On the Road: In Reading, Edge finds his center
Three decades ago, Greg Edge wanted nothing more than to play his way out of Reading, Pennsylvania. Now, Reading is where he is and where he wants to remain. Edge, a Reading Phillies infielder from 1986 through 1989, has spent the past 15 years working at the ballpark where he once
Three decades ago, Greg Edge wanted nothing more than to play his way out of Reading, Pennsylvania. Now, Reading is where he is and where he wants to remain.
Edge, a Reading Phillies infielder from 1986 through 1989, has spent the past 15 years working at the ballpark where he once played. He captains the Clean Team at FirstEnergy Stadium, working to make the 67-year-old ballpark as spotless as a 67-year-old ballpark can be.
"He cleans the stadium every day, works the games, pulls the trash bags," said Scott Hunsicker, Reading Fightin Phils general manager. "He kills it here every day. The players love him, the managers love him, the front office loves him. And in addition to working here, he's a phenomenal youth baseball coach."
Hunsicker also praised Edge as an "amazingly humble guy" for his willingness to do custodial work at a ballpark where he once excelled as a player. (As a member of the 1988 Reading Phillies, Edge was named to the Eastern League All-Star team.)
"It ain't the most glamorous job. It ain't the most well-paying job. But it's something I can count on every year," said Edge, speaking prior to a game last month. "And it keeps me around the ballpark, keeps me seeing the kids still coming up."
Edge, a native of Sacramento, was raised on the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's teams of the 1970s. He cites Willie Mays, Bobby Bonds, Juan Marichal, Joe Rudi and Reggie Jackson among his early baseball heroes, but he always preferred playing baseball to watching it.
"I was blessed. I had some skills early. Always played with the older kids, they wanted me to be on their team. I could kind of get a feel that I had a little ability early on in life."
Edge described himself as a "defensive wizard" in the mold of Ozzie Smith. As a hitter, he prided himself on being able to do the little things: moving the runners, stealing bases and avoiding the strikeout. His standout skills brought him to the University of Oklahoma, and it was there where his career nearly ended.
In 1985, after a game against Oklahoma State, he was arrested at the ballpark for cocaine distribution. Edge had sold the drug to undercover officers on two occasions; he was indicted on seven counts and sentenced to 30 months in prison. He ended up serving only five months. As Edge puts it, "The Phillies signed me out of the penitentiary."
He made his professional debut in 1986, ending the season with Double-A Reading. He spent part of 1987 with the team as well as the entirety of 1988; one of his teammates during this time was current Fightin Phils manager Greg Legg. Edge also met Hunsicker during his first go-round in Reading; Edge would hit and work out in the offseason at nearby Albright University, and Hunsicker was then a member of the school's baseball team.
When Edge was once again assigned to Reading to begin the 1989 season, he asked to be traded. What once had represented an opportunity became a purgatory.
"I was just trying to get another shot somewhere else," he said. "And it just didn't happen."

|
It wasn't for lack of trying. Edge went on to play in the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations, and in 1991 improbably landed on the cover of National Geographic as part of David Lamb's story about taking a season-long Minor League road trip. (The photo shows Edge, as a member of the Double-A El Paso Diablos, facing the flag during the national anthem.)
Edge retired after the 1992 season, at the age of 27, having logged 555 games in Double-A against just 50 in Triple-A. He said that by the time he retired, his native California no longer felt like home.
"I wanted to venture out and do my own thing," he said of not returning to the Sacramento area. "[Reading] is my home. I had gotten used to it."
Edge has a son and a daughter from a marriage that ended in divorce, and has since been blessed with five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. And, in another example of the interconnectedness of Reading, he's now in a long-term relationship with a woman whose son once served as a R-Phils batboy. After all these years, he's as much a part of the team as ever.
"All of it's been family, from [former president and general manager] Chuck [Domino] to Scott and on down. And that's how I got started, you know? That's what it is, a little family."
While Edge said that the cleaning work can be "monotonous," it beats most of the other jobs he's held where "they're trying to run you into the ground." And, perhaps best of all, it allows him to be around the game and those who play it. He says that whenever current players want to talk to him, "they can ask anything." He's also devoting as much time as he can to youth coaching, working with all-time Reading hits and games-played leader Michael Spidale.
"That's been a fulfilling thing, that I can give back in some way coaching-wise," he said. "[Spidale] played in the Minors for 12 years, I played for seven, so we know what we're talking about. ... He's a younger guy, so he has his ideas. I'm an older guy with old-school ideas, so it meshes really well and has been really fun."
And it all centers around Reading, Pennsylvania. It's funny how life works out.
"It's a special place," he said. "What was supposed to be is what's supposed to be. I'm here at home. I like coming to work."
Benjamin Hill is a reporter for MiLB.com and writes Ben's Biz Blog. Follow Ben on Twitter @bensbiz.
Podcast: New Erie identity, new ballparks, new Top 100
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
How clubs across Minor League Baseball are celebrating PLAY BALL Weekend
PLAY BALL Weekend is almost here, and Minor League clubs have put together an exciting calendar of events to celebrate MLB’s youth engagement initiative. Some clubs are hosting youth clinics or other events in their home ballparks while others are bringing the joy of baseball and softball into the local
Here are the weirdest plays and stats from MiLB in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Podcast features first-base promotions for Caglianone, Eldridge
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Cubs' Rojas, Mets' Tong headline May's Minor League Players of the Month
Minor League Baseball announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for May in Major League Baseball’s player development system.
Minor League Baseball, Joe Torre Safe At Home partnership enters ninth year
For the ninth year, Minor League Baseball and Joe Torre Safe At Home have teamed up to raise awareness about violence and abuse and to inspire fans of all ages to join them in SAH’s critical work. This year, 63 MiLB teams will participate in an in-ballpark initiative from May
MiLB podcast discusses Anthony, Caglianone at Triple-A
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
These are the greatest Minor League promos happening in June
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
New playoff format coming to 2025 Dominican Summer League
Minor League Baseball announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Boston Red Sox Academy in Guerra. The 2025 campaign will also see the introduction of the DSL Cup, a new playoff format that will see 16 DSL
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.