EASTON, Pa. — The Lehigh Valley IronPigs came out to Centre Square with a few local legends to showcase Easton’s City Series uniform on a hot Tuesday morning.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes was joined for the grand premiere of the new jersey by a gathering of Easton's elite.
There was Mayor Sal Panto Jr.; former heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes, the Easton Assassin; IronPigs’ mascot FeRROUS; Scarlet the Crayola Crayon; Easton Area School District’s Red Rover; and Lafayette College’s Roary the Leopard.
The jersey is a blend of Easton hallmarks that are easily recognizable for people throughout the Lehigh Valley.IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes
According to Landes, the jersey is a blend of Easton hallmarks that are easily recognizable for people throughout the Lehigh Valley.
“First off, the original mindset for this circle here is there is an actual street sign somewhere here in Centre Square/circle that looks like this,” Landes said, pointing to a roundabout sign on the front of the jersey that takes the place of the “O” in Easton.
“And I always thought this was the weirdest, fun street sign I've ever seen. So that's where that started. But you have the free bridge that's connecting Easton, which is, I think, very appropriate.
"If you look really hard, you might see a certain very important business to all of Easton and all of the Lehigh Valley hidden within the design itself.”
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs will wear their Easton gear at the Easton City Series Game scheduled for Aug. 7 at Coca-Cola Park, when they take on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Tickets for the City Series game are available to buy.
'Demonstrates civic pride'
Landes said Easton was the final entry in the series, as the IronPigs "saved the best for last."
An accompanying black hat displays the same Centre Square roundabout sign.
Centre Square serves as a historic landmark in the city, having hosted one of the country’s first three readings of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Landes, Panto, and Holmes — whom Landes called “the heartbeat of the city” — all donned one of the jerseys to show off some Easton pride and style with Centre Square’s Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in the background.
“Each of the last two years, the IronPigs have been blessed," Landes said. "We've been able to pay homage to each of the main cities that make up the Lehigh Valley: Allentown, Bethlehem and now Easton.
“We always want to give back and stay true to our roots. And as we look at each city and municipality, what speaks to us the most is something fun and unique that demonstrates civic pride.”
'Baseball is for everyone'
Landes poked fun at the concept of Centre Square before Panto clarified the roundabout and centerpiece of the area represents the circle, bordered by the surrounding properties that create a square.
“We make it a mission to connect with everybody."IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes
“I think what’s really important is that it's the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, not just the Allentown IronPigs," Panto said.
"And the Lehigh Valley is Allentown, Easton, Bethlehem and all the surrounding municipalities. So I think it's really important, and I'm glad Kurt decided to do Easton.”
In addition to the on-field jersey and hat, a full suite of Easton City Series merchandise is available now at the IronPigs Clubhouse Store at Coca-Cola Park Park or online.
Panto encouraged everyone to come out to the Aug. 7 game.
He said he was looking to get Holmes to throw out the first pitch, and while he was asked to do it, he said with a cheeky smile, “Let [Holmes] do it. Let him be embarrassed, not me.”
Landes said, “We make it a mission to connect with everybody."
"Baseball is for everyone," he said. "It's important for us to connect to every municipality, every corner of the Lehigh Valley, because it's the entire region that makes us successful.”
