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When Citizens Bank Park opened on April 3, 2024, it was the result of twelve years (and many false starts) of maneuvering for the venue to replace Veterans Stadium as the home to the Philadelphia Phillies. Banking On It describes the politicking that took place, from conflicts between the Phillies and the Philadelphia Eagles resulting from sharing a venue, to decisions about where to build the new ballpark, who would pay for it, and where the outfield fences would be placed.

Paul Hagen and Kevin Cooney recount the setbacks, frustrations, missteps, political machinations, and angst the team surmounted as the process played out. But Banking On It also details the benefits of all these efforts—the Phillies became a powerhouse franchise after settling into their new home. The new stadium helped the team elevate its game by generating money to attract and keep better players, including Jim Thome, Ryan Howard, and Kyle Schwarber taking advantage of groundwork laid by scouts and managers. The Phillies have had their most successful two decades in franchise history playing at Citizens Bank Park.

Banking On It celebrates the game, the team, and the stadium that helped create a championship era.

For 50 years, Paul Hagen lived the dream of being a beat writer covering the Dodgers, Rangers, and Phillies. But, as Hell of a Way to Make a Living demonstrates, the enviable job isn’t always as glamorous as it seems.

This insider’s account gives readers an all-access pass to the press box, clubhouse, and dugout to discover what the experience is really about. It’s both a clear-eyed dissection of the daily grind and a breezy, occasionally gossipy, account of being to paid to watch baseball games.

Hagen features entertaining and insightful anecdotes such as confirming to manager Terry Francona that the Phillies were going to fire him two weeks before it happened and building trust with players from the last man on the roster to future Hall of Famers like Mike Schmidt, Ferguson Jenkins, Billy Wagner, and Scott Rolen. He also addresses the changing media landscape, what’s on the record and off, the ethics of reporting on a team fairly, and how sports writing has changed over the decades.

Covering all the bases, Hell of a Way to Make a Living is an ode to the importance of conscientious beat writing and building trust with readers.