The
Historic Old West End
of Toledo
THE LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD OF RESTORED LATE VICTORIAN, EDWARDIAN, AND ARTS & CRAFTS HOMES
IN THE UNITED STATES
Swayne Field
Updated: January, 2005
A very old picture of the toledo team.
A late 1800's photo of the Mud Hens. The manager's name was Mickey Finn.
Many businesses of the day sponsored baseball teams. This photo and the next one were taken ca. 1906-1908 and show 2 players from the Pope Company posing in front of a house at 2829 Lawrence Avenue. Take a close look at the doorway of the house.
Here's the picture of the second Pope player. It's hard to believe either player was able to keep a straight face.
The 1897 Toledo team picture.
Construction on Noah Swayne's new ball field started in early 1909 and was completed in time for opening day, July 3rd, 1909. Here, and below, are three photos taken in 1909 showing construction progress.
Construction progress photo #2.
Construction progress photo #3.
A panorama picture of the completed Swayne Field.
July 3rd, 1909 - opening day at the new Swayne Field.
A color postcard of opening day at the new Swayne Field. This is the color version of the next card.
A graytone card labeled "12000 people at Swayne Field opening day."
A graytone card showing a different view of opening day.
A color card of opening day.
A graytone card of the left field bleachers.
A nicely colored postcard of a nearly empty Swayne Field.
A colored postcard simply labeled "Swayne Field."
A good view of the field showing the first game with Columbus.
The first pitch on July 3rd, 1909.
A colored version of the "first pitch" card.
The Toledo and Columbus teams walk off the field behind the band following the hoisting of the flag.
Charlie Hickman's home run on opening day.
The 1918 Page Dairy Commercial Baseball League champion baseball team.
The 1927 Hens team photo. Casey Stengel was the manager.
For many years the Mud Hens were in baseball's American Association. This team photo also shows manager Casey Stengel.
A card mislabeled as "Wayne Field."
Swayne Field was renovated for the 1928 season and new covered grandstands were built.
A photo of the newly constructed grandstands in 1928.
Another photo of the new grandstands looking toward right field.
A 1928 panoramic photo showing some of the action on the field. Advertising Signs for local businesses Redman Tobacco and Folger Meat Packing can be seen. A Toledo Edison substation is at far right.
A photo from the 1930's of the Community Traction Company baseball team.
An undated color postcard of Warner Manufacturing Company employees at an opening day.
A real photo postcard of Willys-Overland Field Day at Swayne Field. I presume that is the Willys-Overland band in the foreground.
The Willys-Overland Transmission Bunch are headed to Swayne Field for opening day, 1912.
A team photo of the 1946 Mud Hens
Fans in this picture from the 1950's were allowed to walk across the playing surface. Guards cordoned off the infield.
Another picture shows fans walking across the field while leaving the ball park
This picture and the next are composite panoramic photos each showing approximately half of the Swayne Field outfield.
Outfield panoramic photo #2. Notice all of the advertising on the outfield fences, much of it by companies no longer in existence.
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