September 17, 2022

FirstEnergy Stadium – home of the Reading Fightin Phils – is located in the heart of Met-Ed’s service territory in Reading, Pa. The 10,000-seat facility hosted its first regular season baseball game in 1951 and currently is the oldest ballpark in the Eastern League.

Earlier this summer, a kid’s clinic was held for children of FirstEnergy employees and their families where participants got to step onto the field of this historic ballpark and experience life as a minor league baseball player. Met-Ed’s Anika Niehans was excited to have the event back after a two-year absence.

Did You Know? The Fightin Phils have been the Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies since 1967 – the year the Phils were founded – which is one of the longest affiliations in minor league baseball. The Phillies have owned the team since 2008.

“This is the first time we’ve been able to hold the kid’s clinic since COVID-19 struck in 2020, so we’re very happy to see it return,” said Anika, executive assistant, Leadership, and coordinator of the event. “Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces while they’re running the bases and interacting with players is priceless.”

The clinic – which is open to children of Met-Ed employees – started at FirstEnergy Stadium in 2000 as part of the company’s naming rights package for the facility. Ten youngsters participated in this year’s event, which also was attended by several Fightin Phils players and manager Shawn Williams.

The players kicked off the event by having lunch with the kids, which included hamburgers, hot dogs and other baseball stadium treats. Then the clinic portion started, where small groups rotated through various stations, including warm-ups, batting practice, pitching drills and base running. The day ended with several of the participants attending the evening home game to watch the Fightin Phils beat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 9-2.

“The Fightin Phils and the stadium’s management team really go out of their way to make the clinic a special experience for the kids and their families,” continued Anika. “From the food to the player interactions to the game tickets, they couldn’t be more helpful or accommodating. It’s a fun and unique event that everyone enjoys, and I hope more employees are able to join us at next year’s outing.”