Ned Skeldon Stadium

Ned Skeldon Stadium in Maumee, OH, was the home of Toledo, OH, affiliated baseball from 1965 through 2001. In 2002, the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League began playing in a new ballpark in downtown Toledo.

Opened as Lucas County Stadium, "The Ned" was converted from a county fairgrounds racetrack. In 1965, a deal to return professional baseball to Toledo after a nine-season absence caused the Richmond Virginians to relocate. Lucas County purchased the racetrack at the Fort Miami Fairgrounds in suburban Maumee, quickly converting it into a ballpark.

In 1988, it was renamed for the Toledo vice mayor and Lucas County Commission president who sold the idea of converting it. A cakebox-style ballpark in the tradition of its time, The Ned was intimate for the fans and was regarded as having a great playing field. The Mud Hens would play 37 seasons in Maumee before moving into the newly built Fifth Third Field.

The Ned eventually fell into disrepair while serving as the home of the Lake Erie Monarchs of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, and much of its seating area was condemned. The Lucas County Commission let a demolition contract in September 2022, after allowing existing amateur sports teams that were still using it to get in one last season. The Roy Hobbs Adult Baseball League Championship game that was played that October 11th was the last organized baseball game in the Ned as such. Demolition work got underway in November and the pressbox came down on December 6th. However, Maumee stopped the work December 9th after learning not all the proper permits had been obtained. The stadium seats were given away to the public on December 10th. After the permits issue was resolved, demolition was completed in the spring. The playing field remains as work toward the thoroughly renovated Lucas County Recreation Center progresses.

Having been built and renovated in a hurry, Ned Skeldon Stadium was in many ways less than adequate for players and teams. The dugouts had no running water and were separated from the clubhouse by an alley. Players had to work their way through fans in order to move to and from the locker rooms. The locker rooms and team offices were sub-par to the needs of a Triple-A baseball team. The weight rooms and training facilities were woefully inadequate - an issue of contention regarding player development with major league affiliates. For the fans as well, the stadium had some problems. The concessions and restrooms were in separate parts of the facility, away from the field and often overcrowded.

Even had it remained standing, The Ned could no longer have hosted affiliated ball because of the Hens' territorial rights. Coincidentally, their 2002 move was from just outside their parent Tigers' protected territory to just inside it.

Dimensions

• Left Field Wall: 325 ft.
• Center Field Wall: 410 ft.
• Right Field Wall: 325 ft.
• Seating Capacity: 10,197

Related Links

• Toledo Mud Hens Home Page
• Lake Erie Monarchs Home Page
• small parks.com page
• ball park review page