Tag Archives: Baseballtown

Let’s play catch (up)

I know, I know, it’s a super corny title. It’s been a while so I’m a bit out of practice. Feel free to pause here and groan at the corniness of this title.

Better? Now it’s time to catch you up on life.

The first and most important update is that after 16 summers, I have officially stepped away from Baseballtown as an employee – at least for now. Life has gotten a bit busier over the last year and we decided this was for the best.

You’re probably thinking, “What does this mean for Confessions of a Concessions worker?”

Never fear! I will still be writing and sharing stories and observations from my time working at the ballpark. Now I will also be able to share from the point of view of a fan. Because I may not work there anymore, but you can bet I’ll still be going as a fan!

That’s all for now, but there is more to come. I have a few stories in the works, but if there is a topic you want to know more about as a fan or employee, just let me know!

Beyond the Walls

There are many experiences I have had during the 16 years I have worked in Baseballtown and a few of my favorites have taken place beyond the walls of FirstEnergy Stadium.

After spending so much time at FirstEnergy Stadium, it is always fun for me to visit other ballparks and see what they are like. Within the Phillies organization I have been to four of their six stadiums. I’ve had the chance to attend games at Citizens Bank Park, Coca Cola Park, FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, and of course, FirstEnergy Stadium.

I even had the opportunity to see a game at Veterans Stadium before it was taken down.

Aside from ballparks within the Phillies system I have also been to Arm and Hammer Park, home of the former Yankees affiliate Trenton Thunder, and TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Park, home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. One aspect of visiting different parks that I enjoy is noticing the differences based simply on the level of the team. There are definite differences between a major league stadium, a double A or triple A stadium, and a single A stadium. Understandably so, the higher up the level of play is, the more fans are there for the game. At the lower level stadiums, there is a large focus on providing entertainment for fans between innings and even sometimes during innings at special areas throughout the ballpark. One of the things the Fightins pride themselves on is the in-game entertainment that they bring each game to entertain young and old fans alike.

After visiting a few stadiums you start to notice differences that have little to do with the level of the team and more to do with the basic layout. One of the biggest differences I have noticed is the layout of the seating sections. At FirstEnergy Stadium and TicketReturn.com Field, you enter the park below the seats and must walk up stairs to get to the majority of the seats. You actually have to walk up a ramp or stairs and then back down to reach the field level seats. In Philadelphia, Lehigh, Lakewood, and Trenton, you enter the park above the seats; with the exception being the access to the upper decks and suites.

There is one slight downfall to the setup at FirstEnergy Stadium when it comes to getting to my place of work. It’s not called the Upstairs Ice Cream Stand for no reason. In order to get there, you have to climb all the stairs in the main grandstand. However, it comes with an awesome view of the game, so I really can’t complain.

Another unique aspect of the Fightins’ stadium I have yet to experience in any other ballpark is that in order to get to the field, the players must cross the main concourse. This means they are walking through the crowds of fans before and after each game. At the other stadiums I have visited, the players access the field from below the stands. This makes the setup at FirstEnergy Stadium a unique experience for both the fans and the players. Now don’t worry, the Fightins do a fantastic job of making sure that players are easily able to get to and from the field when necessary. Also, the fans know that it is something they would not experience at most other stadiums, and there are seldom any issues with fans bothering players. It is always so nice to see the players stopping to sign autographs after a game and talking to the fans who are there to cheer for them all summer. While fans can still get autographs at other ballparks when players walk by the walls along the base of the stands, to me it makes it a bit more of an experience when you can be walking to get food and maybe you just happen to cross paths with one of your favorite players.

In a similar situation as the seating differences between the different ballparks, there is one thing that the homes of the Fightins, the Pelicans, and the former Trenton Thunder have in common. All three parks are not what you would call “360 stadiums.”

What does that mean you ask?

At Citizens Bank Park, Coca Cola Park, and FirstEnergy Park fans are able to walk in a complete circle around the entirety of the inside of the ballpark, with views of the field from every angle. In both Philadelphia and Lehigh, fans can enjoy walking around a 360 degree concourse complete with concessions, tables, and some seating areas. In Reading, Myrtle Beach, and Trenton fans can only walk so far out into an outfield section before they have to turn around and walk back the other way. I think there are pros and cons to each style of stadium, but I will say that during my years as an intern, it would have been nice to be able to walk a complete circle in the ballpark instead of walking in a constant horseshoe shape all night.

Confessional: Have you visited more than one stadium? Which one did you enjoy the most? Why?

In all of the different stadiums that I have visited, there are picnic seating areas where fans can enjoy the game while sitting at larger tables as opposed to the regular stadium seating. They are all located in different areas around the ballparks, but generally fall in somewhere along the third baseline or out towards left field. In Philadelphia and Lehigh, fans can enjoy larger picnic areas with standing room tables that overlooks the bullpens. What is unique about FirstEnergy Stadium is that not only do we have a picnic area in left field and on the third base side, there is also a picnic area in right field, complete with a swimming pol. I know there are a few other ballparks around the country that have similar areas, but out of the parks I have been to Reading is the only one to have this style of seating area.

I could go on and on listing similarities and differences between all of the ballparks I have been to, but you get the idea. In the future, I hope to be able to visit more stadiums in different areas and see how they compare. In the end, no matter how many parks I visit, FirstEnergy Stadium will always be my favorite.

After all, it is America’s Classic Ballpark.

Will we return to Baseballtown in 2021?

On Friday, February 12, 2021, my social media feeds practically exploded with the news that the 2021 Minor League Baseball season could quite possibly start in early May. As I scrolled through my Facebook newsfeed and my Instagram, I was bombarded by friends all sharing the same post. It was an announcement from the Reading Fightin Phils regarding the 2021 season.

The Reading Phillies announced on February 12, 2021 that the MLB had announced plans for the 2021 Minor League baseball season. (Photo: Reading Fightin’ Phils Facebook/2021)

At the time this post was written, the announcement had been shared over 100 times and had almost 400 likes. I was honestly surprised to see some of the friends who had shared the post and seemed genuinely excited about the return of baseball. It is clear that the fans in Baseballtown cannot wait to return to the ballpark and cheer on their favorite players. Still, one question remains.

What will the 2021 baseball season look like?

Minor League Baseball experienced quite a shake up this offseason as the MLB did some reorganizing of the leagues after ending the Professional Baseball Agreement. Teams have gained new affiliates and some long-standing affiliations were terminated during the last few months. Luckily, the Reading Fightin’ Phils were one of 120 teams offered a 10-year license. What does this mean?

It means that baseball will remain in Baseballtown for a little while longer and the Reading Fightin’ Phils will continue to be a part of the wonderful Phillies organization.

I remember when I first learned about the reorganization and how forty affiliates were being cut from the minor leagues, I honestly didn’t think much about it. I was confident that the Fightins would be safe and that it was mostly lower level teams that were being cut. For the most part this was true. However, there is one longtime Reading rivalry that will not be making any trips to Baseballtown this year. The Trenton Thunder will no longer be the Double A affiliate of the New York Yankees. When I heard this news, I will admit I was surprised. Trenton has been one of Reading’s biggest rivalries for at least as long as I have worked at the ballpark.

Aside from the changes in certain teams, what else will be different in baseball this year?

At this point, everything is kind of up in the air. I would imagine there may be limits to the numbers of fans allowed in the ballparks, masks may be required for fans and employees, and there may be many other changes that will be put in place at least for the foreseeable future. I know that I for one will be willing to do whatever they ask or tell me to do, if it means that I get to spend my summer evenings at FirstEnergy Stadium.

I’ve been thinking about what it will be like when baseball does start back up again and I will admit that there was a part of me that enjoyed having a bit more free time in the evenings last summer. That being said, I would not have spent the last 15 years working in Baseballtown if I didn’t love it. While I enjoyed that extra free time, I am ready to go back. My sister and I have talked about this quite a bit and we agreed that maybe what we needed was a short break and some time away from it to realize that we really do love working at the ballpark. Spending the summer watching baseball and seeing all the fans will bring a sense of normalcy back into our lives. As frustrating and exhausting as it can be running from one job to the next four to five days a week, I’m not ready to give it up just yet.

Confessional: Are you looking forward to the return of Minor League Baseball? What is one thing you are looking forward to the most?

At the time of the announcement from the Fightins and also the announcement from the MLB, the Double A season is scheduled to begin at the beginning of May, but this could change. Whenever the season starts, I know that I will be ready to get back to Baseballtown.

Do you miss baseball?

Photo: Amanda Cain, 2016

“Do you miss baseball?”

I’ve been getting this question a lot lately, especially since I started back at my full time job. The answer is both simple and complicated.

“Do you miss baseball?”

At this point in the summer, we would be almost halfway through the Minor League Baseball season. There would have been many nights spent at the ballpark watching games, serving ice cream, and talking to people we only see five months out of the year. We would know which players were looking strong, which teams were the ones to watch out for, and the Eastern League All-Star Game would be right around the corner.

Instead, we are all sitting at home, mere days after Major League Baseball announced there would be no minor league season this year. Am I disappointed? Yes. Surprised? No.

“Do you miss baseball?”

After Spring Training was delayed, there was no thought that there wouldn’t be any baseball at all this year. Once states started shutting down, it became a nagging thought at the back of my mind. Then what should have been Opening Night came and went and the nagging thought turned to doubt. Then April became May, May became June, and it became very real that there may not be a season in Baseballtown this summer.

“Do you miss baseball?”

I think after spending 15 summers working in baseball, it would be crazy if I could immediately answer that question with a simple yes or no. For me, and I’m sure many of my fellow Baseballtown employees, working at the ballpark is about more than just baseball. Yes, the sport is the main reason we are all there, but it’s not the only thing that keeps us coming back. I love watching baseball and definitely miss watching it from the top of the grandstand, but there are other things I also miss.

I miss watching batting practice with the upstairs crew during our “pregame meetings.” I miss seeing the employees we only see between April and August. I miss all the regular customers who are always excited to see us back each season and want to know what we’ve been up to since the last season ended. The one thing I miss the most? The feeling of simply being at the ballpark. I love the sport, I love going to games, and I love that I get to enjoy both all summer.

“Do you miss baseball?”

Despite everything I miss about being at the ballpark, I would be lying if I didn’t say there is a small part of me that doesn’t miss it. Now, I know this is confusing, but let me explain.

Part of me doesn’t miss it because part of me has been enjoying the extra free time I’ve had these past few months. For five months my days are spent working my full time job, changing clothes in the car or in a fitting room at said job, then heading straight to the ballpark. After roughly three hours there, it’s back home to eat, shower, and head to bed to do it again the next day. Depending on the length of the home stand, this routine can happen for anywhere from three to seven days in a row. I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining – after all, I’m the one who wants to work both jobs – but sometimes it can be exhausting.

With the minor league season on hold and now cancelled, I found I have more time to relax. My sister and I started taking walks every day when quarantine started and have been able to continue doing so even after going back to work. Evening walks would be few and far between if we were in the middle of baseball season. It’s been really nice to come home from work, have dinner with family at the dinner table, and then spend the evening reading, playing games, or watching a movie. While I love working in a baseball stadium, it has been nice to have some more free time.

“Do you miss baseball?”

My final answer to this question is one that many people will understand and many may find frustrating. That’s because I don’t have a definitive answer.

“Do you miss baseball?” Yes and no.

I don’t know if I will ever have a definitive answer to this question. I think, and my sister brought up this point when we were talking, maybe what we needed was a break. Just some time to be able to relax, enjoy some things we haven’t had time for, and to see if continuing to work at the ballpark is something we truly want. One thing I do know is that come April 2021, I will be ready and waiting to head into my 16th season in Baseballtown. Now I have a question for you.

“Do you miss baseball?”

Vegetables, presidents, and bacon, oh my!

For some reason over the years one thing that has become popular at baseball games is having mascots run a race between innings. The thing is, they aren’t your typical mascots running said races; you won’t see Screwball or Blooper the Hound Dog running around the field at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Instead you get to watch vegetables race each other to the finish line.

That’s right, vegetables. At each Fightin Phils home game Broccoli, Lettuce, Carrot, and Cauliflower race each other from right field around to third base. To make the race more exciting, the vegetables have to avoid Evil Candy, the peppermint-shaped villain who tries to ruin the race every night and has yet to be successful in doing so.

At the start of the race each night, the vegetables are each assigned a section of seats to represent in the race. Twenty fans from the winning section receive a free general admission ticket to a future game. The race gets the crowd excited and works to teach young fans an important lesson: “Vegetables are good, candy is bad. Eat more vegetables.”

The same cannot be said for the race held between innings at each Lehigh Valley IronPigs game. When you watch four different types of pork run around a ball field, it is hard to decide which is the healthiest option. Unlike the running vegetables, the four competitors in this race have names that tie into their specific form. Each night fans cheer as Hambone (ham), Diggity (hot dog), Barbie Q. (pork bbq), and Chris P. Bacon (bacon, of course) race around the field at Coca Cola Park.

While there is no villain attempting to mess up the race, Diggity has built up a reputation as a cheater while Hambone earns the fewest wins each season.

One mascot who understands how Hambone feels is Theodore Roosevelt, former U.S. president and one of four presidents to race around the field at every Washington Nationals’ home game. The Roosevelt mascot has continuously lost the race even after finally earning his first win in October 2012.

While I don’t fully understand the excitement of watching presidents or pieces of food running around a billfold, fans go crazy whenever the races take place. The vegetable race was such a crowd pleaser that the Fightins’ added the Small Food Race. In this race five lucky young fans don food costumes such as pizza, popcorn, and ice cream and race from right field all the way to first base.

Now I can understand why fans get excited about the small food race. There’s something about a small child running in a cheeseburger costume hat makes you smile. What I don’t understand is the excitement about watching four vegetables running around a field.

I don’t know about you, but I was not a fan of vegetables as a kid; especially carrots or cauliflower. I still don’t eat carrots or cauliflower. Most kids I know do not like to eat vegetables so why they get so excited about seeing them race and getting their autographs I don’t know.

If I had to guess, I would say the excitement comes from being at the game and a new event is taking place on the field. he fans get caught up in the excitement of the game and also get excited about the between innings entertainment.

Confessional: If you could pick any group of 4 or more mascots to run a race between innings, who/what would you pick? Why that group?

What was always exciting for me was watching the candy tackle one of the veggies each night. They all knew he would be coming, but they never knew who was getting taken down. There were even some nights when the vegetables would retaliate and get Evil Candy before he got one of them. Unfortunately there is not tackling of vegetables anymore – I’m assuming for safety reasons. Evil Candy is still part of the race though and he receives a fair share cheers and each night.

In the end I have decided that I will never truly understand the excitement about watching vegetables or presidents run around a baseball field. I’m sure when I was younger, I would have cheered just as loudly in the hope that my vegetable would win. Although I may not understand it, I will continue to enjoy watching the young fans cheer for their favorite vegetables while booing Evil Candy.

People Watching: First Pitches

*I posted a previous blog a year or so ago about how much we enjoyed people watching when I worked up at the deck. This enjoyment has continued over the years even though my location at the ballpark has changed. The UIC is a great place to people watch from and as a result, I have decided to have a blog miniseries about different groups of people who are fun to watch at each game.*

Group #1: First Pitch Participants

Now every baseball fan knows that the ceremonial first pitch is an important part of the pregame at any ballgame. At most major league parks you may only see one or two pitches, usually thrown by a well-known member of the community, or a celebrity, or a former player. This is not the case in many minor league parks, Reading included. At Reading, anyone can throw out a first pitch with the purchase of a first pitch package. It can be for a birthday, anniversary, graduation, bachelor/bachelorette party or just because you want to throw out a first pitch. There are also first pitches thrown by contest winners and sponsors.

With something like first pitches you’re going to see the good, the bad, and the “did that really just happen?”. If you go on to YouTube and search “bad first pitches,” you will find a plethora of videos of first pitches gone wrong or countdowns of the top 10 worst first pitches.

In my time working at FirstEnergy Stadium I have seen hundreds of first pitches. I’ve seen first pitch participants as young as two and as old as 98. There was even one that was a surprise military homecoming – a wife threw a pitch in honor of her husband, not knowing that he was the one behind the catcher’s mask.

Confessional: Have you ever thrown out a first pitch? If yes, how do you think it went? If no, what would you be most worried about if you were asked to throw out a first pitch?

Now it is understandable that while throwing out a first pitch can be exciting, it can also be nerve-wracking for some people. There are people who are not comfortable standing in front of a crowd of a couple thousand people. You can generally tell by the body language of people in line who is ready to throw and who is dreading that moment when all eyes are on them.

My favorite group of first pitch participants to watch are the young kids. I love watching the really tiny ones walk almost all the way to home plate and then throw the ball straight down into the grass. Sometimes they will pick it up and try again; other times they simply stare at the ball on the ground until someone moves them off the field. Every now and then we’ll see a youngster who refuses to throw or attempt to throw and instead they walk from the mound and hand the ball to the catcher.

After the young kids, I get a kick out of watching all the teenage and young adult guys who think they are very impressive.

The thing I like about this group is you can always tell which ones have actually ever played baseball. They’re the ones who will take the time to set their stance on the makeshift mound and watch the catcher as if he is giving them signs. This is followed by an elaborate wind up and then they hurl the ball toward home plate as if they were the next Cy Young or Nolan Ryan. This group is always entertaining because while they can all throw the ball, it is clear that they are not all pitchers.

By the end of the summer, the number of first pitches we have watched from the UIC is pretty high, but it never gets old. From the young fan to the old fan, each first pitch participant brings their own unique style to the experience. This is exactly what makes the first pitch participants a great group for people watching.

Countdown to Opening Night: #1

Today is the day. It is officially Opening Night 2017 for the Reading Fightin’ Phils and I could not be more excited. Before I get too carried away, let me share with you the number one spot on my countdown.

1. Old Friends

Now I know that this is a topic that has come up in numerous blog posts on this site, but to me it is the one thing that I look forward to more than anything with the start of each new season. The main reason is because the people I see at the stadium every night are people who I do not really see from September to April. This was not entirely the case this year as I worked Christmas at FirstEnergy Stadium and saw some people there, but the majority of the people I will see on Opening Night and after I have not spoken to since the end of last season.

The friends I have made at the stadium are a special group of people. I guess I could be cliché and say that they are more than friends they are family, but that seems a little too sappy for this post. I will just say that being able to connect over a mutual love for a sport can really bring people together; even if you’ve only known them for a couple of years. Seeing these people again just makes the summer that much more exciting. I cannot wait to hear what they have been up to and to talk about the prospects on this year’s team and what we think the outcome of the season will be. What I love the most is that it’s not just the fans that I am excited to see again, but also the coworkers. I enjoy walking past the ushers that I worked with during my internship and saying hi and having them ask me what I am up to these days. It is great walking through the plaza and the concourse and passing everyone and having them say hi and welcome back. That is what makes working at the ballpark so much fun and why I look forward to going back each season.

Well, the countdown has come to an end and as of 5:00 tonight the season will officially be underway. Don’t worry though, the daily blogs are finished for now – I’m pretty proud that I managed to blog all five days – but another season of baseball means more stories for me to share. Be sure to keep up with the posts – there are more confessions coming your way!

Confessional: Do you have a group of friends at a job that you may not see outside of work, but at work you love to talk and spend time together? If you do hang out outside of work, what types of things do you like to do?

Countdown to Opening Night: #2

2. Game Entertainment

Each season the Fightin Phils staff pulls out all the stops to provide their fans with the best entertainment they can before, during, and after every game. One thing I am looking forward to this season is what new entertainment they are bringing to their fans and what entertainment will be returning from last season.

One of my favorite parts of the game day entertainment is listening to the different music groups that are brought in to perform during happy hour before each game and on some nights after each game. They range from school choirs and bands to local bands and singing groups of all talent levels. I think that having these groups perform before games provides them with a great opportunity to perform in front of an audience and it introduces baseball fans to different types of music that they may not otherwise experience.

Everyone knows that part of going to a minor league baseball game is experiencing the between innings entertainment. The Fightin Phils have provided more than their fair share of interesting between innings games over the years and each year it is fun to see what new ideas they will come up with. Fans love when free items are thrown into the crowd or when “fans” make fools of themselves performing crazy on field stunts.

Game entertainment makes the #2 spot on the countdown because it is a major part of what the Fightins are all about and they rarely disappoint.

Confessional: What is your favorite in-game entertainment that you have seen at a sporting event?

Countdown to Opening Night: #3

3. Baseball

Today’s countdown topic is pretty straight forward: I am looking forward to the start of a new season for the simple reason that I once again get to watch baseball.

Now I know what you might be thinking, why don’t you just watch baseball on tv? Trust me, I do. The biggest obstacle in my way is time. Generally I am not around at the time that games are being shown on tv. I am either working, or out with my family, or in bed because I have to be up early for work the next morning. If I’m not at one job I am usually at the other; unfortunately the Fightin Phils play almost all their games at the same time as the Philadelphia Phillies. While I make it a goal to try to get to at least one Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park each summer it doesn’t always work out. These reasons are why baseball comes in at number three on the countdown.

I love being out at the ballpark on game day and while I am there to work, I am also there because I love the sport. It is enjoyable to me to sit there and be able to watch the game and talk about the game with other people who understand what is happening. Up at the UIC we don’t tend to get busy until about halfway through the game, so I can usually watch a good four or five innings of baseball with little interruption. I find watching the games both exciting and relaxing. It is exciting to watch the team do well and wonder what the next game will be like and it is relaxing because all you have to think about is baseball. It’s a few hours out of the day where I don’t have to worry about my full-time job or anything else and I can just enjoy the sport.

I get a lot of people over the summer who ask why I put up with the craziness of working two jobs and my answer is always the same: I love working out at the ballpark because I love the game and I can’t imagine giving that up.

Confessional: What is one thing that you are truly passionate about and maybe wish you had more time to devote to it? What is it about this hobby or job that makes you never want to give it up?

Countdown to Opening Night: #4

4. Stadium Updates

Each offseason America’s Classic Ballpark undergoes physical changes. Some are minor – railings get repainted, broken chairs get fixed – and some are major – the dugout suite was added during the 2015 offseason. The ballpark also undergoes changes to the game day operations, the most notable of which is new menu items available in concessions.

At orientation each year all of the employees learn about what changes were made both around the stadium and to the concessions menu. Even knowing about the changes prior to the beginning of the season, this category makes the countdown because I look forward to seeing how the fans will react to the changes. Will they like the new food items? What do they think about the new seating options? This year some changes have been made to increase safety for the fans and it will be one of the more noticeable changes. Every season there are positive and negative reactions to the changes, but I always like to hear what people think. I’m especially excited this season because one of the changes involves the UIC and a menu change in ice cream last year had some people upset –  who knew people would be upset about us not having Klondike bars that until that moment they never even knew we sold?! I won’t spoil anything here, but maybe after the season has started I will share more about this change.

Tune in tomorrow for Countdown spot #3!

Confessional: Have you ever experienced a major change at work? What was it and was the outcome positive or negative?