ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A wave of Kelly green washed over Coca-Cola Park on Saturday as fans from all over the tri-state area descended upon Allentown for the chance to catch a glimpse of their favorite NFL player.
Fans were lining up outside of the park as early as 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, some with Sharpies and other autograph-able merch in hand.
"I want to meet DeVonta Smith," said 14-year-old Connor Messinger of Palmerton, showing off his foam football and a black marker.
"I want to meet Saquon Barkley!" his little brother, 9-year-old Kai, chimed in. An inner ear infection had sidelined the little boy from meeting Barkley a few weeks prior, so the new Eagles running back owed him one.
Good times were held by all
At 12:00 p.m., festivities kicked off for the 3rd annual DeVonta Smith & Friends Celebrity Softball Game, a charity softball game that pins NFC and AFC greats against one another for the one thing more powerful than a Super Bowl ring: bragging rights.
All proceeds from the day benefitted both St. Luke's and IronPigs charities, which provide educational and youth programming in the Lehigh Valley.
"It feels good to be back and to give back."Kenny Yeoboah, New York Jets tight end
This event is particularly special for Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who hails from a small town in rural Louisiana. He says that values of generosity and giving have been instilled into him from a young age; he plans to pass them on to 9-month-old Kyse, his daughter and the "littlest Eagles fan."
So when his team approached him three years ago about doing a charity softball game, he thought it would be perfect.
"Being from a small town, we didn't have a lot of resources. So anytime someone gave back to us, it meant a lot," said Smith. "Now, being able to return the favor and give back to my community — it means everything."
The day was exactly what you'd expect when you gather a bunch of pro athletes together and let them loose on a field: bat-crushing home runs, (including two from DeVonta Smith) diving catches and plenty of trash talking from Eagles cornerback Darius Slay.
Walking down memory lane
But for one 27-year-old from Coplay, this was more than a softball game: it was a homecoming.
Standing on the third base line holding a bat and chewing bubble gum, Saquon Barkley takes it all in. After six seasons with the New York Giants, Barkley is headed back to the Philadelphia area to play for his hometown team, the Eagles: he signed a $37.75 million dollar contractwith them in March.
Behind him, eager fans chant his name and ask for autographs. His raw talent and the frenzy surrounding his blockbuster trade have sent him into the stratosphere, but he very much remains a hometown guy: after all, his favorite local spot growing up was the Cedar Crest Boulevard Applebee's.
"Every Friday night, we would be there," he says with a chuckle.
New York Jets tight end (and Parkland alumnus) Kenny Yeoboah agrees: after an infamous Whitehall Zephyrs - Parkland Trojans matchup, Yeoboah, Barkley and other teammates recall fond memories of snacking on Applebee's appetizers or grabbing a slice of pizza at Biaggio's.
They're NFL superstars now, but the sentiment remains the same.
"Every day, I know I'm making my community proud," says Yeoboah. "It feels good to be back and to give back."
Old and the new
Ultimately, Team Smith prevailed with a 16-6 win over Team Owens, led by none-other-than Eagles legend Terrell Owens. (TO!) Following the game, players from both teams stuck around to sign autographs, take pictures or chat with fans.
Soon, they'll report to training camp and the race to Super Bowl 59 begins.
