The Reading Fightin Phils will be the host of the Berks County Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, September 10th. It is extra special this year as its own Mascot Band will be inducted into the Hall of Fame after 21 years of entertaining countless fans at FirstEnergy Stadium.
With 19 awards in all, the ceremony is sponsored by the Outreach Committee of the Reading Musical Foundation. “The Mascot Band members are honored to be inducted into the Berks County Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” a friend of Quack the Duck said. “We’re just a bunch of friends who have fun playing rock & roll together, and any success we’ve had is a tribute to the love and support we’ve received from our loyal R-Phils fans over the last 21 years. Hey Hey, My My, Mascot Band will never die!”
The Induction Ceremony will take place on the Berks Commercial Roofing Stage in Tompkins Plaza before the game on Saturday, September 10. Hosted by Hall of Famer John King, pre-game performances will feature several members of the Berks County Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with 2022 inductees “Anthrophobia”.
The fun isn’t over when the game ends! The greater Reading community can then enjoy a post-game performance by the R-Phils Mascot Band after the fireworks show.
Debuting in the summer of 2001 with a postgame concert featuring Screwball on drums, Bucky the Beaver on bass, Change-Up the Turtle on percussion, and Quack the Duck on lead vocals & guitar, the one-of-a-kind musical group is still a fan favorite over two decades later. In 2002, Blooper the Hound Dog joined the band and played keyboard. Then in 2007, Blooper switched his talents from the keyboard to the lead guitar.
Twenty-one years later, the Mascot Band has been the subject of many giveaway items for fans as they enter the gates of FirstEnergy Stadium. Kids received a free Mascot Band kids cup on Sunday, August 7 and a 20th anniversary t-shirt last season.
The band has also performed multiple shows at Veterans Stadium & Citizens Bank Park as part of the Phillie Phanatic’s annual Birthday celebrations. The R-Phils Mascot Band was the final rock band to perform on-field at Veterans Stadium, and the first rock band to perform on-field at Citizens Bank Park.
In 2011, inspired by the growth of live music at the ballpark due to the evolution of the Mascot Band, the R-Phils constructed a permanent stage with built-in sound system as part of a 10-million-dollar renovation project.
As a result, thousands of Berks musicians from school groups to adult bands have been able to perform at America’s Classic Ballpark. The Mascot Band promotes not only learning music theory at a young age, but also discovering playing with a love of music. Music education in the greater Berks County area is put on display often throughout every R-Phils season as local music ensembles and choruses display their talents on the stage to entertain fans.
Reading Fightins Mascot Band: Screwball – Drums, “Best Friend” – Dean Stump, Quack the Duck – Lead Singer & Guitar, “Best Friend” – Todd Hunsicker, Change-Up the Turtle – Percussion, “Best Friend” – Tom Hunsicker, Bucky the Beaver – Bass Guitar, “Best Friend” – Mike Fink, Blooper the Hound Dog – Lead Guitar, “Best Friend” – Gene Sweeney.
