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Boy there is nothing like going out on a summer day to experience a good old fashioned baseball game. Many of our Hard Hat Brotherhood Crews venture to all kinds of sporting events and every one is packed with fun, friendship and excitement. This year the Crews Thumbsmashers and The Royal Pains have several ball games scheduled. Featured below are some photos takes so far this year. Our first baseball game this year was a little different. We decided to do a Family Day and what a time we all had. Several of the guys brought their wives along while others brought their kids. The day included a great ball game where the Mudhens won, a spectacular fireworks display and a late dinner at the world famous Tony Packo's restaurant across the river. (The Toledo Mudhens mascot Muddy stops for a quick pose with Amanda - Note the blue teeth thanks to her favorite flavored slushee) |
| This is a tradition that we have to thank Thumbsmashers Foreman Tom Doppke for because he was the one who got us all hooked doing it. This is our second season going to Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio and what a great stadium it is. The nice thing is you don't have to take out a second mortgage to see it. We literally parked across the street from the front gate and payed $6.00 to do so. Our seats which were just yards from the field were $8.00 which included the additional charge for the fireworks we would be seeing that night. How can you beat that? |
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FOOD! Hard Hat Brothers love to eat and Fifth Third Field has some great munchies of which to enjoy. Yeah I knew we were going to Tony Packo's for dinner later but I could not turn down a couple stadium hot dogs and maybe a slice of pizza - or two. Wash it all down with cold beverages of your choice and you are set for the game. |
| Whew! What a great game with the Mudhens holding on in the ninth for the win. After that we all settled back for some night time fireworks which everyone seemed to enjoy. You could tell with all the Oooos and Ahhhhs being said. After the fireworks we headed across the river to Tony Packo's Restaurant. This is the restaurant made famous by Klinger of the M*A*S*H television show. Here you can find celebrity hot dog buns signed and kept in protective holders. (Scott Smith seen here in front of the M*A*S*H portrait with Tony Packo.) |
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Tony's is not the place to be if you are a light eater. Not only is the food fabulous but is Hungarian based. Imagine Hungarian sausage topped with chili and you get the idea. I believe it was Foreman Tom who stated, ''the windows will definitely be rolled down on the trip home'. Here are some of our members wives Carolyn Monterosso and Jane Doppke who came along for our event.) |
| (Thumbsmasher member Dom Monterosso and Foreman Tom Doppke ordering up some Tony Packo specialties.) |
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(Thumbsmashers Crew member Jim Tourangeau figures what he wants for dinner.) |
| (Kathy Smith and her husband Foreman Scott Smith) |
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It really does take events like these to really appreciate what the Hard Hat Brotherhood does so well. Getting good friends (and sometimes their families) together for nothing more than some shared company and a bit of fun. What else can you ask for? More photos will be coming as we attend more games. Check back often and see what we will be up to in Toledo. |
Our August Event14 Innings and Mudhens Lose by 1!(Final Score 8-7) |
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| Another picture perfect day for a ball game at 5th Third Field in Toledo, Ohio. The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd and two dogs with the works plus a cold beverage please. |
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Foreman Tom Doppke looking stunning in his swanky Hawaiian shirt. Fifth Third Field had another sellout crowd with over 10,300 in attendance. No lack of baseball fever here. |
| Thumbsmasher member Bob Wojichowski is showing off his choice Hawiian shirt and new Mudhen ballcap which he will be giving to his grandson as a souvenir. Note the red thundersticks in the chair to his right. It was free thunderstick day and they were quite fun for the majority of the game but can you imagine after 14 innings? |
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The game that would not end. We stuck around until the 12th inning where both teams were still tied at six runs each. It was a great game but we were anxious for some Tony Pockos self induced heartburn. We don't want to say the game played long or anything but we passed the stadium at 11:30pm after leaving Tony's and the game was still playing! Did I mention they were going to have fireworks after that - a long night for those who stayed. |
| Here Tom is showing some of his newest members the best that Tony has to offer. We started off with deep fried pickles and a bowl of his famous chili. Then we dug into some real spicy eats. (L to R - Foreman Tom Doppke, Ron Strong and Bob Woj) |
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Bob Woj is checking out the M*A*S*H photo at Tony Pocko's restaurant. The hotdog buns next to him have signatures from Alice Cooper, Ted Kennedy, Danny Thomas among many others. |
