Big anniversary this season at FirstEnergy Stadium, as the Reading Fightin Phils (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Philadelphia Phillies will celebrate 50 years of their affiliation — the second longest in pro baseball.
Kicking off the “50 Seasons in Reading” celebration will be the debut game of the Phillies Future Series on Thursday, March 31 at 6:05 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium. This first-ever intra-squad Phillies Future Game will feature the 2016 Philadelphia Phillies and the top prospects from the Phillies minor league system. Those top prospects will be showcased on April 2, when the Phillies will host an exhibition game at Citizens Bank Park.
“2016 is going to be a very special year in Baseballtown,” said Fightins General Manager Scott Hunsicker. “The Phillies Future Game is the first of its kind as we celebrate 50 seasons with the Phillies by showcasing the organization’s future. This game will be a must-see event for fans of the Phillies and the Reading Fightins. To have the longest affiliation in all of Minor League Baseball and be affiliated with such a classy organization like the Phillies is such an honor. The Phillies Future Game is the perfect way to kick off the next chapter of our tremendous and storied affiliation. We can’t thank the Phillies enough for bringing this event to Reading.”
It will be the first exhibition game in Reading featuring the Phillies in 16 years. The last exhibition game in Reading drew over 9,307 fans to see the Reading Phillies defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-2, on May 8th, 2000.
According to the team, the March 31 is just the start of the year-long celebration.