Reading Fightins must make renovations or risk losing affiliation

Christian Leinbach remembers his first trip to Boston’s Fenway Park to see his beloved Red Sox in 1977 as if it were yesterday.

“I got to see [Yankees catcher] Thurman Munson before he died tragically,” Leinbach said. “[Yankees slugger] Reggie [Jackson] hit a home run. [Red Sox catcher] Carlton Fisk hit one off

the Green Monster. It was an awesome experience.”

Leinbach, in his 14th season as a Berks County commissioner, also created many wonderful memories over the years making the short drive to Reading’s FirstEnergy Stadium to watch the Philadelphia Phillies’ Double-A affiliate.

He is hoping his next trip this month is one of many for years to come.

“If the worst-case scenario were to happen and the Phillies’ minor-league franchise were to leave,” he said, “it would be a tremendous blow to the city, to the community of dedicated and faithful fans who have been coming to FirstEnergy Stadium for generations. It would create a huge void.”

That worst-case scenario would have Major League Baseball pull Reading’s minorleague license, which it has held for all but two years since 1952, if significant upgrades totaling as much as $15 million are not made to FirstEnergy Stadium — which is city-owned.

Reading Fightins general manager Scott Hunsicker said the organization, in cooperation with city and state officials, is doing everything it can to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“We’ve been here for a very long time,” Hunsicker said in a video he posted on social media. “We have no intention of leaving. It wouldn’t be us leaving Reading since this is our home.”

MLB took over governing all levels of the minor leagues Oct. 8, nine days after the Professional Baseball Agreement between MLB and the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues expired. MLB reduced the number of affiliated minorleague franchises from 160 to 120. It also created an MLB Draft League and a college-level loop in many of those 40 cities that lost affiliated franchises.

The Reading Fightins and the other 119 remaining franchises became licensees and must meet stadium requirements in order to assure they retain their licenses.

“Currently, FirstEnergy Stadium does not meet those requirements,” Hunsicker said. “We have until 2023 to meet those requirements. If we don’t, it is possible MLB could terminate our license in Reading and give that license to someone else in another city.”

FirstEnergy Stadium is known for its quaintness, the swimming pool beyond the right-field wall, the Hot Dog Vendor Guy, vegetable races during each game and nightly live music in the concessions courtyard.

It also is acknowledged as having insufficient accommodations for players and team staff. Players must exit onto the concourse to get to the field and through the concessions courtyard to get to the indoor batting cages.

Both dugouts are tiny. The bullpens are along the narrow foul areas down each baseline.

“We have been talking to elected officials,” Hunsicker said. “We are very mindful of the risks if we are unable to renovate FirstEnergy Stadium and are working hard on the problem.”

Leinbach, who only learned this week about the need for stadium improvements, said he has not been contacted by Reading city officials or the Fightins organization to offer input. The Tilden Township resident said he does not know what the first steps would be regarding finances for the renovation project because “there is no playbook.”

Leinbach said Reading has for years been among the Eastern League leaders in attendance and is hopeful that there are funds from ticket sales and other such sources that would be available to help with the necessary improvements.

Hunsicker said he is going down the path the organization has taken in the past on stadium renovations.

“We are willing to stand side by side and put in our fair share along with the city of Reading,” the Reading GM said. “We are hopeful the state of Pennsylvania can come and help us as well.

“We have done many projects over the years here at the ballpark with the partnership of the state of Pennsylvania and the city of Reading. We are embarking on those conversations now to continue to develop those relationships and solve this problem.”

State Rep. Manuel Guzman Jr. told the Reading Eagle that required “modernizations” could cost up to $15 million. He said he, state Rep. Mark Rozzi, Reading Mayor Eddie Moran and others are trying to find city, state and federal funding for the project.

The stadium was built in 1951 and originally named Reading Municipal Memorial Stadium, a monument to area military veterans.

The Cleveland Indians moved their minor league franchise from Wilkes-Barre to Reading for the next decade starting in 1952.