Fifth Third Field (Toledo)

• Name: Fifth Third Field
• GPS-able Address: 406 Washington Street, Toledo, OH 43604
• Ballpark Owner: Lucas County
• Architects: HNTB; The Collaborative
• Groundbreaking: 10/20/2000
• Minor League Baseball Teams: Toledo Mud Hens (AAA) 2002-present
• Class/League History: AAA/International League 2022-present; AAA/Triple-A East 2021; AAA/International League 2002-2020
• First Professional Baseball Game: 4/9/2002; stadium debut of Class AAA Mud Hens
• Others Playing or Operating Here: None
• Previous Ballpark Names: None
• LF: 320 CF: 400 RF: 320
• Seats: 8,943
• Stated Capacity: 10,300
• House Baseball/Softball Record Attendance (as currently configured): 13,406, 7/29/2017

Ballpark History

Fifth Third Field in Toledo, OH, is the home of the Toledo Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers' Triple-A International League farm team. It was also the Tigers' 2020 Coronavirus pandemic alternate training site.

Opened in April 2002, "The 5/3" drew the Hens downtown and into Tigers protected territory. Three vacant buildings were later renovated into nearby Hensville, a shopping and entertainment district.

Fifth Third Bank has named four minor league baseball parks over the years - in one stretch, three simultaneously - but now only Toledo's carries the brand.

Mike Hessman broke the real (not Bull Durham) affiliated home run record here in 2015. His first big-league hit was a homer; his record-breaking 433rd minors homer was both his last and a grand slam. He then quickly rose through the Tigers' farm system as a hitting coach, becoming the big club's assistant hitting coach in 2021. Two seasons later, he went back to Toledo as the Hens hitting coach.

Coming Home

Fifth Third Field is situated in the heart of downtown Toledo, OH. The 2002 Mud Hens' move into it marked the first time professional baseball had been played inside the limits of the Glass City since the Toledo Sox left Swayne Field for Charleston, WV, following the 1955 season. The last team called Mud Hens left Swayne three years earlier for Wichita, KS. Mud Hens baseball returned to Ohio in 1965, when the Richmond Virginians moved into just-renovated Ned Skeldon Stadium in the Toledo suburb of Maumee. The return to Toledo itself came when this ballpark opened in 2002.

Other Ball Parks Bearing the Fifth Third Name

Fifth Third (5/3) Bank, operating branches in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Florida, and Arizona, has taken an interest in urban redevelopment. As part of this, 5/3 has supported minor league baseball in various cities. As a result, 5/3 has put up capital on the development of several minor league ballparks around the country, in addition to Toledo's, that have borne the Fifth Third Name. The other baseball parks are:

• Fifth Third Ballpark, Comstock Park, MI - West Michigan Whitecaps, 2000-2020
• Fifth Third Field, Dayton, OH - Dayton Dragons, 2000-2019
• Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, Geneva, IL- Kane County Cougars, 2012-2016

Unique features of 5/3 Field

View from space of the field

The stadium is situated in what was formerly the warehouse district on the edge of downtown Toledo. Thanks to the success of the stadium, the area has turned into one of the most vibrant commercial and social districts in the city. Even a new Tony Packo's at the Park restaurant has been built in celebration of the Mud Hens' place in downtown Toledo.

Fifth Third Field itself sits between Monroe and Washington streets to the east and west, and Huron and St. Claire streets to the north and south. The field sits at a diagonal, with the home plate gates opening to the corner of Washington and Huron streets. From within the park, the visitor gets a view of the Toledo skyline facing the Maumee River. Passers-by walking along Monroe Street can look down into the field from over the left field wall.

Aside from the luxury suites, all seating in the stadium is box seating. There is field level and balcony level seating. Only the seats in section 101, farthest to left field, provide a limited view of the game.

• The Roost is a unique hanging balcony that sits in the right field corner. One of the unique features of the ballpark's architecture is that it maintains the structure of several old warehouses along St. Claire St. Called the St. Claire village, these warehouses have become home to several restaurants and shops, including the "Swamp Shop", the Mud Hen's own gift shop. The Roost is nestled into the corner of the St. Claire village buildings, and is accessible by staircase from the first base side inside the park, and by elevator from the Washington street gates. The Roost is available to rent for special occasions. In June 2007, espn.com ranked The Roost as "Minor League Baseball's Best Seats".

• Bullpens are located along the baselines parallel to the outfield. Borrowing from the architectural model of an urban ballpark utilized in Wrigley Field, this allows the stadium to utilize space much more effectively, allows pitchers to keep an eye of the game and the opposing batters as they warm up, and allows the fans to become more acquainted to the pitching styles of Mud Hens and opposing pitchers. The bullpens at 5/3 are just another way the stadium has created a truly intimate baseball environment.

Significant Events

• April 9, 2002: Opening Day
• 2002: International League West Division Champions Toledo Mud Hens
• 2005: Governors' Cup Champions Toledo Mud Hens
• July 10-12, 2006: AAA All-Star Game, celebration and Home Run Derby
• 2006: Governors' Cup Champions Toledo Mud Hens

Related Links

• Best Ballpark in th Minors Toledo Mud Hens Home Page
• Ball Park watch smallparks.com page
• Virtual Tour of The Roost Banquet Facility
• Great Fan Site