Away Days

Sorry I am a few days late, I still can't seem to get turned round, and am falling asleep at nine o'clock on an evening. As regular readers are aware, I like to contrast big arenas with humbler grass roots stadia, and after last weeks trip to a major league baseball park, this week I am taking a trip down the minor leagues. For those unfamiliar with the workings of American baseball league structure, there are basically four divisions. At the top is the Major Leagues, who have no relegation or promotion. Each team in the MLB (Major League Baseball) has several feeder teams, used as reserve teams to bring on young talent, rehabilitate injured players or check out a risky veteran before signing him. They are broken down into AAA, AA and single A, AAA being the level just below the MLB. These teams are usually found in mid size cities, although places such as Memphis and Indianapolis also have them. So that's the background, now onto this weeks Away Days venue, which is 5/3rd Field in Toledo, Ohio, home of the Toledo Mudhens, one of the oldest minor league teams going. They are currently affiliated to the Detroit Tigers. The ground follows the recent, in America anyway, fashion for regenerating the downtown area, and fifht/third field is smack in the middle of Toledo. Around the ground there are a few bars and restaurants, and even though it wasn't a large crowd, there was a feeling around the stadium that was pretty good. But there is one small drawback to this downtown venue. It is in downtown Toledo. Imagine Sunderland without any character, and you get an idea of what Toledo is like. The ground has been built with a retro feel, and it is a grand place to while away an hour or three watching baseball on a sunny afternoon. All the seats have good views, and in between innings there is plenty of nonsense going on to stop interest waning. I particularly liked the mascots, Muddy the Mudhen, and his wife Muddonna. As an introduction to the game, particularly for kids, you can't go wrong, entry for the game we went to was $9 (£5).

Statistics

• Capacity-10,300
  
• Concessions-Excellent. Beers in seats, and more kinds of sausage than you could shake a stick at. My fave was the Polish Kielbasi with horseradish, chased down by an ice cold Miller Lite. Stuffed sandwiches, pizza, burgers you name it they sold it.
  
• Built-2002
  
• Did You Know?-Was named the best minor league ball park in America, by Newsweek
  
• Visited By-Big Al, American Frank and Euro Bri
  
• Rating-Park Pitch-It is a superb facility, but it is still minor league, and loses marks for lack of atmosphere. The immediate surrounding are pretty good, but nosedive in a hurry, as Toledo could be the poster town for the Mid-West Rust Belt, the town has practically nothing to offer downtown. Worth a detour, if you were in the area.