2015 @ReadingFightins Holiday Set

I may be mistaken, but I don't recall ever seeing a holiday themed baseball team set before.  The Reading Fightin Phils Tweeted out a few weeks back that they had released a limited edition holiday themed team set.  The team wisely advertised the set as a great stocking stuffer idea, so I picked up two sets for my stocking and Doug's stocking.  (His set turned into a belated birthday gift.)

The set is notable for including the entire late season roster, which features most of the top prospects in the Phillies system . . . at least until the recent Ken Giles deal.  The set also features all six (!) Fightin Phils team mascots.  Where possible, players are featured wearing their gaudy "Christmas in July" uniforms, and I've picked a few of my favorites to show off here.

Also of interest is that this set contains the first Phillies-related cards for non-roster invitee Reinier Roibal, along with a few of the top prospects acquired from the Rangers - Jake Thompson and Nick Williams - in the Cole Hamels trade.

I'm not sure exactly how "limited" these sets actually are, but I'm glad I added this festive set to my collection.

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Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Fun at the @ReadingFightins Game!

Rubber Ducks 3, Fightin Phils 2 (15 Innings)
Saturday Night, June 13th in Reading

One Sentence Summary:  The Fightins fell in 15 innings to the Rubber Ducks by a score of 3-2.

What It Means:  This was the third straight extra inning game played by the Fightins, and my family was there!  We called it a night following the 10th inning after a 3-1 family vote determined it was time to go.  My eight-year-old son Doug was the lone dissenter in the vote, although he was sound asleep no more than 10 minutes into our ride home.

What Happened:  As it turned out, Aaron Nola made his final Double-A appearance as he was promoted to the Triple-A IronPigs on Sunday afternoon.  Nola pitched five innings, allowing two runs on five hits.  Brian Pointer hit a solo home run in the second while J.P. Crawford went 0 for 6 at the plate.  (Several of Crawford's outs came from very hard hit balls.)  Phillies Room favorite Art Charles went 1 for 7 but impressed us all with his hustle on the field.

Pre-game corn

Aaron Nola on the mound

J.P. Crawford at the plate

Crazy Hot Dog Vendor!

Featured Cards/Field Report:  We had a blast!  After our false start a few weeks ago, we were anxious to try to get back to another Fightin Phils game.  We sat in Box 3 (the green seats) in Row 24 and had a great view of the action.  The boys loved the mascot band, the between inning entertainment and of course . . . the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor!  (Our oldest son figured out that the vendor wasn't riding a real ostrich.  Our youngest son Ben still isn't quite sure.)

We'll definitely be back for another game!

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2015 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils Top Prospects #1

2015 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils #12

2015 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils #36

2015 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils Top Prospects #9

For the baseball card collector, the 2015 Reading Fightin Phils team set borrows the design of the 1993 Topps set and includes 35 cards.  The team store was also selling a 10-card Top Prospects set which borrows the design of the 1953 Topps set and (as advertised) includes the Phillies top ten prospects who are all current members of the Reading squad or who have recently passed through on their way to the big leagues.