Reading Fightin Phils Founded in 1967 Reading, Pennsylvania |
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Class-level | |||||
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Current | Double-A | ||||
Minor league affiliations | |||||
League | Eastern League | ||||
Division | Eastern Division | ||||
Major league affiliations | |||||
Current | Philadelphia Phillies | ||||
Minor league titles | |||||
League titles (4) |
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Division titles (4) |
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Team data | |||||
Nickname | Reading Fightin Phils (2013–present) | ||||
Previous names
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Reading Phillies (1967–2012) | ||||
Colors | Red, nighttime navy, cream, white |
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Ballpark | FirstEnergy Stadium | ||||
Owner(s)/
Operator(s) |
Philadelphia Phillies | ||||
Manager | Greg Legg | ||||
General Manager | Scott Hunsicker |
The Reading Fightin Phils (also called the Reading Fightins or Fightins) are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. The team plays their home games at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Reading Fightin Phils were founded in 1967 as the Reading Phillies (commonly referred to as the R-Phils and sometimes Reading Phils) and they are the Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies since 1967 and this affiliation is currently tied for the longest affiliation in Minor League Baseball. The team has been owned by the Phillies since 2008.
The franchise has always been based in Reading and maintained its original name "Reading Phillies" from its establishment in 1967 through 2012. The Reading Fightin Phils are the oldest team in the Eastern League to play in their original and current city with the most seasons under their original name (Reading Phillies).
The Fightin Phils' stadium, FirstEnergy Stadium which was built in 1951 and was previously known as Reading Municipal Memorial Stadium, has been home to the Reading Fightin Phils since their establishment in 1967. The stadium seats 9,000 fans, and on July 3, 2007, the stadium celebrated their ten-millionth fan to attend a game.
The Fightin Phils won the Eastern League championship in 1968, 1973, and 1995, and were co-champions in 2001. The 1983 Phillies were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.
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.
The Reading Actives date their existence to 1874. After the National Agreement of 1883, which organized major and minor leagues, the 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.