Fifth-Third Field, Opening Day, 2002
Fifth-Third Field, Opening Day, 2002
from $20.00
Print features Blade original aerial photo of the Fifth-Third Field Stadium on opening day, April9, 2002 — includes digitized authentic Blade nameplate from the original date, detail of front page featuring first pitch, and accompanying text contextualizing the event. (Customization available.)
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Fifth-Third Field, Opening Day, 2002
The first home game of the baseball season is usually called “Opening Day.” Here on April 9, 2002, it was “Opening Era,” as the Toledo Mud Hens officially opened Fifth Third Field, the team’s $39.2 million home in the heart of downton. After 11 dignitaries throw out 11 “first pitches,” Mud Hens’ pitcher Tim Kalita threw the first real pitch [pictured right] against the Norfolk Tides in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 12,134. The state-of-the-art facility replaced Ned Skeldon Stadium, the home of the Hens since 1965. In the game, Toledo overcame one rough spot to christen its new home with a 7-5 victory over the Norfolk Tides on a blustery, dry and historic day. “The game turned out perfect, except for that one inning where they scored five runs as we kicked the ball around,” said Mud Hens manager Bruce Fields. “But the guys bounced back, got some big hits and didn’t let the bad inning concern them.”
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