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| Maumee, OH (Toledo) - Ned Skeldon Stadium |
| Copyright 2002 Chris Trapani All photographs and text on this website and webpage are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the holder of the copyrights, Chris Trapani. Direct all e-mail inquiries to [email protected]. |
| The Park The Toledo Mud Hens moved downtown in 2002. When I saw them in 2000, they were playing in Ned Skeldon Stadium in neighboring Maumee. This used to be the site of a racetrack � in fact, the grandstand was left standing and was slightly modified for the ballpark. It had its charms, but the Mud Hens, with a history going back to 1896, deserve their new home. When I first entered, I thought I was in my high school cafeteria - tile floors, folding tables and chairs, and concessions windows in the walls. The stairs up to the seats in left field and behind home are on the wall opposite the entrance. Another exit leads outside, behind the stands in right. It was here that I caught the only ball I ever got at a ballpark, albeit one of those soft souvenir balls, flung into the stands by the mascot. (See photo, left.) |
| That Day I saw the Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers� Triple A affiliate, play the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Devil Rays) on August 8, 2000. The Mud Hens took the lead with 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd, but gave it up for good in the top of the 4th. Pat Borders, for many years a catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, hit a 3-run homer. Durham exploded for 5 runs in the 6th, adding another run in the 7th and 3 more in the 9th, courtesy of a 2-run double by Borders. Toledo scored once in the 8th and again in the 9th, but came up short, 12-4. For Toledo, only catcher Brandon Inge saw significant time with the parent club in 2001 � 79 games, but only a .180 average. For Durham, 2B Brent Abernathy, LF Randy Winn and pitcher Victor Zambrano have had some success with Tampa Bay. |
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