Fightin Phils to Become Reading Whoopies for a Day

Of all the associations you might have with the distinctive Pennsylvania Dutch culture—barn raising, religious tolerance, zipperless pants, etc.—it’s unlikely that the first one you think of is whoopie pies. But sure enough, we have those 18th-century German settlers to thank for that delicious dessert, two cakey cookies sandwiched around a cream filling. And now the Reading Fightin Phils, double-A affiliate of the nearby Philadelphia Phillies since 1967, are adding to the storied legacy of that aspect of Pennsylvania culture.

On August 7, during their annual morning game, the Fightin Phils will take to the field as the Reading Whoopies. (This early game, which starts at 9:35, is an amazing idea. All fans who arrive before 8:00am receive a free hot dog and coffee.) Carrying on a food-based uniform trend that their triple-A neighbors in Lehigh Valley love (the IronPigs have a bacon-themed logo and have had theme days as the Cheesesteaks), the Fightin Phils will wear caps and uniforms featuring an anthropomorphized whoopie pie wearing an old-school Reading Phillies hat.

Per the team’s website:

The hats are designed to look like a giant Whoopie Pie with chocolate brown panels and a stream of delicious white cream in the middle. A “Joyful Whoopie Pie” mascot is printed on the front wearing a red Fightin Phils baseball cap with the old-school “R” logo.

The IronPigs were sure to express their pleasure with their fellow Phillies farm team:

pic.twitter.com/N2qZjuPyMP
— Lehigh Valley IronPigs (@IronPigs) February 8, 2017

The Whoopies’ opponent for the game will be the Akron RubberDucks, so it’s not going to be the most sophisticated uniform combination ever seen on a baseball field, but it’s the minors, and that’s what makes it great. Per usual, the game-worn jerseys will be auctioned for charity.