Eastern League) in 1933. The Reading Red Sox had a successful two-year run before the affiliation ended. The Brooklyn Dodgers moved its affiliate to the city as the Reading Brooks, but that team left town for Allentown, Pennsylvania in July.

Five years later, Reading got another baseball franchise -- this time, an unaffiliated team in the Class-B Interstate League called the Reading Chicks, which lost the league title series to the team from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Dodgers returned in 1941 and the Brooks were reborn, featuring future Dodger outfielder Carl Furillo. The Dodgers again left town after the season, and Reading was without at team for 10 years.

In 1952, the Cleveland Indians moved its Eastern League franchise to Reading from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The Reading Indians played at Municipal Memorial Stadium for the next decade, capturing the league title in 1957. Several Indians went on to successful major-league careers, including Rocky Colavito and Roger Maris. The Indians left town in 1961 and, after one year without a team, the Red Sox returned to Reading in 1963 for two years. The Indians came back for one more season in 1965, and Reading was without a baseball team in 1966.

Logos and uniforms

The team colors of the Reading Phillies are red, navy blue, light blue, and "bubble gum." The Phillies logo consists of the "R-Phils" wordmark in red with bubble gum-colored highlights, and a navy blue and light blue star dotting the "i." The Reading Phillies also have a secondary logo depicting the Reading Pagoda, a landmark in the city.

The Reading Phillies home uniforms resemble those of their Philadelphia parent. The caps are red throughout with a stylized, cursive "R", colored red with bubble gum-colored highlights, with a navy blue and light blue star superimposed over the opening. The R-Phils have maroon caps for away games, with a train centered above the "R" instead of the blue star. The home jerseys are white with traditional red pinstripes. The "Reading" wordmark is prominently displayed on the front of the jersey in red with bubble gum-colored shadowing, with a blue star dotting the "i." The away jersey is powder blue, a tribute to the away jersey of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1973-1989, with maroon stripes going down the sides. The "R" and train logo is centered on the left side chest.

The Reading Phillies have two alternate jerseys, one red and one blue, both with the "R-Phils" wordmark prominently featured in red outlined in white.

eason-by-season records

*1967: 70-69, manager Frank Lucchessi, 6th in Eastern League, 3rd in West Division
*1968: 81-59, manager Frank Lucchessi, 2nd in EL
*1969: 81-59, manager Bob Wellman, 2nd in EL
*1970: 78-63, manager Andy Seminick, 2nd in EL
*1971: 72-67, manager Nolan Campbell, 2nd in EL, 2nd in National Division
*1972: 70-69, manager Jim Bunning, 5th in EL, 4th in South Division
*1973: 76-62, manager Cal Emery, 2nd in EL, 1st in National Division, Won League Championship
*1974: 69-66, manager Bob Wellman, 4th in EL, 3rd in National Division
*1975: 84-53, manager Bob Wellman, 1st in EL
*1976: 54-82, managers Bob Wellman and Granny Hamner (final 34 games), 7th in EL, 3rd in South Division
*1977: 63-57, manager Lee Elia, 7th in EL, 3rd in Canadian/American Division
*1978: 79-57, manager Lee Elia, 2nd in EL
*1979: 77-61, manager Jim Snyder, 2nd in EL
*1980: 78-61, manager Ron Clark (baseball player), T-2nd in EL, 2nd in South Division
*1981: 76-63, manager Ron Clark, 3rd in EL, 2nd in South Division
*1982: 63-75, manager John Felske, 5th in EL, 3rd in South Division
*1983: 96-44, manager Bill Dancy, 1st in EL
*1984: 56-83, manager Bill Dancy, 8th in EL
*1985: 58-79, manager Tony Taylor, 8th in EL
*1986: 77-59, manager George Culver, 1st in EL
*1987: 76-63, manager George Culver, 3rd in EL
*1988: 67-69, manager Bill Dancy, 5th in EL
*1989: 68-71, manager Mike Hart, 4th in EL
*1990: 55-82, manager Don McCormack, 8th in EL
*1991: 72-68, manager Don McCormack, 5th in EL
*1992: 61-77, manager Don McCormack, 6th in EL
*1993: 62-78, manager Don McCormack, 7th in EL
*1994: 58-82, manager Bill Dancy, 9th in EL, 4th in South Division
*1995: 73-69, manager Bill Dancy, T-3rd in EL, T-1st in South; Playoffs: Defeated Trenton 3-0, Defeated New Haven 3-2, Won League Championship
*1996: 66-75, manager Bill Robinson, T-7th in EL, 4th in South
*1997: 74-68, manager Al LeBoeuf, 4th in EL, 3rd in South
*1998: 56-85, manager Al LeBoeuf, 10th in EL, 5th in South
*1999: 73-69, manager Gary Varsho, 3rd in EL, 5th in South
*2000: 85-57, manager Gary Varsho, 1st in EL, 1st in South; Playoffs: Defeated Harrisburg 3-0, lost to New Haven 3-1
*2001: 77-65, manager Gary Varsho, T-4th in EL, 2nd in South; Playoffs: Defeated Erie 3-1 in semifinals, Declared league co-champions with New Britain when championship series was canceled due to the September 11, 2001 attacks
*2002: 76-66, manager Greg Legg, 4th in EL, 3rd in South
*2003: 62-79, manager Greg Legg, 10th in EL, 5th in South
*2004: 64-77, manager Greg Legg, 9th in EL, 4th in South
*2005: 69-73, manager Steve Swisher, 8th in EL, 4th in South
*2006: 71-69, manager P.J. Forbes, 5th in EL, 3rd in South
*2007: 70-71, manager P.J. Forbes, 5th in EL, 7th in South

Current Roster

Notable alumni

* Larry Bowa, SS, Philadelphia (1970-81), Chicago Cubs (1982-85), New York Mets (1985), played in 155 games for Reading in 1967-68
* Greg Luzinski, OF, Philadelphia (1970-80), Chicago White Sox (1981-84), played in 141 games for Reading in 1970
* Bob Boone, C, Philadelphia (1972-81), California (1982-88), Kansas City (1989-90), played in 112 games for Reading in 1970-71
* Mike Schmidt, 3B, Philadelphia (1972-89), played in 74 games for Reading in 1971
* Willie Hernandez, P, Chicago Cubs (1977-83), Philadelphia (1983), Detroit (1984-89), played for Reading in 1975
* George Bell, LF/OF, Toronto (1981; 1983-90), Chicago Cubs (1991), Chicago White Sox (1992-93), played in 22 games for Reading in 1980
* Mark Davis, P, Philadelphia (1980-81; 1993), San Francisco (1983-87), San Diego (1987-89; 1993-94), Kansas City (1990-92), Atlanta (1992), Milwaukee (1997), played in 28 games for Reading in 1980
* Ryne Sandberg, 2B, Philadelphia (1981), Chicago Cubs (1982-97), played in 129 games (as an SS) for Reading in 1980
* Julio Franco, SS/2B, Philadelphia (1982), Cleveland (1983-88; 1996-97), Texas (1989-93), Chicago White Sox (1994), Milwaukee (1997), Tampa Bay (1999), Atlanta (2001-05; 2007), New York Mets (2006-07), played 139 games for Reading in 1981
* Darren Daulton, C, for Philadelphia (1983; 1985-97), Florida (1997), played in 113 games for Reading in 1983 (and in one rehab game in 1991)
* Juan Samuel, 2B, Philadelphia (1983-89), New York Mets (1989), Los Angeles Dodgers (1990-92), Kansas City (1992; 1995), Cincinnati (1993), Detroit (1994-95), Toronto (1996-98), played in 47 games for Reading in 1983
* Mickey Morandini, 2B, Philadelphia (1990-97; 2000), Chicago Cubs (1998-99), Toronto (2000), played in 48 games for Reading in 1989
* Mike Lieberthal, C, Philadelphia (1994-2006), Los Angeles Dodgers (2007), played in 86 games for Reading in 1992 (and in two rehab games in 2006)
* Scott Rolen, 3B, Philadelphia (1996-2002), St. Louis (2002-2007), Toronto (2008), played in 81 games for Reading in 1995-96.
* Randy Wolf, P, Philadelphia (1999-2006), Los Angeles Dodgers (2007), San Diego (2008), played in four games for Reading in 1998 (and in a total of five rehab games)
* Pat Burrell, LF, Philadelphia (2000-present), played in 117 games for Reading in 1999 (and in four rehab games in 2004)
* Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia (2000-present), played in 133 games for Reading in 1999
* Nick Punto, 2B/SS, Philadelphia (2001-03), Minnesota (2004-present), played in 121 games for Reading in 2000
* Geoff Geary, P, Philadelphia (2003-07), Houston (2008), played in 51 games for Reading in 2000-01 (and in one rehab game in 2005)
* Marlon Byrd, CF, Philadelphia (2000-05), Washington (2005-06), Texas (2007-present), played in 137 games for Reading in 2001 (and in three rehab games in 2003)
* Brett Myers, P, Philadelphia (2002-present), played in 26 games for Reading in 2001
* Carlos Silva, P, Philadelphia (2002-03), Minnesota (2004-07), played in 28 games for Reading in 2001 (and two rehab games in 2002)
* Carlos Ruiz, C, Philadelphia (2006-present), played in 153 games for Reading in 2003-04
* Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia (2004-present), played in 102 games for Reading in 2004
* Cole Hamels, P, Philadelphia (2006-present), played in three games for Reading in 2005
* Michael Bourn, OF, Philadelphia (2006-07), Houston (2008), played in 215 games for Reading in 2005-06

ources

* [http://www.readingphillies.com/pdf/R-Phils_history_book.pdf Reading Phillies History Book]

External links

* [http://www.readingphillies.com/ Reading Phillies official site]
* [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t522 Reading Phillies' MiLB Page]