This image is the cover for the book Reading's Big League Exhibition Games, Images of Baseball

Reading's Big League Exhibition Games, Images of Baseball

While Reading may be known today for the Fightin' Phils, it has also been the site of 72 games played by 17 major-league franchises and barnstorming teams since 1874. Among the teams that have played in these exhibition games are the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Giants, and St. Louis Cardinals, along with appearances by baseball greats Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mike Schmidt, Ernie Banks, and Rogers Hornsby. Reading fans have looked on as both the 1906 Phillies and A's tried to catch a bunny on the field mid-game, cheered for Christy Mathewson's shutouts, sang "Happy Birthday" to Pete Rose, and watched "Shoeless" Joe Jackson hit a home run.

Brian C. Engelhardt, Dr. David Q. Voigt, Charles J. Adams III

Brian C. Engelhardt is a Reading historian and regular contributor to the Historical Review of Berks County, as well as publications from the Society of American Baseball Research. He has gathered photographs from the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Berks County Historical Society, the Reading Fightin' Phils, and other private collections.

Arcadia Publishing