Promo Preview: Fightins to Give Out First Sandberg Bobble

On February 13th, the Reading Fightin Phils will announce their full promotional schedule for the 2014 season in conjunction with the first day of individual ticket sales. Opening Night, the Cowboy Monkey Rodeo, Human Cannonball, and John Kruk Garden Gnome have already been announced. Between now and then, the Fightins will preview some highlights of the schedule. 

Reading Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg's first season as Philadelphia Phillies manager will be celebrated on Friday, April 18th when the Reading Fightin Phils give a Ryne Sandberg Bobble to the first 2,000 adults 15 and over thanks to Van Bennett Food Co. Modeled after his 1980 season in Reading, it will be the first Sandberg bobblehead ever given out in franchise history. 

A Hall of Fame second baseman who played with the Chicago Cubs for most of his career, Sandberg became the fourth Reading alum to go on to manage the Philadelphia Phillies when he was named the interim manager on August 16th, 2013. Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. named him permanent manager just a month later.

Originally drafted by the Phillies in 1978, Sandberg played with the Reading Phillies in 1980 where he hit .310 with 11 home runs and 21 doubles in 129 games. He later was inducted to the Reading Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.

Not very long after his major league debut with the Phillies in 1981, Sandberg was dealt to the Chicago Cubs alongside current Phillies bench coach Larry Bowa prior to the 1982 season. He went on to win the 1984 National League MVP and was a 10-time All-Star. He had a career.285 batting average, 282 home runs, 1,061 RBIs in 2,164 games over his 15 seasons at Wrigley Field. He also won nine Gold Glove Award and seven Silver Slugger Awards.

Tickets for this and the rest of the 2014 slate of games go on sale February 13th online at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, or by stopping at the Fightin Phils Box Office at FirstEnergy Stadium.