The F$%#ing Insane Reading Phillies All-Star Hitting Challenge is Awesome

YES! This is it! The all-star game skills competition we’ve all been waiting for. The perfect marketing event. The perfect cheer.

The folks in the Reading Phillies marketing department have hit another home run with their latest wacky idea. Two years ago it was the briefly controversial Ryan Howard Garden Gnome. Then, for this season, the Ryan Howard-Crazy Hot Dog Vendor Double Bobblehead. Now it’s the... um... most insane All-Star Home Run Derby easily ever.

On Tuesday, July 10, stars from the Eastern League will compete in the competition that is not so much a home run derby as it is the fantastic offspring of P.T. Barnum and a strip of acid. First Energy Stadium will play host to the absolutely ridiculous event which takes many cues from the batting mini-game in MVP Baseball 2005.*

*What, you think we wouldn’t notice that receiving bonus points for hitting a moving tractor wasn’t a direct homage to the greatest baseball video game ever created? Child please.

Based GM Scott Hunsicker’s description of the event - a video that must be viewed after the jump - here’s what a home run derby on drugs looks like:

500 fans can purchase VIP tickets to stand in the infield during the hitting contest. There will be a probably-safe 12-foot high net for protection. In addition, sponsors such as Pepsi, All-Star Distributing and others will be serving beer, soda, hot dogs, sausages, and raw oysters.

Grammy Award winning artist David Cullen will be playing live music while seated just feet in front of home plate. He will, of course, be mostly protected by a net.

There will be sponsor targets in the outfield that will earn batters money for their United Way agency. 

A MF-ing trampoline in left field with an intern (or someone...) bouncing up and down trying to catch line drives. 

An eight-foot large target on a dunk tank in center field.

A “golf ball picker-upper thing” that batters can, of course, hit for points and money.

Flamingos.

Mascots running around the outfield. By catching balls they can earn negative points for batters.

And an intern suspended 30 feet above the field by a crane trying to catch line drives.

 

I want to go to there. 

No, really, I do. What would be better than having an intern shag flies dodge dangerous liners while bouncing recklessly on a trampoline? Having a Philly sports blogger do it and then chronicle his experience for thousands to see. I’m talking like strap iPhone camera to my chest and make game-saving catches sort of thing. Call me, Reading.

Must-watch video of the insanity is after the jump.

H/T to (@krobe35)

 

... 

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Comments

[fresh]

Reading, such a LOVELY city.

R-Phils are class, though. I love 'em. It's nice living 5 minutes from the stadium.

[@DXFlyers]

FN Awesome! Brilliant!

[Chris Pierce]

Should be interesting I plan on being in attendence

[Frank]

When do tickets go on sale for this? I have to get these tickets.

[Jim Mc]

How are they going to pitch balls to the matters if there is a guy playing guitar in front of homeplate

[Jim Mc]

Batters not matters

[Todd]

So glad I live like 5 minutes outside Reading. :D

[stucky]

Hope the interns have health benefits

[Adam B]

i cant wait for a ball to hit the infield net and bounce back and clobber the dude playing the guitar.

[PhillyGrlInNYC]

LMAO! LOVE THIS! I'd pay to see it! (Really.)

[derp]

yeah kyle, please post ticket information as soon as you know anything. i live just outside of reading so i definitely will be attending.

[Get Rube A Beer]

Kyle, e-mail me...I can probably get you tickets. You can see it under my name, right?

[Reading Phillies]

Get your On-Field VIP Tickets to this event at this link - http://readingphillies.tix.milbstore.com/store_contents.cfm?store_id=99&dept_id=-30&product_id=27264

[Tyson]

Has anyone considered infield popups?

Drunk people + not paying attention + popups = interesting

[R-Phils Rock]

Here is the link to ticket information for the events!

http://readingphillies.tix.milbstore.com/store_contents.cfm?store_id=99&dept_id=-30&product_id=9984

[Iron Balls McGinty]

The "F$%#ing" Idiotic Real Fake IB McG is too stoopid to understand this, even with the video aide.

—

The Real "Real" (and originall) Iron Balls McGinty—Often imposterered, never outclassed.

[Chris Foresta]

Wheres Briscoe Disco at?

[yak]

Truly inspired idea by the Reading Phillies here. Kinda like a circus... only with baseball and flamingos! Already ordered VIP tickets for me and my kids. Folks who have never attended a Reading Phillies game don't know what they're missing. It's terrific family fun but this... I can't believe we have to wait until July!

[MM]

got my 2. great cause.

[Loki]

Whoa, someone else who recognizes the awesomeness of MVP 2005? I lost many days playing that game. Trying to Dump Thome for Lou Collier(aka Prince Fielder) so many times LOL

[Legalrollercoaster.blogspot.com]

While this is so crazy as to maybe be fun, there is so much wrong with this event, its unbelievable. http://legalrollercoaster.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-to-give-your-lawyer-cardiac-arrest.html

[yak]

Now that this event has been officially designated as a bad idea, I think I want to go even more. Anything a lawyer thinks is a REALLY bad idea is certain to be a lot of fun. The Reading Phillies also shoot hot dogs and t-shirts into the stands. That is clearly a John Doe v. Crazy Hot Dog Guy lawsuit waiting to happen...