Crooked Pop brings Ryan Howard ties to Wiffle Ball derby at Citizens Bank Park

Ryan Howard's win over David Wright in the 2006 Home Run Derby gave Crooked Pop a real baseball credential to hang on its Wiffle ball derby at Citizens Bank Park. The former Phillies first baseman's name carried into The Yard, the Phillies' 13,000-square-foot interactive kids' baseball experience in right field, where Citizens Phan Field is built as a WIFFLE ball field with a major-league-style dugout, padded outfield wall and 70-foot AstroTurf surface.

That setting gave the promotion more than a novelty backdrop. Citizens Bank Park has long been used for special events beyond regular games, and this one fit the space almost perfectly: a simple derby format, a recognizable Phillies icon and a venue already designed to make backyard-style baseball feel like part of the park experience.

Crooked Pop entered the mix as a USDA-certified organic, zero-sugar hard soda from Bai founder Ben Weiss, with debut flavors that included Orange Cream, Blackberry and Cherry Lime. Howard joined Crooked Pop as an investor in early April 2026, alongside a Philadelphia-based group that also included Brandon Graham, and Howard called the partnership a "no-brainer."

That combination is the point. Howard is not just a celebrity face for hire; he is a player with a verified derby résumé, having beaten David Wright in the final round at PNC Park on July 10, 2006 to claim the Home Run Derby crown. In a sports market crowded with brand tie-ins, that history gives Crooked Pop a cleaner story to sell: the athlete is connected to the baseball moment, and the baseball moment is connected to Philadelphia.

The Wiffle ball angle matters because the format travels well. It does not need a full roster, a large field or much explanation, which makes it ideal for an activation that wants to feel playful without losing its sports identity. At Citizens Bank Park, the derby worked as a bridge between Phillies nostalgia, summer-event energy and a beverage launch that leaned hard into local names rather than generic celebrity marketing. Howard's title in 2006, The Yard's built-in WIFFLE ball field and Crooked Pop's Philadelphia ties gave the event a baseball history anchor that made the promotion feel earned.