Sports & Leisure
Reading and Berks Athletic and Sports Heritage
Auto Racing
Maple Grove Raceway is a quarter-mile dragstrip located near
Mohnton. It opened in 1962 as a one-fifth-mile dragstrip. It was eventually lengthened to its current quarter-mile length in 1964. The track has been sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association for most of its existence. The property opened its gates for the first time in 1937 under the name Brecknock Speedway with a half-mile oval dirt track made for sprint cars and motorcycles. In 1940, Brecknock Speedway was purchased by Alfred Stauffer. The economic devastation of WWII caused it to close its gates, but not for good.
Reading Fairgrounds Speedway is a half-mile dirt/clay modified race track operated in Muhlenberg Township from 1924-1979, hosting various stock car races. It featured a regular weekly series of modified, sportsman modified and late model stock car racing. Lindy Vicari was a stock-car racing promoter and operator of the Reading Fairgrounds from 1955-1979.
Kenny Brightbill is the all-time wins record holder with 135 track victories.
Bicycling
Bicycling has a history rooted in both recreational and transportation uses, with early hints of races in the 1880s.
Berks County has a rich history of supporting bicycling with clubs like the Berks County Bicycle Club and Penn Wheelman and Berks Area Mountain Biking Association.
Berks County has a history of hosting bicycle races, including the Reading 120 Classic of the Americas, the Commerce Bank Reading Classic and the Duryea Downhill Mountain Bike Race.
Duryea Hillclimb
The Duryea Hillclimb, a long-standing tradition in Reading, has a history dating back to 1951. The race is named after Charles E. Duryea, an early automobile pioneer who used Duryea Drive, the course itself, to test his cars. His daughter, Rhea, at age 15, was his test-car driver. The course starts at the bottom of Duryea Drive, winds its way up to the Reading Pagoda, and then turns onto Skyline Drive before finishing at the historic Fire Tower. The hill climb is a timed race, part of a larger series run by the PA Hillclimb Association and the Blue Mountain region of the Sports Car Club of America. Roger Penske was once a driver in this race.
Baseball
Berks County boasts a rich baseball history, with Reading, known as “Baseball Town”, having a long-standing tradition of the sport, dating back to the Reading Actives, the first professional team, which debuted in 1883.
The Actives played in the Eastern League from 1883-1884, and the PA State
League from 1892-1897. Professional baseball has been played in Reading…off and on… since 1875. Lauer’s Park at 3rd and Elm was the home of local baseball until 1941 when poor attendance caused the departure of the Reading Brooks. Just 2 years later, Lauer’s Park was demolished. Three professional teams, the Reading Indians, the Reading Red Sox and the Reading Phillies have made their home at Reading Municipal Stadium, Now renamed First Energy Stadium. Berks County residents who have gone on to play in the Major leagues are
Jay Baller
Roy Bohler
Tom Brown
Rocky Colavito
Amy Dunkelberger- AAGPBL
Carl Furillo
Randy Gumpert
Ruth Kramer Hartman- AAGPBL
Pop Kelchner
Stan Klopp
Carl Mathias
Kohly Miller
Bobby Rothermel
Mike Sarbaugh
Fern Shollenberger- AAGPBL
Matt Swarmer Stan Wentzel
Trey Yesavage
Ice Hockey
The Reading Royals began playing in 2001. The team plays in the ECHL. They play their home games at SantanderArena.They are the ECHL affiliate for the philadelphia Flyers of the NHL.
The team originally played in Columbus,Ohio, as the Columbus Chill from 1991-1999. The Chill relocated to Reading, PA and became the Reading Royals. In 2014, the Royals and the Philadelphia Flyers announced their affiliation.
Golf
The Berkshire Country Club was incorporated as a non-profit organization. It was the first 18 hole golf course in Berks County. G. Howard Bright was one of the founders and first president of the BCC. The charter of the BCC was granted on August 15, 1900. In 1922 an 18 hole course was built. In 1920, the Galen Hall Hotel laid out a 9 hole course, and later they added another 9 holes. In June, 1922, The Reading Country Club was incorporated on the Philadelphia Pike, 4 miles south of Reading. The building of RCC was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. The club was recognized both for the historic clubhouse and golf course.The Berkleigh Country Club was organized on November 23, 1925. A group of men bought the Burr Farm of 227 acres at the head of Moselem Springs near Kutztown. Moselem Springs Country Club was incorporated in 1926. Established in 1928, Manor Golf Club is one of the oldest public courses in eastern PA. Many professional and amateur tournaments have been held at these classic courses. Other golf clubs and courses in Berks County are: Arrowhead Golf Course, Blackwood Golf Course, Chapel Hill Golf Course, Flying Hills, Golden Oaks Golf Club, Green Acres Golf Course, Green Hills Golf Course, LedgeRock Golf Club, Rich Maiden Golf Course, Willow Hollow Golf Course.
Betsy King graduated from Exeter High School, went to Furman University and then joined the LPGA in 1977. She won 6 major championships and 34 LPGATour victories. She gained entry into the LPGA World Golf Hall of Fame in 1995.
Football
For two seasons-1968 and 1969, Reading had a semi-pro football team called the Reading Keystones. Its first game was on August 31, 1968 at Municipal Stadium. Their last game was in October of 1969.
Berks County players who have gone on to play in the National
Football League are: Alex Anzalone, Roy Bohller, Tom Brown, Kerry Collins,
John Gilmore, Chad Henne, Pop Kelchner, Matt Lytle, Colin McCarthy,
Michael Menet, Lenny Moore, Shane Stafford, Ross Tucker,
Basketball
The Eastern Basketball Association was a professional basketball league based in the US. The league began in 1946 and after one year, was known as the Eastern PA Basketball League. Reading’s team was known as the Reading Keys, and then its name was changed to the Reading Rangers in 1949. Their last season was the 1950-1951 season. Berks players who played in the NBA are:
Donyell Marshall
Lonnie Walker IV
Dwayne Ellington
Chris Finch, did not play in the NBA, but he is the Head Coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Olympians
Berks County has a notable history of producing Olympians:
Gene Venzke-Track, 1936
Walter Good- Weight lifting, 1936
Gerry Karver- Track, 1948
Michael Matz- Equestrian, 1976, 1992, 1996- Silver medal
Jodi Yocum- Gymnastics, 1976
Greg Fredericks- Track, 1980
Kristy C. Baver-Short Track Speed Skater, 2010, Bronze Medal
Kyle Carr- Short Track Speed Skating, 2014
Chris Guiliano- Swimming, 2024, Gold Medal
Ashley Hoffman- Field Hockey, 2024
Kristina Kowal- Swimming, 2000, Silver Medal
Kelee Lepage- Field Hockey, 2024
Jim Mikus- Gymnastics, 1984
Diane Moyer- Field Hockey, 1980 and 1984, Bronze Medal
Karlie Kisha- Field Hockey
Phia Gladieux- Field Hockey
Meredith Sholder- Field hockey
Melanie Skillman- Archery, 1988, Bronze Medal
Brenda Stauffer- Field Hockey, 1984, Bronze Medal
Sam Mattis- Track and Field, Discus, 2020 and 2024
Tennis
The Berks County Tennis Club, in Wyomissing is in its 72nd season. They are open from May to November. Jen Aubin is the Tennis Director She and her husband Rick, are both Berks County natives and were both inducted into the Berks County Hall of Fame.
The Hillcrest Racquet Club was founded and built in 1970, called Vantage Point. Hillcrest provides indoor and outdoor tennis facilities.
