ATY0305p012-021 1/21/05 2:57 PM Page 13 [ Logo/Mascot Profile ] >>> >>> >>> P h o t o g r a p h C o u r t e s y o f t h e T o l e d TEAM HISTORIAN JOHN Black Pirates and Swamp o M u d HUSMAN CAPTURES THE Angels. H e n ESSENCE OF TOLEDO BASE- While the season itself s BALL beautifully when he says, was uneventful, 1896 was a “Perhaps there is no minor monumental year in Toledo league sports franchise better baseball history. The franchise known.” Yet while many baseball played its home games at Bay View fans know the Toledo Mud Hens as Park, a stadium just outside the city Corporal Klinger’s hometown team limits and surrounded by swamps on the 1970s’ mega hit show and marshes. These wetlands were the following season. Unfortunately, M*A*S*H, few are aware of the packed with American coots, more the birth of Mortimer also marked team’s extensive history. commonly known as mud hens the death of baseball in Toledo for a Baseball in Toledo, Ohio, dates among the locals. Inspired by the decade; the city failed to host a team back to 1883, when the team won birds, the team adopted the name from 1956 to 1964. the league championship in its inau- and it has stuck, for the most part, In 1965, the National Pastime gural season. Toledo fans should ever since. was once again revitalized in Toledo have savored this victory—the team After almost 20 years of contin- as the Mud Hens joined the Triple-A has since won only five league pen- uous turmoil, the team finally found International League, a position nants in a grand total of 107 sea- its niche in the minor league they have maintained ever since. sons! For those keeping score at American Association (AA) in 1902, The beginning of this new era was home, that is worse than the six playing against seven other mid- slow until Gene Cook became gen- championship victories in the now western clubs. The Mud Hens con- eral manager in 1978. In fact, Cook, un-curse Boston Red Sox’s 103-year tinued to play in the AA through the the mastermind who helped ensure franchise history! 1955 season under the Indians, St. national awareness of Mud Hen In Toledo baseball’s early years Louis Browns, Tigers and Braves. baseball, sent Toledo native Jamie the team, then a member of the For the most part, the Mud Hens Farr, aka Corporal Klinger, a pro- American Association, which was were perennial losers and struggled motional package from the team recognized as a major league, to maintain a loyal fan base. containing jerseys and hats. Farr experienced constant nickname Quite possibly the most signifi- wore the merchandise around the changes—six in nine seasons: the cant event during the AA years was M*A*S*H set and the Mud Hens White Stockings, Blue when local artist Robert Parsil pen- were frequently mentioned in front Stockings, Toledos, ciled the original Mud Hen logo in of an international viewing audi- Maumees (after 1948. “Mortimer the Mud Hen” ence. Brilliant promotional work! the indigenous became Toledo’s official logo and Unfortunately, even with the Maumee Indians), infamous identity at the beginning of newfound worldwide recognition, AT THE YARD | March 2005 13 ATY0305p012-021 1/21/05 12:20 PM Page 14 [ Logo/Mascot Profile ] the only numbers that went up for the Mud Hens were profits in mer- chandise sales as the team annually struggled in the standings. But, to this day the Mud Hens rank in the top three in annual sales out of all minor league clubs. The only major change for the Mud Hens was a new logo design, presented in 2002. The traditional image of Mortimer was finally abandoned for a newer, brighter logo—an angry, bat-wield- ing yellow mud hen wearing a navy blue hat and red and white pin- striped jersey. Toledo has had stints with several major league teams in the International League era but returned as the Detroit Tigers’ Photograph Photograph Art Weber by Photograph by Lad Strayer Triple-A franchise, boasting such Image Courtesy of the Toledo Mud Hens players as Mike Maroth, Carlos Peña and Jeff Weaver in recent years. MUDDY’S DIRTY WORK: Toledo’s main mascot has been working the crowds for over a decade until his Yet there is one Mud Hen that wingman, Muddonna, joined the act in 2003; (Inset) The 1948 “Mortimer the Mud Hen” logo. is happily stranded in Toledo. Muddy the Mud Hen has been make the Mud Hens’ roster. The it is no wonder why the two coots a huge baseball fan for as long mud hen’s wish came true; he constantly flock together. as he can remember. Born on shakes his tail feather and chows The duo can be seen at all the July 6, 1989 in the swamps of the on popcorn and Muddy Dogs at Mud Hens’ home games, wearing nearby Maumee River, the young every home game. their pinstripe jerseys and rooting American coot constantly found For over a decade Muddy for their favorite team. Hopefully himself flying over Toledo ball remained a mud hen bachelor— Muddy, Muddonna, and all the games; he dreamed of growing up eating, cheering and sleeping was Toledo fans will have more to and getting a job there. Inspired by his life. This all changed when cheer about this year. The team choreography in television shows Muddonna arrived in Toledo in will try to rebound from a last like Soul Train and American April 2003, just in the nick of time place IL finish in 2004. Who knows; Bandstand, Muddy spent hours for a new baseball—and mating— if the Red Sox could break their upon hours working on his dance season. Muddonna shares Muddy’s curse, maybe the Toledo Mud Hens moves—he knew he could never passions for baseball and dancing; can too. [] Eric Karlan HATS OFF! << batting practice << home road >> 14 AT THE YARD | The Game Starts Here.