And now the 419 with Gretchen de Bakker might kill them.

And Kevin Mullin.

Welcome into the 419.

Powered by and presented by Retro Wealth Management.

We are out at Fifth Third Field.

It's opening day.

Very exciting.

You can feel the electricity in the air.

I'm Kevin mullin.

Gretchen Debacker.

Natural.

I'm thrilled to be here.

I have taken a million pictures.

Seven of an empty stadium immediately.

And the city and area is abuzz.

There is nothing bigger in our area than opening day.

It's not just about playing hooky, right?

I mean, kids are excited about.

You can almost hear the people thinking of the excuse they're going to use to get out to work today.

Tomorrow.

Yeah.

I don't I don't even think of the excuses anymore.

I'm just like this is non-negotiable for me.

This is a day that I'm here.

And honestly, like, you work for yourself.

Well, but.

But even before that.

Even before that.

Okay.

I was like no, this is a day that I've got.

I've got to be here.

We've got an annual tradition.

Matt, our friend Sam and I, just go, basically.

Oh, wow.

All the parties that we weren't invited to.

It's almost like the Pete Buttigieg of.

Except in reverse for me.

That's right.

You're welcome.

Yeah.

You know, the the common thread is I get invited.

Everything.

You know what else?

I'm.

I'm invited to.

For one nine day for one nine days.

We are so excited about.

For one nine day, April 19th, 2 to 6 p.m.

at Jew mode.

We're happy to partner with chuck mode with our friends at ZTE.

You can come and hear a live recording of our show with very exciting special guests at 419 on that day.

You can shop the store, get your 419 gear.

You can make your own shirts.

Proceeds will benefit ZTE.

So it's just going to be a fre fun day to come out to Jew mode and and join us.

Come out, celebrate Toledo, celebrate, some great local small businesses and do all of it, in support of a great institution.

That's right.

All right.

We got a jam packed show toda as we get ready for opening day.

We'll talk to Eric Gibson, the general manager.

When we talked to Joe Napoli yesterday, he mentioned, you know, Eric is one of the when when Joe came back, I think, for his second tour of duty.

Eric was one of the guys that was there.

And so a long standing employee, here, the Mud Hens, now, the general manager and I will, he won't like this.

One of the nice.

I was.

Just saying same thing you.

Will ever.

Meet.

Yes.

So excited that this Eric a different Eric.

But Eric was available for our show.

So that's going to be great.

And then Greg Katz, Greg oversees the swamp shop.

The apparel, all of the merchandise.

All of the thing that, we're wearing right now.

And quite frankly, everyone's running all over the world celebrating the iconic bran that is the world famous Toledo mud Hens.

And then Troy Hammersmith will join us.

Troy, Troy's probably been wit the team for, maybe ten years.

And, oversees the game day promotions.

We'll talk about some of the marketing things that are coming in just different ways to celebrate Toledo.

Celebrate the Mud hens.

Are you getting shoes?

Yeah.

Thinking a little bit.

Okay.

I've been calling hi up.

I've been working out a lot.

Yeah.

That's right.

You are so strong.

Let's just.

Let's take a break.

We'll fix Matt's chair, we'll come back, and we'll be joined by the general manager of the Toledo Mud Hens here on opening day.

It's Eric Ebsen.

We'll be right back on the 419.

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Introducing the Local Fred, a community news series uniting voices and storytellers from across the region in partnership with La Prensa, the Toledo Free Press, The Sojourner Truth, Toledo Public Schools and Rethinking Jails Injustice.

The local thread brings you stories and conversations that connect our community here at weeknights at seven on FM 91, with early access on podcast platforms each morning to local friends only on GTV.

Welcome back into the 419 powered by a Mud Hens Opening Day edition.

It's finally here.

The greatest day in Toledo.

We're here at Fifth Third Field, joined now by the general manager of the Toledo Mud Hens, Eric Ebsen.

Eric, thanks for being here.

Thank you for having me.

Best day of the year.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Well thanks for letting us come here and do our show here from third Field as well.

What are you most excited about for today?

I think it's just it's kind of a rite of passage, right?

You know, we've been downtown.

This will be the 25th opening day and 53rd field.

I guess 24.

It depends on how you handle Covid math.

It's not having a season.

So 24th, 25th.

And they've all been a blur.

Yeah.

But it's it's become such a tradition.

And what a lot of people in the Toledo community don't understand is this is not a common opening day experience across the minor leagues.

This is major league ask.

I'm just a little bit smaller scale.

And we've had many visitors from Major League Baseball and other teams join us on opening day.

And they're they're blown away by how we're able to joke.

Do you stay up all night getting ready?

Did you get up at the crack?

I'm I'm I'm always looking tired.

No one tells me, but, our our team does suc a great job in the preparation.

We have 70 full time employees and they take such great pride in everything we do and want to make us the best in our industry.

So I'd say with each passing year that I'm here, I sleep a little bit more.

But I don't mean day.

Joe, talk a little bit yesterday about how this is, you know, I mean, certainly in the mino league baseball space, opening day here is a bigger dea than anywhere else, right?

What?

Why is that?

What do you think plays into that?

You know, I thin I think it's just the community at large, the, the the collaboration and the suppor that organizations have provided each other in this town.

I think Fifth Third Field moving downtown and a piece of the downtown development kind of flipped the script on how opening day could be.

You know, the first few opening days, as people were getting a feel for what the ballpark was going to be like and what the experience was going to be like.

We just kept each year kind of out doing it, and people would tell me, you know when the schedule would come out late summer or early fall the year before that they're marking their calendar as an off day or trying to come up with the excuse as to why they're not going to be at work that day.

And then on the flip side of that, we have people who are in the sales industry or the networking industry and they tell us on the suite level on opening day, they can hit up a month's worth of contacts and appointments just by working the room, so to speak.

Legislators come here from all.

Over the state and.

It's a big deal.

It's a risk of putting you on the spot because you are the consummate elite, humble, professional.

But opening day.

Is a buzz.

In the office, around the watercooler in junior high and middle.

Schools.

This has to feel good.

I know at some point, yeah, I hope that you get to take a second and say I have.

With a team and build something that means.

So much to so many.

Absolutely.

We we with the Mud Hens in the wall, I take our role as communit ambassadors very seriously here.

And that that goes from the events we put on to the condition of the ballpark and to have something as special as opening day after a long winter, especially this year in Northwest Ohio.

You take great pride in it, and there's always the checklist of things to be done.

And the things to be worried about.

The true enjoymen sometimes comes when you exhale and the first pitch has been thrown, and then it's like, well, it's kind of out of your hands other than to make sur things are operating correctly.

But it's it's a joy.

And we're very fortunate as to what we get to do and how the Toledo community reacts to Opening Day.

We're talking with Eric Gibson, the general manager of the Toledo Mud Hens.

I want to we'll circle back around and talk some more about this season and specifically Opening Day.

But let's tal a little about your background.

Where where are you from and how did you end up in Toledo?

So I'm from Philadelphia, Ohio or Philadelphia, Ohio.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Grew up there.

Went to school at the University of Arizona.

Was a little out of character for me.

I'm a little bit, of an introvert and blew my parents away when I wanted to go across country to college and didn't know a soul.

The truth behind the story is I've gotten into a couple of schools out East, wasn't sure what I wanted to do, and my dad had a business trip out west in Tucson, Arizona in January of my senior year, and he's like, well, you know, why don't you come with me?

It's your senior year.

We want to spend some time together.

And where his business meetings were was just off campus.

And, Tucson, Arizon in January is a pretty fun place to be, is appealing.

So all of a sudden, the tie breaker got broken and I ended up out there.

I ended up here to do an internship at Ned Sheldon Stadium, with Gene cook and some of th colleagues that are still here.

And then you're 30 years as a last September, which is crazy to me.

Was that I mean, day one, you walk into Ned Sheldon Stadium and you say, this is where I want to be for the rest of my life?

Probably not.

You know, at that point, I was just trying to get some experience.

I was, I was done with school.

Was a little bit of a different route than a lot of people doing internships.

So the benefit I had was I was done.

I didn't know a soul.

I had no distractions here.

So it was like 80 hours a week, 100 hours a week.

I was answering phones during the day, which let you learn quite a bit.

I was selling ticket package and had some success with that, and so it kind of tied me up as a, as an option for the organization at the end of the year.

And I started on the sales side and have worked my way up through the Are you a sports junkie, though?

Yeah, yeah, I am all sports, baseball, basketball, soccer.

Those are probably the three favorites.

And the five minutes that you are not Eric Gibson, the general manager.

How do you decompress?

Was this something you lik to do when you're not in?

It's.

It's family time.

I met my wife, Jill here.

She was actually.

I met her at skeleton.

She was actually speaking.

That was your only choice.

It really was just the amount of time I'm trending there.

The funny thing is, she was very, She was literally just.

You got lucky that she was.

You were the her.

Which I was going to say.

She was, doing an internship for CTE.

Yeah.

And, It was Clifford the Big Red Dog Day.

And she got nominated to be Clifford.

Yeah, and a hot Sunday at Skeleton Stadium.

And, we didn't interact much that day, but we ran into each other and she lost track of exactly.

What A serious dog costume.

Exactly.

And we met, not too long after that.

And the rest is history.

Yes, sir.

You've.

I mean, obviously you'v grown up here, but you've also.

Your family has grown up here.

Yes.

You know, I mean, this is such a special plac for for families, but for you to to have your family grow up in, around this ballpark.

What what is that experience been like?

It's been great.

I've.

We have four kids, two boys that play baseball or have played baseball.

So some of the cool behind the scenes stuf that they get to see is awesome.

My two daughters love coming to games.

They're more about the food and the sweets and the high life there.

But it's been a wonderful experience, and I really feel like I have grown up here, being here in my early 20s.

I'm from Arizona, and 30 years later, I've literally only worke with this organization, which, has been a blessing.

Let's tal a little bit about concessions.

Okay.

Who's the person that decides the new stuff every year?

And is it you?

It is not me.

I try and stay out of the weeds.

We've got such a great group.

It's a lot of homework and research and surveying and stealing ideas from our teams and ballparks.

Like we, the minor league industry.

What's great about it is we compete on the field, obviously, but we steal a lot of ideas from each other off the field whether it's a funny promotion or a food item or a kids activit that we've never tried before, that we've seen someone else has, and so that's wher a lot of that stuff comes from.

And then we've got a great team that puts together the ideas and researc and try and find out what people are going to be into and, and what's the novelty sort of situation.

And, you know, what are the tried and true things that people like.

Is there something new this year that, that, that fans can.

There's a variety of different items.

We've got a couple new dessert this year, a couple new hot dog items.

And it's fun to try and put that stuff together because that really is part of the ballpark experience.

Some people were here for the game, some people were here for everything else, and that's a huge part of it.

I don't kno if it's a fair question or not, but I want to try to run through a couple different scenarios with you.

Sure.

So if you've never been to Fifth Third Field before, you're coming out for a gam or you're coming out for Opening Day, what's what are the kind of must see attractions?

What does that what does that itinerary need to look like?

I think what makes this third field so great is there was a lot of research done into it, before it was built.

Right We we visited other ballparks.

And what are the features you want?

One of the things you don't want, I think just some of the seatin areas, the roofs, for example, the seats in the right field corner coming off the office building there, that was voted the most, unique and best seats i the minor leagues a few times.

The fact that you ca actually get up from your seat and do a 360 walk and kind of adventure, finding not all ballparks have.

Right?

You can't get around as easy as it is to get around here, correct?

Yeah.

And that's what makes it grea because it's it's nine innings.

And if you're one of the 15% that are totally in the game and don't leave your seat, that's great.

But there's about 85% o the people that come to games.

They want something to eat.

They want to take their kids out to the play area.

They want to kick the tire on what we have going on around.

And that's what I tell people much exactly.

The social component has become so big, and you see that minor leagues, major league, some of the new areas that would be putting being put in the ballpark, there's probably a million answers to this question.

They would all be, truthful.

But do you have an moment or a particular evening.

Or something, or.

A player that came up that is, is.

A highlight or something that was.

Not I'm only like, this is the right thing for here to make a career.

Well, I think back at skeleton there were certainly things.

Skeleton was a great place to watch a game.

It got to the point where you couldn't service people properly when we had a good crowd.

Sure, it took away from the fan experience.

I think the moment was probably the playoff run here.

The first time we had it, when we had 10,000 people come into a playoff game.

It sounds bizarre, but in the minor leagues you often don't sell out playoff games because there's not a lot of prep and turnaround time.

And there was one scenario in our 2006 playoff run where we won the game here.

It was going to be a final deciding game the next night, and we sold over 5000 tickets in a 24 hour experience, which is pretty unheard of at the minor league level.

So it's those moments.

It's when the weather's perfect and you're walking around the ballpark and you've seen the families and the people that some of the games, and you're like, this is what it's supposed to be about.

Whether you like baseball or not.

I've had many of those.

What's as the general manager what's the one thing that people would be most surprised about as part of your job?

That you have to make sure every time people are here that does or does not happen?

I think so.

One, I think the general manager title is a little bit of a misnomer at the minor leagues, because a lot of people were exactly like, literally, I jus I sit there and look at reports and make sure everything is going to work out or that's right.

But on the Clifford's the Red dog costume.

Exactly, exactly.

It's a, have nothing t do with the action on the field.

Right?

So a lot of people will say, well, why did you trade this guy?

And it's like no one wants me trading anybody.

No one wants me scouting.

It's really about the business operation and the fanatical experience that our team is trained to provide and, and how all the departments are working together to bring 75 home games a summer together.

That's that's really the focus.

And and where we just try and stay locked in that.

You use the term fanatical experience.

I know having worked for the team, I have some ideas of what that is.

But if folks aren't familiar, I mean, what are the what are the core tenants of a fanatical experience?

The core tenants really are.

People have choices, right?

People have choices with their time and money and they will go to the things and gravitate towards the things they like and where they need to feel they're getting a valu and where they're treated well.

So our fanatical experienc training is something we've put a lot of work in over the years, and it's from Joe and myself on down to the first year ticket taker who's been here ten minutes.

And how do you empower people to treat our guests the way you want to be treated anywhere?

And there's tons of examples of that.

You know, we do use the word guest as an example.

Exactly.

That's a. Purposeful word.

That.

Exactly.

So if if I'm on the concourse and I see a, a mom who's got the four kids pulling on her and she turns around with her food and the food spills, we're going to replace that.

You know, she's not going to have to get back in line those sorts of things.

If, a guest brings a ticket to the wrong day, which, believe it or not, happens, sure.

No harm, no foul.

You fix it, you find a seat even if it's not the same seat.

Was here to see wicked.

Those was very good.

So it's those basic tenants that we try and really pound home.

It it doesn't happen if you plan how long in advance.

Because we've got both teams rolling.

It's really one big season if you look at it a certain way just the way the seasons fall.

We're trying to be 12, 18 months out on some things and then some things do fall under that.

Yeah, six month have to get done.

Check the box sort of schedule.

But if we're able to do things right, we're a seaso two, a season and a half ahead.

You don't always hav the schedule, you don't always have information.

Right.

But we're trying to get everything ready when the dates come to play.

We're talking with Eric.

It's the the general manager of the Toledo Mud Hens here on opening day on the 419, powered by CTE.

All right, it's now time for Gretchen's wacky quiz.

All right.

This is going to be a real gold light for you.

Yeah.

All right.

I'm going to ask yo for rapid fire questions, okay?

Gretchen's going to ask you for your favorite thing in or about Toledo.

Okay.

And then you and Matt are going to work together to describe Toledo in exactly nine words.

All right.

All right, all right, here we go.

You catch a foul ball with your bare hand.

Are you acting cool or are you, like, in pain?

Both.

Like.

Like I think there's a way to play it off, but inside your head, you're dropping some words that you're bleeping out.

Yeah.

If you had, I'd only one ballpark food for the rest of your life.

What would it be?

Hot dogs.

I I'm a little nervous to think about over 30 years.

How many hot dogs I've eaten?

Yeah, I try to cut back as I get older, but that's still the go to when you're at a game.

That's what you have to do.

Your walk up song.

Pretty question.

You know, I've been asked this before.

I'm a huge U2 fan, but I can't find the U2 song that sums it up.

So I, you know, I've, I've, I've relegated it to Motley Crue, kickstar my heart for some reason, just, kind of gets the blood pumping and that's you know, the time when I was in high school and it just feels right.

It works.

All right.

Last minute you get tapped to sing take Me Out to the Ball game.

Are you doing that confidentl or are you mumbling through it?

Not confidently.

I would try and call my daughter, who has sung here before.

She has, amazing voice.

Thank you, thank you, I would nobody wants to hear me sing.

My kid tell me every day, please stop.

Yes.

So I'm calling.

I'm phoning a friend or phoning a daughter there to help me out.

What's your number one most favorite thing, or were you considered to be the best thing about the city of Toledo?

I think the attractions.

I think being in that industry and the Metroparks, the zoo, the Art museum, Imagination Station, the universities, what we're trying to do, it's it's an amazing environment that all of us have created for a community to be like tru mountains and wildlife fashion.

You have, already exceeded all of the words.

I need one more to describe.

Oh, that's a very pretty thing.

Over time, muddy.

Muddy.

It is.

Got me.

Thank you.

Question came up yesterday.

Where?

Put you on the spot?

Our Muddy and Madonna.

Yeah.

Brother and sister.

Close friends.

Are they married?

Top secret.

Information.

Okay, well, that's right, we like people.

We like people to come up with their own stories.

And I've written.

Notes are very different.

Very good.

So, I'll share I share here.

There's fan fiction.

All right.

Eric, thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you.

When we come back we will talk with the man behind the merchandise, Craig Katz, here on the 419 powered by.

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Welcome back into the 419.

We're celebrating Mud Hens Openin Day here at Fifth Third Field.

We're joined now by Craig Katz, the vice president of merchandise and licensing.

I do want to say that, the Mud Hens baseball is a of top quality.

The game itself, the fan experience, is an unbelievable, experienc that we are proud of worldwide.

But the merchandise is something that people talk about.

You know, in the subway, they're visiting places wearing a mud cap.

I've had cousins coming into town from all over the country, and they demand that we take them to get, Mud Hens merchandise, so I love that.

Thank you so much.

Yeah, man, I at the risk of fan blowing out here, this is a really important and interesting gig.

Well, it's like, I mean, what makes Mud Hens famous?

World famous is the hat.

Yeah, right.

It was.

That.

War that Klinger wore on Mash.

Greg, thank you so much for being with us.

Thank you for having me, guys.

What what?

All this when we say merchandise and licensing, what all does that entail?

So pretty much anything that is kind of a consumer product, whether it's apparel, headwear, coffee cups, novelty items, a little baseballs, the foam claws, anything that that we sell that has our logos on it from my hands or walleye is something that I oversee.

How many logos are there.

Between the two teams?

There's about 70 and we're currently four zero, seven zero, and we're currently working on more.

So there's vintage ones from from back in the day.

And then every day they I mean, every year they try to modernize it or have a new one.

We try to come up with something new every year.

So for instance, the mascot logos, we have versions of Murray and Madonna and we've had three poster for years while we're getting, eight more poses for more of each day.

This is a children's show.

Just a reminder.

Yeah, sure.

Okay.

What's your position on Murray and Madonna's relationship?

Oh my God, yeah.

What is it?

I think they are very good friends.

Yeah, they've been friends like.

Bert and Ernie.

My.

I don't know if I'd go that far.

Yeah, I don't think they share a bedroom.

Okay.

Yeah.

But I do think that they're very good friends.

Okay.

And they enjoy coming to games, like.

Okay.

Well, now.

Everyone.

Should I have them?

Don't I, the shoulder buddy.

Yeah, yeah, the shoulder pads.

What?

Yeah.

This.

I have never seen this before.

What is.

Gretchen.

Gretchen.

Nice to meet you.

Wait.

What is what is growing out of Gretchen shoulder?

Right.

So this is a brand new item for this year.

Gretchen's wearing money, and we also have a Madonna version as well.

These are called shoulder pals or stuffed animals that have a magnetic bottom to it.

And there's a piece, that the magnet attaches to that you put under your t shirt or whatever.

You're.

I don't think it makes me look insane at all.

No, it looks great.

Let's read.

This started, a few years ago at Disney.

Okay.

For Reddit to.

People read the.

Little wrap that would and people would wear that.

Now, Disney has expanded to all this and it's found its way to baseball.

So we saw this at a trade show, last fall.

Like we have to get.

I have to ask a question with.

This.

I would think that there's a overwhelming amount of pressure.

I mean, you're handling global brands.

Can you talk a little bi about that?

Did I. Feel natural?

I don't know your background, how you get to here.

And, I mean, you are.

This is, you know, decades of really but this is your chapter and taking care of somethin that means so much to so many.

And there's a tremendous amount of value to it.

Literally.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It is so my background is I grew up in the, in the Cleveland area, huge sports fan, would always be asking my parents let's go to the souvenir store.

I need to get something.

I have to wear a hat if I'm going to the game.

I have to wear teacher and whatnot.

I, did my undergrad at Ohio University, and I majored in sports business.

Okay, I learned very early in, in my, teenage years that my dreams of being a, Major League Baseball centerfielder were not going to happen.

Yeah, we all did.

Right.

Yeah, well, I hope I maybe I just haven't gotten.

There's hope for a senior tour.

Right.

Exactly, exactly.

So I decided if I couldn't play sports, I wanted to work in sports as a career.

Sure.

So I went to Ohio University, got my background in sports business, and it was actually hired by the Mud Hens, about two and a half months before I graduated, which is awesome.

I walked across the graduation stage and got my diploma, jumped in my car and drove to Toledo and started an eight game homestand the next day.

So you're not from Toledo.

Where are you from?

I'm from the Cleveland area.

Yeah you just said that moments ago.

Yeah.

That's right.

Do you think it's attractive?

The metal plate in her head.

She was actually, like messing around with her shoulder, pal.

Yeah.

I mean, when we talked about, you know, Joe Napoli yesterday and Eric, you.

Met him, right?

I have met him.

Yes, yes.

I mean, you guys borrow ideas.

You mentioned kind of pulling this something that Disney was doing.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to touch him.

What are their benchmark teams or markets or things that you look at t say like, hey, they're going to, you know, by nature of the city or the team or the level, they're going to get things.

And we want to keep an eye on that.

Yeah.

So every team in in pro sports does something really well.

And we're always, you know.

Except for the 76.

There's your words.

Okay I'll take your word for it.

Yeah.

So we constantly are looking at what other teams are doing, and what ideas they have.

And you know, I don't want to say ripping them off, but copying them or, or reaching out to them and saying, hey, tell me more about this and how is this going?

And and things like that.

You know, we also have a very close network of, people in my position at other teams.

Yeah, that they're constantly is a text chain going on or email teams just saying, hey, I brought this in.

It went really well.

We should look and see if your fans would like that.

How busy, how absolutely unhinged will the Swamp sho be today on Opening Day?

Craig.

Opening day is always our best day of the year.

Yeah, we have the most people in the ballpark.

We, were as busy from the time we open at 9 a.m.

until the last pitch of the game, and even after the game.

But it's my favorite day of the year.

Toda is my favorite day of the year.

Yeah, we get to, you know.

Knock on your children's.

Birthdays.

No, no, no, but they know the money part of my life long before that.

That's right, that's right.

But, yeah, it's my favorite day of the year.

Just it's it's spring time.

Baseball is back.

You see so many familiar faces and people that have become friends over the years that, you know, in the winter after the last game, you don't see it until the next game.

So it's really the best day of the year.

I get asked this from my day job a lot.

Do you have any clothes that do not have any logos?

You sound like my wife.

Yeah.

Yes.

Yeah.

She must be very charming.

Very.

Yeah, sure.

Yeah, yeah.

And almost as attractive.

Yes, yes, sir.

Yes, I have very few.

I share a ton of mud Henson wall stuff, obviously.

But as I said before, I grew up on I still am a very, very big sports fan.

And, my staf that that, work in my department with me once made me count the amount of Buffalo Bills items I have in my closet.

Sure, it was over 70.

Yeah and that was just in my closet.

Most of those.

Are the towels to wipe up your tears.

Anyway, next question.

We've got some some awesome apparel on the table here.

Yeah, just about to.

Talk to us about what we've got.

Sure, sure.

So cool.

Everything on the table and I. And we'll be talking about it as well in describing it are brand new items that we have this year.

The first one is, I don't know if you guys have heard or not, but, one of the Tigers top prospects and the number eight prospect in all of baseball Max Clarke, is on the mud hands.

Big deal.

And it's a big deal.

And he is awesome.

He is a very good guy.

And the few interactions I've had with him, he's been amazing.

So we're super happy that he is with us today.

And, the fans have been demanding for some Max Clarke items.

So we have a t shir that has mud hands on the front and his name and number on the back, and we also will have a jersey coming in.

Right now it's available for, for a presale.

And that will be coming in as well.

So it's been very cool.

And then we just have a whole bunch of great new women's items.

It looks like a new, baseball, type t shirt.

Yes.

A tone t shirt for women.

Has the vintage logo on it.

Exactly.

Look, a little, little heritage looking logo.

Very classic looking, very trendy.

Hitting today's, fashion standards.

That's one of the other things that we always have to strive is not only what's popular in sports merchandise but what's popular in fashion.

What are the fabrics, what are the cuts?

And the designs?

And that's how we start building our line together.

When when you're I mean, obviously most of baseball is supposed to take place in warm weather sometimes.

We don't always hit that.

Is there a balance for you of saying like, hey, I need a bunch of t shirts or I'm going to need or you look at the weather and go, all right, we're going to have to beef up our mud and sweatshirts.

So it's the beginning part of the year, and at the end part of the year, we go heavy on sweatshirts, long sleeve t shirts, a little warmer stuff.

We'll always have t shirts in stock because you never know in northwest Ohio wha the weather's going to be like, no matter what month it is.

Sure.

But then as the summer goe on, we will start thinning out.

Some t shirts are some sweatshirts and jacket and bringing in more t shirts.

That' when you start seeing tank tops and other summer type items.

Where it's the most.

For the five minutes that you are not thinking about the mountains, the river, the rich histor you get out of the four walls, what is disconnecting look like?

What do you like to do for fun?

So both of my children play ball so cool.

I'm always at a ball park, whether it's here or out in Sylvania, watching my son play baseball, play softball.

My son is a middle infielder, shortstop.

Okay, second base and pitcher.

My daughter has been doing pitching lessons, pitching lessons all winter long, and she's hoping to be a pitcher and, an outfielder.

All right, so.

You you're in a dual role here, obviously, with the Mud Hens overseeing this, but then also the walleye hockey and baseball have some kind of subtle differences in personality and style.

How have you sort of learned that?

Yeah, it was it was a growing, we had to go through some growing pain when the walleye first started, had kind of play in the store, like, oh, this is works for the Mud Hens.

This is what we'll do for walleye.

And we quickly learned that that wasn't the case.

Right.

Different fan base, different tastes.

And for the biggest part is the bulk of walleye season is when it's cold.

Yeah.

So not as many t shirts, a lot more sweatshirts.

The amount of knit hats that w sell at the walleye is amazing.

And jerseys, hockey jerseys are.

Yeah.

Let me take some, pressure off of you cannot say, the Mud Hens, walleye, red wings or tigers.

Who does the.

Who has the coolest.

Merchandis other than those institutions?

And why is it the trash pandas?

Why is i the trash pandas are good.

Yeah.

Selfishly, the ones I look a the most are the Buffalo Bills.

Sure.

And the Cleveland Guardians one time.

Where's the tour?

This flung place or th craziest place you've ever seen?

Someone have a mud hens or walleye gear on?

We have shipped to Japan.

Yeah, we have shipped to Australia.

It's really worldwide.

A lot of that is due to Marsh and, you know, the exposure with Jamie Farr.

We still get people emailing us, saying, I didn't think this was a real team.

I thought the shirts made up for the team.

So now, does Jamie Farr get approval on all this, for approval on all this gear before it goes out?

He does not to me.

Which is which is nice but anytime we're using anything that is a replication of what he wore on match, we reach out to Jamie and make sure that this looks like and and is a good.

Representation.

The shoulder items are to scale for him, right?

Yes, yes.

Yes, we're talking with Craig Pants, the VP of merchandizing licensing here at Fifth Third Field for the Mud Hens and Walleye.

It's opening day.

So what better way to kick off opening day than to put you in the hot seat?

That's right.

It's now time for.

Gretchen's wacky quiz.

Andrew.

Little friend.

My little friend.

Are you ready, buddy?

Jesus.

Man.

Why do I give you this credit?

She's going to wear this every day.

Yeah, she finally made it for my client.

Yeah.

This time you won't be representing.

All right, and asking for rapid fire questions.

Gretchen's asking for your favorite thing about Toledo.

And you and Matt will describe Toledo in exactly nine words.

Here we go.

You catch a foul ball with your bare hand.

Are you acting cool or are you screaming in pain?

I'm acting cool and giving it to a kid.

Okay, that's a great answer, because you can go in and get your own from the swamp shop.

Yeah, I have a I have a couple of baseballs out.

All right.

Sure.

If you had to eat only one ballpark food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Hotdogs.

I'm in.

Walk ups on.

Inner sand, man.

Yeah.

Wow.

Got it.

Okay.

You're sitting in the stands enjoying the game with your family.

You pop up on the kiss cam.

Are you leaning in?

Are you, like, cold playing that thing and and bolting?

I'm leaning and I'm trying t kiss my wife, who's embarrassed.

So my daughte will gladly do it in her place.

All right.

What's your number one most favorite thing?

Or were you considered to be the best thing about the city of Toledo?

How accessible the city is?

I can get pretty much anywhere from my home in Sylvania within a half hour.

You're a fast runner.

All right?

I'm nine things.

The first time someone has ever said that.

Yeah.

All right, brother, let's do nine things.

Favorite thing about the city and or region?

The community.

Everyone is so, pleasant.

Everyone loves and is proud to be.

Absolutely.

No.

I'm gonna give it to yo for that.

Community and pride.

Keep going.

How about disability.

Accessibility?

Yes.

Cost of living.

Cost of living.

Love it.

What do you like to do?

What do you take your parents or your kids to when you're not going to the ballpark?

We like to walk the Metroparks.

Thank you.

Yeah, that's a lot to drag it out.

You go to that end.

All right.

And then the mud Henson.

Walleye Henson.

Well I got two more.

What are your kids names.

Jake Jake and Leah.

Jake and Leah that close out the list.

Man.

Thanks Craig Greg toda managing all those purchasers.

How many, how many customers you think you guys are going to have today?

We're going to have 10,000 for.

My goodness.

You better get get downstairs to every.

Single person that is here today for Opening Day.

We expect to see in the swap shop.

All right.

What you've got, two locations here and.

Two locations here fit their field down the, first baseline and right field and right behind home.

Plate.

And people can get more information about the swamp shop.

Where on Mud hens.com.

Okay.

I mean.

Awesome.

Greg, thank you so much.

What's you what's your favorite new item.

The shoulder.

House.

Yes.

Well it was until.

We got a camera close up on.

On this.

Oh geez.

All right, all right let's see.

Here we go.

And tighten up.

Let's just stay tight on that for every shot with Gretchen.

For the res by.

Public radio of.

This show.

All right.

We've got a tight shot on the shoulder.

Tell muddy, you know that we weren't kidding.

All right, let's take a break.

When we come back, we'll be joined by Troy Hammersmith.

Who's going to take a look at the promotional schedule coming up here this season for the money.

And we'll be right back on the 419.

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Welcome back in to the 419 It's Mud Hens opening day.

So many exciting things happening today around downtown Toledo, but all season long to talk about those we're joined now by Troy Hammersmith.

Troy, thanks for being here.

Hey, happy to be here.

You oversee all of the events and entertainment.

All of the things that are happening here.

Outside of the game of baseball.

Yes.

What are you most excited about with Opening Day?

Obviously, the opening day festival.

First time, you know, really hosting an event of this magnitude on opening day.

So we're we're looking forward to, you know, welcoming all the fans, not only just downtown to kick off the season, but, you know, new opportunity for everyone.

Do you have any idea how many bodies are going to be in or around the ballpark today?

I mean, it's tens of thousands.

I mean, tens of thousands is is what we're, you know, hoping to see.

And we're we're really excited to, you know, bring everybody back to the ballpark.

When Troy, when you were a little, did you organize events entertainment for your friends?

How why have you done this to yourself?

This has been overwhelmingly stressful job.

The logistics are incalculable to me.

And I'm someone in the same business.

Like how did you get into this gig?

Yeah.

I mean, get as little is a little kid the favorite?

You know, my favorite day of the year?

Are there an opening day is my birthday.

So I think, you know, just watching the birthday party come to life.

And that's been a big part.

And then you know, even going to college, I went to you know, college for sport management and just fell in love with promotions you know, events, entertainment, just putting smiles on people's faces.

I mean it doesn't get better than that.

How long have you been with my hands?

A while, I yeah.

14 years.

14.

Yeah, I was I've try to do the math.

I was like, I know it's been I know it's been ten, ten plus years.

What was your first first job.

Yeah.

So started as an intern here and then really kind of work my way up.

Went from, box office intern into the ticket sales side to ticket services.

So really, customer service, customer oriented.

Yeah.

And then, you know, throughout Covid was able to kind of work through, you know, really bringing events to life.

You know, when you dealt with the shutdown and trying to find ne and creative ways to, you know, bring the fans and, and whatnot back to, you know, the ballpark.

Yeah, I got the opportunit to really be a big part of that.

So in full candor, Troy, you and I are friends.

So now meeting you for the first time.

Yeah.

So I'll ask you som leading questions, admittedly.

But, you know, when you, Did you have an moment here?

You know, an intern saying this is this is a career path for me.

This works.

What was there a single day, your first season here?

What was the.

Thing that made this sort of not part of your DNA?

Yeah.

I mean, great question.

I mean, obviously we're here for Opening Day, but I mean, that really was one of the biggest things for me, being able to see what that means to Toledo, what that means for our fans.

It was just was contagious for me to be able to watch the smiles, see everybody.

You know make this this whole day theirs and then and see how special I was.

I mean, it was, you know, never look back.

What drove the first experience that this year, today for opening day and then this year for the season that the space is going to be engaged for, for people that want to come down.

Yeah.

So on top of the festival, really going to keep that footprint going then, you know, the rest of the season.

So we're going to have a lot of live music.

You know that's obviously big here in Toledo.

We're going to have a number of character appearances.

That's that's been really, you know, huge for us.

We have the blue cheese and bingos, the Snoopy.

And then here for.

The blue, I mean, it is it.

Is, it is insane.

But it is awesome to see the smiles at that.

That brings to the fans.

A lot of, you know, different festivals, food, you know, music, as I shared.

And just really just try to create a party atmosphere, a block party experience for fans.

Out there on the street this year that came up, that went up this winter.

Yeah.

So we got the yeah, we had the new Pennsville gateways.

It's just a way to really ti it all together, bring people, you know, into that footprint, really highlight Pennsville Park and Fleetwood's and all of our, you know, neighboring businesses.

Troy, you're also a family guy.

When there was an event at your home, are you able to not be part of the planning of it or oversee everything?

Is there a list that you create?

Is there an Excel spreadsheet for you?

Talk to.

Us about, you.

Know, I mean.

That's got to be a psychosis.

That is you.

Yes.

That is that is tough for me because it is a big part of wanting every, you know, to know every little detail.

I keep it regimented by my wife.

Bless your heart.

You know, I do let her kind of take the reins and put all that together.

But, I yeah.

So we met, you know, in college, she went to.

Oh, you.

Yeah.

You know, I went to Kent State, but, you know, we kind of, you know, met.

And here we are, just part of the family.

You're part of the family.

And in our.

Home, in the brainstorming sessions for the theme nights and the party themes tell us some rejected or some rejected ideas that you just thought, there's absolutely no way that we can have, you know, swimming pool night at the mountains.

You know, I'm thankful that for the most part, a lot of our ideas definitely you know, come to fruition here.

You know, ther hasn't been too many crazy ideas that it hasn't made it to the finish line.

You know, there really isn't one that jumps out on unfortunately.

I do want to mention your.

Insurer.

What was honey, it's I mean, minor league baseball is notorious for just off the wall promotions.

I mean, certainly acros the country, you'll see, folks change their names, right?

I mean, the the Erie Seawolves, were notoriously renamed by, John Oliver.

Yeah.

The moon madness.

Yeah, yeah.

I mean, what what is, I mean, it's a it's a high bar to try and keep up with some of that.

What are some of the promotions you guys have on the docket for this yea that.

You can talk.

About?

Yeah.

No that's fair.

Yeah.

It's most of it's out there.

It's a great question.

I mean that's what we love the most.

And it's kind of nice you know working with Craig as well when you talk about, you know, the the different alternate identities that we've done.

You know, last year we debuted the Mud Crawlers.

That's back again this year.

You know, we're, we've we announce recently a couple of weeks ago, you know, our promotional schedule.

So we're going to be doing, you know, for the first ever paper night, obviously paying, you know, tribute to the the new show, the paper.

So you know, more information we'll be having there.

So we're really excited to to see that come together, have Oscar Nunez out to the ballpark to be a part of that, too.

So, you know, the we've got a lot of great, you know, tried and true.

Who's our rock and blast movie having two, you know, big firework shows over the you know, July 3rd and fourth.

You have the dog.

People can bring their dogs to the park several times in the summer.

Yes.

Hen and hounds, that is, that is one of our, you know, staple promotion that we do throughout the year on Tuesday nights, you know, starting in May.

So that's always great to see, you know, that connection with our dog lovers and, and, I mean.

I had the privilege of working here, announcing for eight years, and I know the conversations we had of, like, we see this, you know, this promotion that happens every game 72 times a year.

Yeah.

But the fans might be seeing it for the first time.

What are the conversations you're having with the team?

What are the things you do with yourself just to keep that front of mind that like, I might be bored with this, bu this is somebody's first time.

Yeah I mean, great question, Kevin.

So I mean that's one of the important things.

One, you know, I would be remiss not to shar that it takes a village, right?

It's a lot of a lot of people that that are involved and putting that together.

We have a great team behind the scenes, work team.

Right, right.

No comment.

Yeah.

And now we have great know.

We have a great team across the board.

Everybody's got amazing idea like you shared it and it does.

It takes a lot of effort to both keep things fresh.

And you know we look at our different peers in the industry and what they're doing to kind of keep raising that bar.

But we do have a lot of great, you know, tried and true promotions, fireworks nights and, and hounds and and just kind of keep continue to, you know, show that off to our fans because there's there's new fans that come to every game.

So we you know it's it's a first experience for many.

What are some of the in-game contests that people can expect to see if they come out to, you know, a random Tuesday down here?

Yeah.

So we have a lot of, you know, dance games, as you know, that's always fun to watch.

The the kis cams, the dance cams, all the.

Cheers, scandalous kiss cams this year.

I hope not.

Oh, it's got a no gotcha theme, I. Hope that I hope they do.

Yeah, yeah.

You know, we we had some great on field events.

You know, we have our hot dog race that everybody loves to, to see.

Why does everyone love that song?

Ketchup, mustard.

They love.

It.

I just get it.

You know, you're always rooting for the underdog.

It's nice to see, you know, no pun intended.

Yeah, sure.

But I think it's, Do you feel like kids run the bases at the end of the game?

Yeah.

We do.

So on Sunday we'll have kids run the bases.

That.

Yeah, it's one of those experiences you look forward to when the ball par opens and families enjoy that.

You know, watch that, spend that talk all the time with your face.

We would subtly root for one kid just to, like, break for you.

Yeah, it was just entertaining.

Like, you don't actually want it to happen.

No.

But like, it's like one could just cross into that.

But yeah.

Yeah.

The outfield.

Yeah.

It's not allowed to do that.

That is a crime.

And you will be.

Sent you will be sent to talk a little bit about the experience for a family.

A family of four is coming down here, parents or grandparents and two kids.

What should they plan for budget wise?

What should they do before the game?

What should they do?

You know what?

What are some of the other activities that they can do if these are, you know, early grade school age kids?

Yeah.

So that's what's obviously important to us.

It's that affordable, family friendly fun.

And I think we we do an amazin for the whole family, you know.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You know and I think that's something we, we pride ourselves in, like we, we talked earlier.

We've got, you know, a lot of great pre-game activations, whether it's live music, it's characters in the park, it's inflatables.

You know, we keep that free and accessible to all families to come out and, and kind of kick that that day off.

And then, you know when you head to the ballpark, obviously all the, you know, the great food, the smells, the sights and sounds, you know, we've got the camera shot.

So we try to get, you know, as many families on the video board that you ca to capture that special moment.

What.

What are the conversations you guys are having, in the office about the Savannah bananas and the craze that is, you know, the entertainment and the chaos that happens in those games?

Yeah, I think that's what makes our job amazing, right?

They're doing it.

They're doing a wonderful job.

They've they've grown in popularity.

And obviously that that's, you know, a lot of craze that's taking place.

And for us, that's what makes my job fun and really important because you we see fans, they are coming here to be entertained.

Whether you're a you know, baseball fan or not.

So trying to continue to raise that bar and find new ways to put.

You on the cutting edge for you, I the last time you and I ran into each other.

Sure.

It's in your journal.

Is one of the best days of your life.

You were inviting a team here that was simila to the Savannah bananas.

Yeah.

So we.

Yes, we have.

You keep the energy.

Like, dude, you've been here a long time, right?

How do you stay hungry?

And re-upping you've got, you've got little kids with.

Yeah, I can speak as well as exhausting.

So what keeps what fuels your fire?

How do you keep getting out o bed in the season after season?

I think it's all we've kind of talked about too.

It's it's it's that want the need to keep raising the bar, give our fans all different experiences.

And you know, this is stuf that you think about at night.

Yeah, sure.

How do you yeah.

How do you put smiles on people's faces.

How do you bring them out to the ballpark and have a good time?

You know, as you mentioned we had cosmic baseball out there coming back to Toledo this year, too.

Yeah, it's.

Really it's it's just new opportunities, different ways to, you know, build that fun.

Good for you, man.

You never want to settle.

Yeah.

I mean, every.

Never want to settle.

That is an absolute must end.

Well, I mantra, yeah.

I mean, every single day there's some six year old that's never been to a baseball game before that has a chance to fall in love with the game with the Mud Hens, with Toledo.

And I think, yeah, I mean, you guys do, just a phenomenal job.

And have for, for years.

So, kudos to you.

I mean, you you're following not only we talked to Craig Katz about, you know, how do you maintain the merchandise for an iconic global brand?

But but the reality is also at, just on a ground floor level, you also are followin in the footsteps of some real, incredibly talented people in our community.

You know, Mike Kenny, you sure?

You know, we had on the show with the Metroparks, you know, so folks that did a really wonderful job and you've got some big shoes to fill and you're you're doing a wonderful job with it.

Yeah.

If we don't take that for granted, we're all right.

What's your favorite promotion coming up this year?

You can only come to one game.

What's the game you're coming to?

So one of our new events we'r going to be doing a WWE night.

Big wrestling fan.

So that is that is going to be our first, in June.

So looking forward to to that.

Will player be wrestling on the field?

Yeah.

Let's hope not.

I'm looking.

At you, but.

Here's our producer who is not American.

So he just no idea the joys of professional wrestling.

Very, very.

Exciting from a cultural.

This place.

So that is a great.

That is.

Be fun.

Yeah, yeah.

If people want more information on all these promotions where can they find him?

What?

Incom.

I'm awesome.

All right, Troy, it's now time for.

Gretchen's.

Wacky quiz.

I'm going to ask you for rapid fire questions.

Gretchen is asking for your favorite thing in a row about Toledo.

That will describe Toledo in nine words, right?

If you had one ballpark food for the rest of your life, what is it.

Hot dog?

Classic, classic.

If the game goes into extra innings, are you excited or are you already thinking about leaving?

I'm excited.

More opportunities or.

All right.

I only get mad when we go to actually ten and lose.

Sure.

Yeah, I guess we could have done that regular time, right?

Right.

What about this show?

All right, so during the game, are you.

You're watching the game.

Are you keeping score or are yo just there for the atmosphere?

I'm keeping score.

You know, I keep score.

I, I do, I, I'm a I'm a big baseball guy so I'm definitely keeping score.

All right.

All right if you could add one ridiculous promotion yes to the game, might snap your fingers.

Joe can't say no.

He's going to say it' the best idea I've ever heard.

Me and Neil want to see this.

I think we want to do a it'd be a, a oh, my gosh, a bed sheet race where you put a bedsheet on and race the you know, race around the bases.

Nice.

It's just injuries about, we to talk about your insurance provider again.

Yeah.

We're, What is your number one most favorite thing or what you consider to be the best thing about the city of Toledo?

Again, just the welcoming the the, you know, the care that everybody has for each othe who just did nothing beats it.

Everybody you interact with is just so kind and friendly and you can't find that elsewhere.

All right, buddy, I'll give you a the people for your first answer.

You got eight left.

Nine words to describe the best things about the city and our region.

Let's roll through them.

Okay.

You said the people.

You got that?

I'm giving you the mountains and the walleye.

Yeah.

Those are your two cheaters.

So let's fire away.

What else you got?

The food.

Food?

Perfect.

You got it.

I know you're a community guy, so I love you.

I love you, and I love all of our, you know, all of the, you know, accessibility to all the great things here.

What are you taking the kids to?

What are the amenities that you like?

So as a Metroparks.

Thank you for so.

Bless.

Oh, and the art museum.

Yes.

What are your kids names?

I got four.

So I go, yeah.

No fire.

Riley.

Yep.

Blake.

Laney.

Jace.

That's not going to go.

Yeah.

You mentioned yo mentioned food.

You're a foodie.

I'm a foodie.

I asked you a question about you know, classic ballpark fare, but what?

I mean, we've got some incredible food here at Fifth Third Field as well.

What is the menu look like for people?

Yeah.

So what we're getting besides the ballpark staples, we got a lot of new food item that are going to be, you know, joining us at the ballpark this year.

And we're gonna have some hot honey chicken tenders.

I'm a big hot honey guy right now.

I'm saying that's all the craze.

All right.

Yeah.

That was your.

Nickname because it was hot, honey.

Chicken.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I know we've got new caramel empanadas.

We've got root, you know, got roots.

Back in the ballpark.

Here's your roots.

Buffalo chicken dip fries.

Yeah, that's one of those that I'm excited about.

Dip fries.

Yes.

Yes.

You're still sponsored by the Heart Association in Northeast Ohio, correct?

Yes.

Yeah.

All right.

And my favorite promotion in all of announcing.

What do you got, Kevin?

It's the Topps ice cream strikeout.

Yes.

Yeah it is.

It just it's so much fun.

It is violent, but it is playful.

And it's bad.

They don't get ice.

Well, but like but there's days when, like, we pick a player and it's just relentless.

Like we there's times when, like when I was here, we pick a playe for the whole homestand.

Sure.

And so it's like.

Yeah, I know that it was this is.

Yes I do want to see win ice cream.

If they do well.

We'll say.

Nope, that's not true.

Yep.

I mean, I gues if the pitcher does well yeah.

I'm hearing something.

For goodness gracious.

All right.

You're a muddy muddy said something here.

That's right.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Best.

All right.

You're the best.

Thank you.

And all season long, we appreciate it.

For more information on all the promotions mud hens.com.

When we come back, we will wrap up this specia opening day edition of the 419.

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Welcome back into the 419.

What an awesome way to celebrate Mud Hens opening day.

How are we ever.

Going to wrap this up so I can hit the field?

It's beyond me, but was so fun to talk to all the mud and people.

If you could play any position, for the Mud Hens today, what would it be?

I would want to be the starting pitcher of Opening Day.

Or catch one of the two alive as a catcher many, many moons ago with our beloved team.

Play Marcus Harrison, who was a pitcher.

And then vice versa.

So.

But, man, like anything here, this is even nice to be in the stadium.

Yeah.

It's pretty, pretty exciting.

Yeah.

The thought of running out of the tunnel and taking the pitcher's mound for the first pitch of the season.

Yes, Gretchen, how about you?

I'd make up the name of a position.

I'd probably be the coach.

Yep.

The coach.

I mean what am I gonna be a player for?

Yeah, well, I'm.

I'm coaches.

I'd be the manager.

Yeah.

Oh, shit.

It's all right.

You know what?

Through osmosis.

Two days.

Right.

Third field.

And Gretchen is officially It's a manager, and it's a game.

And you hit a stic with the ball.

With the.

Stick.

That about does it.

It's like watching.

ESPN.

Goodness gracious man, what would your position be?

I'm a catcher.

It's the best position in all baseball.

I agree.

Please remind yourself after Opening Day today to join us on April 19th for for one nine day, we'll be at group mod with our friends and partners at Metroparks will be ther deeds food truck will be there.

We're going to do a live recording of our podcast at 4:19 p.m.

on that day.

Event is totally free and I'll be a. Riveting competition between me and.

Shane, who could eat the most.

Ribs in 60s so you won't want to miss that.

The answer is three.

That might even be impressive.

Yeah, that was, All right.

Huge thanks.

The last two days, have just been incredible.

This place is a special place to me and it's great to be back here.

So fun.

On opening day.

And be a part of it in our ow special way here with our show and thanks to Eric, Crai and Troy for joining us today.

And of course, thanks to, to Joe and Matt and Quinlan for joining us yesterday on the muddy shuttle.

And, of course, we'll get you here today, 90 minutes, depending o when you're catching the show.

90 minutes before, first pitch.

Every single game is a big deal.

7 a.m.

on YouTube, 3 p.m.

on FM 91, 6 p.m.

on connects channel 30.4.

And of course, online August the 4th one nine for download the new and improved app.

It's the 419 from fifth third field powered by.

And presented by Retro Wealth Management.

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