Sixteen designs will be chosen for a series of mini-murals on the Davis Building garage door next to Delightful Art with Dee. Photo courtesy Dee Brown.
Dee Brown of Delightful Art with Dee grew tired of looking at the shabby garage door next to her gallery, which opened in December at the Davis Building, 137 N. Michigan St.
Sixteen designs will be chosen for a series of mini-murals on the Davis Building garage door next to Delightful Art with Dee. Photo courtesy Dee Brown.
She asked building manager Mike Moriarty if she could have a mural painted on it. Instead, Moriarty suggested 16 murals, one in each square of the garage door.
“I loved the idea,” Brown said. “We do things in fast motion here. Once the idea hits, we roll with it.”
Brown issued a call for artists last week and has already received 11 submissions. Up to three designs per person can be submitted by April 19 to [email protected] or via Facebook at “Delightful Art With Dee’s Art With A Heart.” The only stipulation is the designs cannot contain nudity or extreme violence to maintain the gallery’s family-friendly atmosphere, Brown said.
A group of finalists will be named April 25 during Aftermatic, an Artomatic 419! afterparty and Moriarty will choose the 16 winners from that group.
The finished murals will be unveiled during a June 18 fundraiser for Brown’s Art with a Heart program, coinciding with The Arts Commissions’ Third Thursday Loop.
“This building is historical. I’m trying to add to its history and culture by adding more art, trying to bring back some of its beauty,” Brown said. “Transforming the outside with art adds some new history.”
Each season at Fifth Third Field gives fans another chance to experience exciting action, eat great food and watch the rising stars of baseball play — but some of those future household names aren’t playing for the hometown Mud Hens.
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The 14-team International League (IL) is full of talent from top to bottom and ready to entertain area fans who visit Downtown Toledo this year.
Thirteen teams, including the Hens, will be looking to dethrone the Pawtucket Red Sox, last season’s Governors’ Cup champions.
Here is a look at the IL’s Western Division teams and how they stack up.
Indianapolis Indians
Major League club:
Pittsburgh Pirates
Record last year: 73-71
Hoosiers will have a hometown boy to root for on the Indians roster as pitcher Clayton Richard will starts his year on the AAA level. Richard is a Lafayette, Indiana native, and has seen some time in the bigs, but hasn’t been on the major-league level since 2013, after which he had two shoulder surgeries.
Catcher Elias Diaz, left fielder Alen Hanson, and outfielder Mel Rojas are all players with major league talent, but the Tribe will not have the services of Andrew Lambo: the big time slugger made the major league roster out of camp.
Columbus Clippers
Major League club:
Cleveland Indians
Record last year: 79-65
Columbus will have a glut of talent that’s had its time in the bigs.
Their starting rotation players all have names that you’ve seen play either for or against the Cleveland Indians: Bruce Chen, Shaun Marcum, Danny Salazar and Josh Tomlin will all get starts on the bump for the Clippers.
Offensively, 1B Jesus Aguilar will once again join the Clippers after falling just short in spring training: he led the Clippers last season batting .304 and netting 77 RBIs. He’ll be joined in the infield by shortstop wunderkind Francisco Lindor.
Tyler Holt, James Ramsey and Carlos Moncrief will all return to the outfield, and with Destin Hood and Jerry Sands joining them, manager Chris Tremie will have an embarrassment of riches.
Expect the Clippers to compete hard.
Louisville Bats
Major League club:
Cincinnati Reds
Record last year: 68-75
The Bats will have one of the Reds’ top prospects in the rotation this year as Michael Lorenzen takes the step up from the Red’s AA team, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
He’ll be joined by Dylan Axelrod and David Holmberg, who each saw a spell with the Redlegs last year, and Louisville returnees Josh Smith and Jon Moscot.
The outfield will have its share of vets and newcomers. Bats mainstays Donald Lutz and Steve Selke return to Louisville once again.
The Bats infield is a new beast: Only second baseman Hernán Iribarren returns to the Bats lineup, but is joined by IL All Star shortstop Iván De Jesús, third baseman Jermaine Curtis, and Josh Satin who can play anywhere and hit anything.
The other teams in the International League are:
Buffalo Bisons (Major League club: Toronto Blue Jays)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Major League club: Philadelphia Phillies)
Pawtucket Red Sox (Major League club: Boston Red Sox)
Rochester Red Wings (Major League club: Minnesota Twins)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Major League club: New York Yankees)
Syracuse Chiefs (Major League club: Washington Nationals)
Charlotte Knights (Major League club: Chicago White Sox)
Durham Bulls (Major League club: Tampa Bay Rays)
Gwinnett Braves (Major League club: Atlanta Braves)
Norfolk Tides (Major League club: Baltimore Orioles)
“Shaggy” Matt Culbreath is sports director for 1370 WSPD.
The University of Toledo’s Barbara Floyd, author of ‘The Glass City: Toledo and the industry that built it.’ Floyd will speak at UT on April 16. Photo by Daniel Miller / Courtesy University of Toledo.
Barbara Floyd spent one year piecing together the history of the business that led to Toledo’s nickname.
The University of Toledo’s Barbara Floyd, author of ‘The Glass City: Toledo and the industry that built it.’ Floyd will speak at UT on April 16. Photo by Daniel Miller / Courtesy University of Toledo.
In “The Glass City: Toledo and the Industry That Built It,” she follows Toledo’s glass roots from the first fledgling company that fired up furnaces in 1888 to the triumphant reign of three powerhouses — Owens-Illinois, Libbey-Owens-Ford and Owens Corning — that made the town the world leader in glass production, to when that supremacy started to shatter.
“I came away from this project with a new found appreciation for how unique Toledo was in its industrial history — the way the city produced some of the most important developments and technological innovations in industrial history,” Floyd said. “Toledo companies invented the automatic bottle machine, Fiberglas, insulated glass, safety glass for automobiles, structural glass that made skyscrapers possible, glass-composite products and many others.
“In addition, the people who developed new techniques for industrial glass also helped to create the studio glass movement that produced beautiful works of art made of glass.”
A University of Toledo alumna, Floyd is director of UT’s Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections. While writing her book, she utilized Carlson Library’s extensive records on Toledo’s manufacturing glass commerce.
“Beginning in the 1980s, the Canaday Center has been attempting to collect records that document Toledo’s most important industries,” said Floyd, who also serves as university archivist. “The first glass-related collection we acquired was the records of Libbey-Owens-Ford, the producer of window glass. A few years later, we acquired the records of Owens-Illinois, the producer of bottles, and then most recently, the records of Owens Corning, the producer of Fiberglas. These collections represent the most important documentation of industrial glass in the country.”
Knowing that information was stored at UT and that Floyd was the author of several local history works, Scott Ham of The University of Michigan Press reached out to see if she would be interested in preparing a book proposal.
“While there had been historical studies of particular companies in the past, there had not been a comprehensive book that looked at the overall and interconnected histories of Toledo’s glass companies since the 1940s,” said Floyd, who also conducted research at the Toledo Museum of Art, the Museum of American Glass in West Virginia, the Center for Archival Collections at Bowling Green State University and the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas.
The history of glass in Toledo all began 127 years ago, when Edward Drummond Libbey moved his New England Glass Company to the shores of the Maumee River.
“Edward Drummond Libbey is arguably the most important person in Toledo’s history,” Floyd said. “Not only did he bring to the city its most important industry, but he also founded one of the most important art museums in the country. And he hired one of the most important innovators in glass technology — Michael Owens.”
At age 10, in 1869, Owens started working in the hot, dangerous glass factories as a “blower’s dog,” the name given to boys who helped glassblowers make bottles.
“I think because of his experience as a child, he began to experiment with a machine to automatically make bottles around the turn of the century,” Floyd said.
By the late 20th century, changes in glass production began to dull Toledo’s once sparkling brilliance. Libbey-Owens-Ford was sold to Pilkington Brothers PLC in 1986, and ongoing asbestos legal battles forced Owens Corning to declare bankruptcy in 2000. Toledo, Floyd noted in her book, was “as fragile as the product it produces.”
Never was that more apparent than when the Toledo Museum of Art’s Glass Pavilion opened in 2006 with large, glass walls that were fabricated in Shenzhen, China. This reflected the globalization of glass production, Floyd said.
“Toledo glass has changed the world. And most significantly, the industry made the city what it is today,” she said. “While the glass industry may play a smaller role in Toledo now, the history between the city and the industry should not be forgotten.”
Floyd will talk about “The Glass City” at 4 p.m. April 16 at the Canaday Center and sign copies of her book, which will be on sale for $30 during a reception after the event.
PHOTO BY DANIEL MILLER / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO
Many of us have seen the joyous reunions that unfold as veterans get off a plane and run into the arms of children, wives and husbands after being deployed for significant lengths of time. It’s a beautiful thing to witness. But what happens after this homecoming?
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Many veterans face the struggle of transitioning from the service to a civilian lifestyle. Our nonprofit organization, United States Vets Inc., recognizes these issues and has become a prime resource for helping these men and women in this fight. It is our mission to serve them as they have served our country and assist them in meeting their life-sustaining needs.
This year, thanks to coverage by WTOL-11, 13abc and other local media, we have been able to make the Toledo community aware of United States Vets. Inc. and what it’s doing.
A January fundraiser was just the beginning. We are planning an employment seminar for veterans from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 9 at the West Toledo Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, 1320 W. Sylvania Ave. That will be followed up by a veterans’ job fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 20 at the Huntington Room in the Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St.
The employment seminar — open to veterans only — will prepare the veterans to write outstanding resumes, cover letters and profiles as well as understand the recruiting process. Information for those interested in starting their own businesses will be offered along with resources available through the Toledo-Lucas County Library system. Register by contacting me at [email protected]. Veterans should be aware that their military/veteran ID is required to attend the seminar. If credentials need to replaced or updated, our website, unitedstatesvets.org, has information on where vets can get this critical identification.
The followup job fair is specifically designed for veterans seeking employment. We have invited prospective employers who are interested in hiring veterans with qualifications that match their business needs. Unlike other job fairs, we put the veterans and their needs in the forefront. If your business or company is interested in participating in the job fair, please contact us soon as space is limited.
The world of a veteran returning home is multifaceted. Their integration back into civilian society can be challenging. As advocates, we strive to meet the emotional, social and even spiritual needs of these men and women who have bravely served our country. We want to close the gap and help these veterans live a fulfilling life outside their military service by becoming productive members of our Toledo community.
As a nonprofit, we continually seek support and commitment from the community as we aim to identify veterans’ needs and expand our scope in assisting them. No soldier, airman, sailor, Marine or guard should be living in substandard accommodations, worrying about their next meal, lacking medical or professional aid or wondering where they can find a job. The questions, the paperwork and the maze of resources are confusing.
Our website is designed to make this easier — almost like one-stop shopping. Every resource is researched before it is placed on the site. This makes the process of searching for assistance less daunting. Our focus is on eliminating the red tape and pointless phone calls and emails for veterans looking for the resources that will specifically help them. Their issues and needs can be different, and we must be respectful of that.
We have stepped up to the plate to become their source of hope and it is our sincere desire that the Toledo community, businesses and organizations will join us in our efforts. Become part of the solution. Your support — no matter how large or small — and your involvement in our events will help our local heroes in so many ways. Contact us soon, and sign up for our monthly newsletter at our website. Become a hero to our heroes.
Leslie Mestrow is the public relations coordinator for Toledo-based United States Vets Inc. (unitedstatesvets.org) and can be contacted at [email protected]
Drinking beer while watching baseball is a time-honored American tradition. With the inaugural Opening Day Beer Bash, the Toledo Mud Hens will formalize that relationship.
From 3-5 p.m. April 16, the Mud Hens will have 30 different craft beers available to sample, as well as an all-American buffet. Headlining the event and pouring some local suds will be Maumee Bay Brewing Co. They will be joined by regional and national favorites including: SweetWater Brewing Company, Saugatuck Brewing Company, Goose Island Beer Company, Frankenmuth Brewery, Kona Brewing Company, Summit Brewing Company, Redhook Brewery and O’Fallon Brewery.
According to Toledo Mud Hens’ President of Concessions Craig Nelson, having a beer tasting event made a lot of sense, due to the growing popularity of craft beers.
“Craft beer has been growing so much in general over the past five years,” Nelson said. “The other tastings we’ve held have gone extremely well and is something people look forward to.”
According to Nelson, craft beer has garnered such interest that the Mud Hens are looking at additional places to serve it within the stadium.
“We’re looking at a another locations, somewhere on the main concourse,” Nelson said. “We’re looking at two auxiliary locations to offer craft beers on the main concourse, somewhere on the third baseline. We have Pub 315, which is in the right field corner under the Roost so it covers that side of the stadium, but we are hoping to have something on the other side.”
With the additions of Black Cloister Brewery Company, Sugar Ridge Brewery and Black Frog Brewery, as well as Toledo staples Maumee Bay Brewing Co. and Great Black Swamp Brewing, there are a lot of options for the Mud Hens to grow their craft beer offerings locally.
“We are trying to look at more and more breweries to have at our tastings or possibly bring them in to other areas,” Nelson said.
The Opening Day Beer Bash packages are $45 and include a game ticket, a dozen 3-ounce beer samples, a souvenir beer tasting glass, an all-you-can-eat buffet and soft drinks. Packages for designated drivers are $35 and include a game ticket, the buffet and soft drinks. Tickets for the Opening Day Beer Bash are available at mudhens.com.
The Arts Commission’s Artomatic 419! returns this month after a two-year hiatus. Dates are April 11, 16, 18-19 and 25. Toledo Free Press Star Photo By Christie Materni
Want to color your own section of an interactive paint-by-numbers mural? Or create shaving cream art? How about attend a fashion show, film screening and circus performance under the same roof?
It’s far easier to think of what’s not available at Artomatic 419! than to list the hundreds of events, performances and art displays being showcased throughout April at One Lake Erie Center, 600 Jefferson Ave.
This bonanza of artistic experiences has awakened Downtown six times since 2006, giving over 400 visual, literary and performing artists temporary gallery space and hosting a growing number of attendees that topped 10,000 at the last showing in 2013.
“It’s a very down-to-earth event that’s easy to access by anyone in our community,” said Michelle Carlson, programs coordinator for The Arts Commission. “Even if they haven’t come to an art show before, or a gallery, it doesn’t matter, because this is one of the most welcoming events you’re going to find.”
Festivities will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. April 11, 18 and 25. Two extra days were added to include Mud Hens Opening Day on April 16 and 419 Day on April 19, both from noon to 5 p.m.
The additional days were added to make Artomatic 419! more about the audience, Carlson said, allowing it to “shift from artist-centric to community-centric.”
This approach also inspired the addition of two special 419 Day events. Brunchomatic 419!, which includes bloody marys, mimosas, omelets and $10 vouchers for Artomatic 419! art purchases, will take place on the first floor from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 19. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online. This will run alongside the Bicycle Wheel Expo, a silent auction offering 10 unique creations consisting of bicycle wheels, running 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 19.
For returning attendees, Artomatic 419! might feel smaller than it did in previous years when it stretched between two buildings. This year, Carlson said, the committee consciously scaled back on size by limiting the displays and performances to the Jefferson Avenue building’s fifth, first and basement levels.
The committee also scaled back the number of visual artist entries accepted from 450 to just 200. But even though the overall numbers are smaller, Carlson said the event’s variety and vibrancy will be strong since almost a third of the artists are newcomers.
“This is still a non-juried, all-inclusive arts experience that’s truly a reflection of the cross-section of our arts community,” she said.
Other changes include additional lounging areas and outreach to local restaurants. Food trucks will be parked outside the location, and restaurants like Tony Packo’s Café will offer special Artomatic 419! deals for diners.
But Artomatic is still all about the art. A variety of interactive experiences like origami, zen doodling and chalk calligraphy (chalkligraphy) are available, as well as open floor space for individuals to paint or draw on their own.
“There are no rules,” said Chris Wile, a recycled bottle artist who also works for the University of Toledo’s medical school admissions office. “It helps people discover their inner child. … I think this event kind of gives people permission to do creative things and have fun.”
Toledo Free Press Photo by Christie Materni
The low-pressure environment appeals to film-selection curator and Artomatic 419! first-timer Kim Sanchez, who is also The Arts Commission’s community engagement specialist and owner of Reel Ohio.
She said Artomatic’s film choices, all shot by artists in or from Toledo, include everything from two-minute music videos to 20-minute short films. Submissions will be screened in blocks throughout each day.
“I’ve had so many people come up to me and say, ‘Am I allowed to …’ or ‘Can I do this?’” Sanchez said. “And I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s all good — it’s Artomatic!’”
Maura Amato, an art teacher at Perrysburg Junior High, shared that encouragement with the dozen students showcasing their work this year.
“The spectrum of people involved is incredible,” said Amato, who is now in her second year as a participant. “It’s a really interesting thing to happen in Toledo, and I think every year it draws a bigger crowd and a broader range of people who appreciate it.”
Amato used her talent for painting black-and-white landscapes to set up a paint-by-numbers mural of the historic Old West End district, which she calls a “collaborative piece with the audience” meant to promote creativity and share local history.
“The Old West End is a reflection of what Toledo was but also what it’s going back to, what we are striving for with events like Artomatic,” she said. “We’re trying to build this pride and community back up.”
Mercé Culp, a mixed media artist and former Arts Commission diversity coordinator, said Artomatic 419! has become “a family reunion for artists.” In her fourth showing since 2009, Culp will display textiles and artwork she created in an art gallery and accessory bar combo alongside her sisters Monika and Marisa.
Culp said increased diversity at the event has increased engagement from artists and attendees; she feels Artomatic 419! is one event that has increased morale Downtown.
“The Rust Belt mentality is being chipped away every time we do something artistic and support local people,” Culp said.
While a small portion of Artomatic 419! artists hail from outside Ohio, Carlson said the majority are local. That’s somewhat of a change from years past, one she said was purposeful and more indicative of an event officially recognized by the City of Toledo, as Artomatic 419! was on 419 Day in 2011.
“Without that true, genuine creativity and excitement and passion and recognition that the arts are important in our community, this event wouldn’t happen,” Carlson said. “It is truly a community event.”
Other Artomatic 419! events include:
AfroMatic: Natural Hair Expo, noon to 8 p.m. April 11: Artomatic 419! teams up with the Ohio Natural Hair Health & Beauty Expo for their spring showcase. In addition to natural hair vendors, the expo will feature live music, spoken word poetry and artwork from participants at the Self Reliance Center. More info at www.thenaturalexpo.com.
Mfinity Fashion Show, 6-7 p.m. April 25, preshow at 5:30 p.m.: The Culp sisters produce a fashion show exhibiting their own drawings, paintings and photographs through textiles. Together they are the Mfinity, pulling also from Mercé’s line of artwork, Urban Digitz. Their new fashion line includes their latest artistic apparel and accessories. Preshow features the talents of DJ Money Mike.
Artomatic 419! is free and open to the public, although donations are suggested at the entrance; some events do require tickets.
Street parking and Downtown event parking are available. For updates on events and more details, visit theartscommission.org.
Toledo Vice Mayor Ned Skeldon led the effort to bring professional baseball back to Toledo, pushing for the transformation of a former Maumee racetrack into a ballpark. the stadium was later named after him. Ned Skeldon Stadium, 1982, courtesy Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, obtained from Images2.toledolibrary.org
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the current Mud Hens franchise, but like a Mike Hessman home run sent beyond the stretches of center field, Toledo’s baseball history runs much farther and deeper than that.
Though it may seem hard to believe, it wasn’t always the Mud Hens highlighting our summers in Toledo; the team has played under different names, and in different stadiums, leagues and affiliations — spanning back as far as 1883.
Toledo Vice Mayor Ned Skeldon led the effort to bring professional baseball back to Toledo, pushing for the transformation of a former Maumee racetrack into a ballpark. the stadium was later named after him. Ned Skeldon Stadium, 1982, courtesy Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, obtained from Images2.toledolibrary.org
In 1955, our hometown boys of summer were taken from Northwest Ohio following a sudden franchise move to Wichita, Kansas, by parent club Milwaukee Braves’ owner Lou Perini. The move deprived local fans of baseball for nine long years. It took a local hero named Edward J. “Ned” Skeldon to bring back the game in 1965.
Losing baseball twice
“Everybody was just floored they left [in 1955],” said John Husman, Mud Hens team historian, who was 13 years old at that time. “I went to most games, and when that happened I was angry. I remember being angry at Lou Perini. I can remember that emotion. A lot of other people were disappointed. [Baseball] was a big part of my life.”
Toledo had actually lost another team just three years prior. In June 1952, then-Hens owner Danny Menendez moved the team to Charleston, West Virginia. The move was met with opposition, and despite still being called the Toledo Mud Hens, the team played its remaining home games in Charleston that season and never came back.
The next spring, the major league’s Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee, displacing the minor league Brewers and sending that franchise to Toledo — this time reincarnated as the Sox.
“It was a huge success,” Husman said. “They won the pennant.”
Even with an entertaining team and decent attendance, the Sox left after the 1955 season, which sent Skeldon — then Toledo’s vice mayor — into action. Skeldon was not only seeking a new team, but also a new stadium, because venerable Swayne Field, built in 1909, was demolished in 1956 to make way for a new Kroger store.
Baseball fans can still view a piece of history from that era: A portion of the original Swayne Field outfield remains at the corner of Monroe Street and Detroit Avenue to this day; that wall was baseball’s first-ever concrete outfield fence in the nation (see photograph on page 27).
Chuck Bracken has officially served on the Hens board since 1978, although he remembers attending board meetings as early as ’65 or ’66 as the lone representative from the Hens’ accounting firm, Arthur Young & Company. He, too, was disappointed when the Hens left town in 1955.
“For those of us who like baseball, like anything else, it deprived us of our candy,” Bracken said. “We had nowhere else to go in the evenings. I loved baseball. When the Mud Hens left the first time, it was different, and when the Sox came in there was a lot of enthusiasm, but not enough to pay the bills.”
Bringing baseball back
Once the Sox were gone, Skeldon stepped in.
He began immediately dealing with a lot of the bureaucratic details one might expect in building a new franchise from the ground up: determining who would own the club, where the team would play and with what major league club it would be affiliated.
A nine-year baseball absence might seem like a long time to fans, but Skeldon bringing it all together in that time, through governmental agencies, no less, was no small task.
What’s more, minor league teams had a reputation back then of being hard to keep in the black.
Bracken recalls fearing some of the backlash team officials might potentially face in the press: Should the county be involved with building such a massive recreation center? Why should it be involved with professional sports in the first place? Why situate the team in a suburb, and not Toledo?
“It was a county project, so like all political projects, you get a lot of people who were opposed to it,” Bracken said. “That was the atmosphere of the time. Ned Skeldon, who in my mind was the director of this, was saying that there could be a lot of negativity by the county providing [the Hens] a place to play.”
The 1965 return
Skeldon persisted through it all.
As president of the Lucas County Commissioners in 1963, he successfully led a campaign to turn the Lucas County Fairgrounds into a recreation center, and convert an old horse racetrack and one time-football stadium into a minor league ballpark.
A score book from 1965, the year the Mud Hens returned to Toledo after a nine-year absence. Photo Courtesy Toledo Mud Hens
Skeldon, along with Henry Morse and Steve Stranahan, among others, then negotiated a plan with Richmond Virginians owner Romeo Champagne to purchase his International League team for $75,000.
At long last, the Hens would return for good beginning with the 1965 season, although Bracken recalls little of the fanfare one might expect today.
“There was the usual opening day ceremony, and it was a little bit different because it was the first time we played baseball in town in years, but I don’t remember anything particularly special about it,” he said.
Over 5,000 fans attended the inaugural game at the new stadium, which then seated 8,000 and eventually held over 10,000 for much of its tenure.
One of Skeldon’s five children followed in his professional footsteps. Although current Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak was just a young girl at the time, she was thrilled to see baseball back in Toledo in 1965 because that meant spending time with her dad.
“I just remember having a ball — I had a great time,” Skeldon Wozniak said. “We got to go to the rec center and go to games with our dad. We met every coach, and would meet all their kids.
“Our summertime was spent — after playing in the neighborhood —going to games. I think I was one of the luckiest children, and we all had those fond memories.”
The ballpark would eventually be named in Skeldon’s honor in 1988, although he died just three months after the dedication. Today, “The Ned” remains in active use with rec leagues and high school sports.
“He was a role model for me, and a role model for a lot of people, who cared about everyone very much,” Skeldon Wozniak said. “He was also a super nice guy.”
Hens here to stay
The Hens are often mistakenly noted county-owned. Rather, the franchise is officially owned by its own board of trustees and set up as a not-for-profit corporation, with Lucas County as the ultimate beneficiary — all arranged in a way that the team can never be sold, Bracken said.
In short, the Hens are here to stay for good.
“I think Toledo is a baseball town, and behaves like one,” Skeldon Wozniak said. “I’d say baseball, under this regime and leadership, they’ve made baseball even better than it was. It started with [former GM] Gene Cook and turned it over to Joe Napoli. They know how to run a baseball team, and make it a place where people want to go.”
Looking back at 50 years of the franchise, most tend to agree that it has never been stronger.
“I continue to be amazed at attendance,” Bracken said. “When we put those Mud Hens together [in 1965], we anticipated roughly 400,000 would attend that first year, and figured that it would fall off after the honeymoon period. In 2002 (Fifth Third Field’s inaugural year), we had 550,000, and in every year since then. So, that means the population is still supporting us with as much enthusiasm as they had in the 1970s, so I’m really surprised.”
The team plans no formal recognition of its 50th anniversary this year, according to Mike Keedy, Toledo Mud Hens manager of special events, as it prefers to focus on the long tradition and overall common thread of all Toledo baseball history.
Opening Day is April 16, featuring a doubleheader of two seven-inning games starting at 4 p.m. The Hens are also offering an Opening Day Bash and an Opening Day Beer Bash 3-5 p.m. Visit www.mudhens.com for more information.
Many downtown businesses are hosting parties or special events for the Mud Hens opening day doubleheader April 16. Toledo Free Press photo by Joel Sensenig
The Mud Hens won’t be the only ones making their debut on Opening Day.
Martini & Nuzzis, a family-owned restaurant known for martinis and live music at its Maumee location, went through an expansion process in the last couple of months. The grand opening for its new Downtown location, 329 N. Huron St., will coincide with the Mud Hens’ Opening Day doubleheader on April 16.
The Downtown Martini & Nuzzi’s will take over North Huron Street with a football field-sized tent in front of the restaurant. Live music will be featured both in the tent and in the restaurant.
The outside tent will include Jim Lieber as a DJ from noon to 8:30 p.m., with Phillip Fox Band playing 1-3 p.m., Chavar Dontae playing 3:30-4 p.m. and The Websters playing 4:30-8 p.m.
The interior downstairs stage will include performances by Jeff Stewart from 8-11 p.m., while the upstairs stage will feature Breaking Ground from midnight to 2 a.m.
Tickets are $10 and are available at both locations and online at http://bit.ly/1Cik8Os. For more information, visit martiniandnuzzis.com.
Jell-O shots
Sarah Mettler, manager of Ye Olde Cock ’n Bull, said the staff will make 1,000 Jell-O shots for the Mud Hens Opening Day — but if you intend to purchase one for $1, you better be quick.
“They go maybe within two hours,” she said. They will go on sale at noon, an hour after the business opens.
Live music will be provided by Match City, who will make their debut at the venue that day. The band will play from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
“It’s really amazing to see the entire town coming Downtown to support our Toledo Mud Hens,” Mettler said. “That’s the best part of the day — knowing that our local sports have that many dedicated fans.”
Hot dog bar
The Blarney Irish Pub, 601 Monroe St., will serve several kinds of hot dogs to celebrate Opening Day.
The pub’s hot dog bar will feature themed hot dogs from around the country: Chicago, New York, Kansas City, Atlanta, Detroit, North Carolina and Arizona.
The pub will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., with live music from Last Born Sons from noon to 4 p.m. and Distant Cousinz from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Ballpark food
The Opening Day Bash in the Nest Party Deck at Fifth Third Field will offer ballpark food of all sorts: grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, potato chips and cookies. The fun takes place from 3-5 p.m. April 16. Limited tickets are $33 and available online under “Promotions” at mudhens.com.
More than baseball
In total, four major events are taking place in Toledo over what is essentially a four-day weekend: Mud Hens Opening Day (April 16), Toledo Walleye playoff games (April 16 and 18), Artomatic 419! (April 16, 18 and 19) and 419 Day (April 19).
“Each one of these events celebrates the creativity and spirit of our Downtown community,” said Cindy Kerr, executive director of Downtown Toledo Improvement District (DTID) in a news release. “This will truly be an inspirational few days in our neighborhood.”
DTID created an interactive map of Downtown locations that will be updated in real time as more events are announced for the weekend. Some of the participating businesses include: Table Forty4, PizzaPapalis, Ottawa Tavern, Manhattan’s, The Attic on Adams, Bretz, Wesley’s Bar & Grill, The Bronze Boar, The Toledo Club, M Osteria & Bar, Home Slice Pizza, The Oliver House, Fricker’s, Grumpy’s, Downtown Latte, Michael’s Bar & Grill, Packo’s at the Park, Pita Pit, Spaghetti Warehouse, Ye Olde Durty Bird, ICE Restaurant and Bar, Veritas Cork & Craft and Shineology.
The map displays parking lots as well. View the map at downtowntoledo.org.
The Mud Hens will wear throwback jerseys from the late 1970s and early 1980s for ‘Back to the Future’ night on July 11. the Hens will then wear futuristic jerseys, above, For the second game of that night’s doubleheader. illustration courtesy Toledo Mud Hens
2015 marks the 30th anniversary of the science fiction classic, “Back to the Future,” and the Mud Hens will celebrate the film in a unique way.
The Mud Hens will wear throwback jerseys from the late 1970s and early 1980s for ‘Back to the Future’ night on July 11. the Hens will then wear futuristic jerseys, above, For the second game of that night’s doubleheader. illustration courtesy Toledo Mud Hens
“We could have done a themed jersey based on graphics and characters in the movie, but instead we are honoring the movie by doing our own interpretation of going back in time and going into the future,” Toledo Mud Hens Creative Director Dan Royer said in an email.
The “Back to the Future” theme debuts July 11, during a scheduled back-to-back doubleheader.
“We will go back in time during the first game, wearing throwback uniforms featured in the late ’70s/early ’80s. We will go into the future during the nightcap with our interpretation of what we think a Hens jersey will look like in the future,” Royer said.
“Back to the Future” isn’t the only blockbuster being celebrated at the ballpark this summer: There will be a “Jurassic Park” theme night June 6 as well in anticipation of “Jurassic World,” releasing June 12.
“Our Marketing [and] Promotions group has to constantly have a pulse on popular culture [and] current trends to provide the best entertainment value to our fans,” Royer said.
Once themes are chosen, Royer begins to design multiple concepts. He and his team will discuss ideas and choose designs for jerseys. This is a time for the team to be creative.
“Sometimes it’s best to try something literal with the design, creating a look that’s a spinoff of an item or apparel used in the show, movie or theme. We went very literal with our Bacon & Eggs jersey this year. Stay tuned for that design. It’s buzzworthy,” Royer said.
“There are other times where it’s more exciting to try to represent the spirit of the theme in our own way. ‘Back to the Future’ night is a good example of that. We could have created a jersey that looked like something that Marty McFly would have worn. But instead, we decided to have fun with our doubleheader by doing a past and future jersey.
“The past jersey was a redesign of an actual Hens jersey used in the past. For the future jersey I had to try to envision what a Mud Hens jersey might look like in 15-20 years,” he said. “I wanted to make it look futuristic, but still look like a baseball uniform.”
Jerseys worn during the “Back to the Future” games will be auctioned off and proceeds will go to charity. Other themed nights this season include Veterans Appreciation Night with camouflage jerseys on May 23 and the Bacon & Eggs night with the “Egg” themed jersey on Aug. 6.
“Overall our hope is that the jerseys are fun for the fans and help to tie in to the fun theme nights we have during the summer,” Royer said.
The Mud Hens’ popular Annual ‘Star Wars’ Night is set for May 9. Toledo Free Press File Photo by Joseph Herr
Every self-respecting baseball executive knows that promotions are part of the game, a necessary lifeblood in order to sell tickets.
The Mud Hens’ popular Annual ‘Star Wars’ Night is set for May 9. Toledo Free Press File Photo by Joseph Herr
Thankfully, an offbeat nickname like the Mud Hens lends itself perfectly to sensible silliness, and the team’s upcoming promotional calendar will not disappoint the inner child in anyone.
“We focus on all of the opportunities during the game to entertain the fan,” said Mike Keedy, Toledo Mud Hens manager of special events. “And we always try to keep that fresh, and to be unique.”
So, can we expect bat days and dollar dogs in 2015? Please, that’s amateur night. These days it takes dinosaurs, time travel and yolk-covered uniforms to raise the promotional bar.
“‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Back to the Future’ are probably our two biggest theme nights,” Keedy said.
During those games on June 6 and July 11, respectively, fans will see their home team dressed in movie-specific jerseys, which attendees can bid on during an in-game silent auction. Guests will also enjoy movie-themed food and drinks.
At “Back to the Future” night — which also happens to be a doubleheader — the first game will feature ’80s music, themed scoreboard graphics and an overall old-school experience, while the second will transport fans into how the Hens might look decades from now, no DeLorean required.
But perhaps its most innovate night will involve some teamwork with the opposition. That’s because frying pans are set for “Bacon & Eggs Night” on Aug. 6, where the visiting Lehigh Valley IronPigs will sport their nationally recognized bacon-themed jerseys, accompanied by what else — a new Hens egg-centric uniform.
Even the IronPigs’ front office can’t wait to see bacon facing eggs in, say, a force-out at second.
“I think [the fans] are going to laugh and get a kick out of it,” said Lindsey Knupp, IronPigs director of promotions and entertainment, who was approached by the Hens about the theme night collaboration. She agreed, figuring the Pigs-bacon vs. Hens-egg connection was too good to pass up.
“It makes too good of sense,” she said.
If looking at nearly edible uniforms wasn’t enough, your taste buds can do something about it at two food-centered specialty events this season.
One hot ticket will be the Taste of Fifth Third Field on May 8, when fans can sample featured dishes from around the stadium.
Then on July 10, the Hens are elevating the classic ballpark hot dog to a place of prominence it has never known.
“Fans can make their own [hot dog] creation with over 50 different toppings, and several different buns,” Keedy said. “The cool thing is that you can then submit your recipe, and if it wins, it will be on the menu at games next year.”
The team also unveiled new peanut-free sections for two games in April — a small step toward possible stadium-wide peanut-free games in the future.
“That hasn’t been done here,” Keedy said. “As you can imagine, logistically, it’s a difficult thing to do. So far the feedback has been great. We’ve had a lot of requests from fans.”
Speaking of Hens supporters, Keedy said they’re the ones who help shape the team’s promotional lineup each year, as every offseason it solicits requests for what fans would like to see.
“We’ve had hundreds of ideas [from fans], and if anybody ever wonders if we look at it, we absolutely do,.
“It’s all a part of immersing yourself in the community,” he said.
The 2015 promotional lineup also includes a dose of still-admired bobbleheads, “Star Wars” night, scout sleepovers and the ever-popular postgame fireworks.
To view a complete list, visit mudhens.com and click on “Tickets & Promotions.”
