The Detroit Tigers will play an exhibition game against the Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 starting at noon.
The game will mark the first exhibition game between the Tigers and Mud Hens since June 1, 2000, when the two clubs met at Ned Skeldon Stadium. The Mud Hens moved into Fifth Third Field for the 2002 season.
“We announce this event with great pride and excitement as it has been more than a decade since we have hosted a game like this and the first time at Fifth Third Field,” Hens president & general manager Joe Napoli said in a release. “We would also like to thank Dave Dombrowski, Dan Lunetta and the rest of the Detroit front office who worked hard to make this event a reality. Our fans certainly will enjoy seeing the Tigers play here in Toledo.
"For many of the Tigers players, it will be a homecoming as so many of them have worn the Mud Hens uniform over the past decade.”
The Tigers plan to take batting practice prior to the game, and the gates at Fifth Third Field will be open for batting practice.
All Toledo season ticket holders and will have an opportunity to purchase tickets for the game, which will be priced at $20 for field level and $25 for club level. There also will be 1,000 individual tickets made available to the general public on Saturday, January 7 at 11 a.m., with a maximum of four tickets per person.
“We have a tremendous long-standing relationship with the Toledo Mud Hens,” said Dombrowski, the Tigers president, CEO and general manager. “This exhibition game gives Mud Hens fans an opportunity to see the Tigers at Fifth Third Field, which is one of the finest ballparks in all of minor league baseball.”
All proceeds from the game will be split evenly between the Helping Hens Charitable Fund and the Detroit Tigers Foundation. Helping Hens is the official charitable fund of the Toledo Mud Hens baseball club and is administered through the Toledo Community Foundation. The fund provides game tickets & meals to local underserved youth as well as financial support to local non-profit organizations.
Toledo will begin its season on Friday, April 6 at 5 p.m. at Fifth Third Field against Indianapolis. Detroit will begin its season on Thursday, April 5 at 1:05 p.m. at Comerica Park versus the Boston Red Sox.
First Published December 15, 2011, 7:31 p.m.
