MILLVILLE – Deputy Mayor Jim Quinn has been making regular trips up to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, collecting tickets that area baseball fans have bought to see Mike Trout play against the Phillies on May 13.

However, those that want to see Millville’s hometown hero and the rest of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play in Philadelphia need to hurry up, with Monday being the deadline for ticket reservations with the city’s Glasstown Arts District.

“It’s going great,” Quinn said. “We’re closing in on 4,000 tickets and we have plenty available.”

Millville Night was first announced on Oct. 1, giving Millville residents the chance to see Trout play without having to travel to California.

Trout is a Millville native that joined the Angels in 2011 and won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2012.

He also recently signed a historic $1 million, one-year contract with the Angels in February.

With Trout playing a game so close to Millville, Quinn began dealing with the Phillies to organize a Millville night.

“He was the bridge, ultimately, in putting this together,” said Jerry O’Connor, member of the Phillies sales office.

Although officials knew it would get some interest in Millville Night, the demand has been much greater than they expected.

“I was thinking, ‘Oh well, maybe we’ll sell a thousand tickets,’” said Marianne Lods, executive director of the Glasstown Arts District and the person that has been taking calls for ticket reservations. “That was done in the first week. It just skyrocketed from there.”

According to Lods, approximately 3,750 tickets have been reserved already.

Because of the amount of tickets that Millville has sold, according to O’Connor, the city has the ability to pick somebody to sing the national anthem, throw out the first pitch and even have the high school band play at the game. There will also be recognition for Millville on the scoreboard.

“The support and enthusiasm from the Millville community and the night at the ballpark has been tremendous,” O’Connor said.

Not only can Millville residents reserve tickets with Lods, according to Quinn, but requests have also been made by other residents of Cumberland County and even those that moved away from Millville.

“We have the entire upper deck — from first to third base,” Quinn said.

The deputy mayor hopes to keep this as an ongoing tradition, with Millville Night being celebrated each May at Citizens Bank Park — even if Trout isn't going to be at the game.

To reserve tickets from the Glasstown Arts District before Monday's deadline, contact Lods at 856-293-0556.

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Contact staff writer Don E. Woods at 856-451-1000, ext. 518 or dwoods@southjerseymedia.com