A Monday Afternoon Visit To America’s Classic Ballpark, First Energy Stadium, Reading, PA

To say I took the scenic route to my final destination in New Jersey yesterday would likely be the understatement of the year. Normally a 5 to 6 hour trip from VA Beach to just south of Newark, NJ on a typical travel day, my trip yesterday bordered on more like 9 hours because of a pre-planned scenic route. Why the scenic route? Well, in the beautiful words of Robert Frost and paraphrasing, “there were two roads and I took the one…” that drove through the incredible farmland and villages of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, aka Lancaster County, to get to where I was headin’ – Reading, PA.

The Reading baseball story is well over 100 years old. I got that feeling almost as soon as I arrived in the back parking lot of First Energy Stadium, home of the Reading Fightin’ Phils. From the brick structure to the old time photos and the classic ballpark look of the stadium, this was going to be a fun visit. I found parking in a lot near the Redner’s Event Center and amongst sign after sign that read things like “Baseballtown” and “America’s Classic Ballpark.” I know a town or two and a ballpark or two that might stand up and object to those terms being used to describe First Energy Stadium, but let’s just let that go for now. I parked, met a few Fightin’ Phils staffers who clued me into where the front of the stadium was, and set off to learn more about the Reading baseball experience.

The Reading Fightin’ Phils are the AA Affiliate of the nearby Philadelphia Phillies. The Reading club has been the AA affiliate since 1967, pretty impressive run given the moving and shaking and re-organization that is so common in minor league baseball. First Energy Stadium is also a constant in the baseball world, having opened up for baseball way back in 1951, when it was called Reading Municipal-Memorial Stadium. So, baseball in Reading, PA has a significant place in our nation’s baseball story. And has seen some of the game’s greatest players play for and against the Reading Phillies, then Fightin’ Phils. Mike Schmitt, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Jim Bunning, Robin Roberts – just to name a few.

So, I walked down the sidewalk, around the loading dock area of the stadium, passed the Ryan Howard entrance, and made it to the front gate area of First Energy. It had become a cloudy day as thunderstorms and heavy rain had recently passed through the Reading area. No worries, I got some great views and photos of the front entrance, including reading through a really cool Reading walk of fame. There were commemorative plaques of former players, local business leaders, and other sport figures all embedded into the brick for fans to read and learn about. The view from the front of the stadium was tremendous.

As I have stated on many occasions when visiting ballparks of all sizes, I don’t pick locks and I don’t jump fences. If a gate is open, I say hello, announce myself, and hope to greet a friendly baseball person who will allow me to take a few photos and partake in their stadium’s experience. Reading was no exception, I found a few friendly folks who greeted me, let me take a few photos, and capture a small part of the Reading baseball experience.

And this mural really caught my eye. A tribute to Taylor Swift, a local girl who sang the National Anthem at First Energy Stadium back in 2002 after debuting in a Grease ensemble at just 9 years of age. And made a habit of singing the national anthem there at First Energy Stadium. Hmmm, I wonder what every became of Taylor Swift of nearby Wyomissing, Pennsylvania?

It was around 5:00pm when I finished my self tour of First Energy Stadium and most of the staff seemed to be heading for their cars and leaving the parking lot area, which signaled to me that I should probably head out as well. I was so psyched to make it to Reading after a rather interesting drive through small villages, cornfields, and country roads with no yellow lines. I made it to a place called “America’s Classic Ballpark” and have to say they are just about dead right with that comment. The brick structure and amazing baseball history everywhere just gave you the sense that Reading cared a million about its baseball team and traditions. With no game happening Monday, I was only able to snag a fraction of what the entire Reading baseball experience is. But, in the words of a famous former Reading resident, “life is short, have adventures.” Overall, it was an incredible day trip taking the scenic route to experience the Reading baseball experience at beautiful First Energy Stadium, home of the Reading Fightin’ Phils, Reading, PA, USA.