7	Fifth Third Field
	Toledo, Ohio

The Toledo Mud Hens, one of minor league baseball’s best-known nicknames, made internationally famous by Jamie Farr's character Corporal Klinger in the television show M*A*S*H, isn’t about to toss it aside in favor of a shiny new model.  The franchise embraces its roots.

This shows through in many ways.  The team’s marketing slogan is “Experience the joy of Mudville,” and the mascot is named Muddy the Mud Hen.  His female accomplice?  Muddonna.  The team’s charitable organization?  The Helping Hens.  Their kids’ club?  Muddy’s Buddies.  Group facilities?  The Perch and The Roost.  The playground?  Muddy’s Marsh.  Even the newly renovated party deck has been dubbed the Coop-a-cabana.

This year’s Triple-A All Star game will be played at Toledo’s Fifth Third Field on July 12, the centerpiece of a five-day celebration that includes the Jamie Farr Classic golf tournament, autograph sessions, a “gala” dinner and “Thunder over Toledo,” a huge fireworks display.

“The fireworks will be shot from the top of the Anthony Wayne Bridge over the Maumee River,” says team Manager of Promotions, JaMay Edwards.  “It will be the first time that has been done.”

The Mudhens’ beautiful stadium, which opened in 2002, was called the “best Minor League ballpark in the country” by Newsweek the year the facility opened.

This is one of several parks to which Fifth Third Bank has taken the naming rights. Like many large companies, the bank's marketing people assume these to be regional-only facilities that have no national appeal, to which we respectfully must say: Wrong! There are two Fifth-Third parks listed in the MLN Top Ten. Like a party for a room full of guys named "Bob" maybe it needs a colored name tag so that national and regional fans avoid the confusion.

Baseball 101

Fans will see new food items on this season’s menu. “We’ve added fruit-topped funnel cakes, kosher hot dogs and Jim Beam Sunflower Seeds.  We’ll also be holding our first-ever ladies-only baseball clinics. Baseball 101 will be a lecture format, and Baseball 202 will include on-field instruction.” 

Experts Take

“Talk about a change of scenery! (Toledo’s) old park was well out of town in the middle of an open fairground, while Fifth Third is shoehorned into the Toledo skyline. The ballpark features a very nice brick and stone facade, and is just as nice on the inside,” observes Mike Castro of fieldsofdreams.com.  “Well done, Toledo, I say. This is a fine ballpark in which I can find no flaw.”