FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Since being introduced as Senate Bill 322 on January 4, 2023, leaders at the State House in Indianapolis have been debating whether or not the Breaded Tenderloin deserves the status as the Official State Sandwich.
According to the Fort Wayne TinCaps, there’s no debate.
Fort Wayne, Indiana’s hometown team, the TinCaps, announced today they will play as the Hoosier State Tenderloins for select games during the 2023 Minor League Baseball season.
The TinCaps will become the Hoosier State Tenderloins from August 3-6 at Parkview Field in downtown Fort Wayne when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers-affiliated Great Lakes Loons.
The TinCaps released the following:
“There’s always an appetite for fun and creativity in Minor League Baseball,” said Michael Limmer, TinCaps Vice President of Marketing and Promotions. “The Breaded Tenderloin Sandwich has long been a Hoosier tradition. Others may claim it, but Hoosiers know we did it first, and do it best! Just as a classic tenderloin is too large for the bun, we’re planning to go big for these games as the Hoosier State Tenderloins.”
While the Breaded Tenderloin Sandwich is universally revered around the Hoosier State, it originated in Northeast Indiana, not far from Parkview Field. Just 25 miles southeast of the ballpark in downtown Huntington, Nick’s Kitchen has been treating customers to tasty tenderloin sandwiches since 1908. Now, Nick’s is the first stop on what has been named the Tenderloin Trail that weaves throughout the state all the way down to Evansville.
Even Governor Eric Holcomb weighed in on the delicious debate.
“We’re going to settle the question once and for all about what is the official state sandwich of Indiana,” Holcomb said.
The State of Indiana is the fifth-largest pork producing state in the U.S. with nearly 3,000 Hoosier pig farmers.
Hoosier State Tenderloins t-shirts are now available in The Orchard Team Store at Parkview Field. Hats and more merchandise are also available for pre-orders at TinCaps.com.
The Hoosier State Tenderloins will don specially designed uniforms. The team’s jerseys will be red, white, and blue, featuring a Hoosier State Tenderloins logo on the chest. The predominantly blue sleeves will have a fairgrounds motif. The base of the jersey includes red and white candy stripes, which subtly include the names of all 92 of Indiana’s counties.
Similarly, the caps have a red bill and button on top. Wide red and white stripes run down the sides. The logo — a too-big-for-the-bun tenderloin sandwich, overflowing with lettuce and mayonnaise, that has a toothpick protruding out, frilled with Indiana’s state flag — is the centerpiece.
Parkview Field will look and feel like fairgrounds for these games in August. Breaded Tenderloin Sandwiches will be a featured item at the ballpark. More details will be announced closer to the dates.
In the meantime, the TinCaps, High-A Midwest League affiliate of the San Diego Padres, are scheduled to release their full 2023 promotional schedule next week, with single game tickets to go on sale at 8:00 a.m. EST on Friday, February 24.
Opening Day at Parkview Field is Tuesday, April 11 (6:35 p.m.) against the Cleveland Guardians-affiliated Lake County Captains. Season Ticket Packages and Group Outings are already on sale. Fans can learn more on TinCaps.com or by calling 260-482-6400. Tickets start at just $7.
Prior to that, the ’Caps start their campaign at West Michigan on April 6.
The Hoosier State Tenderloins join other highly popular local food-related alternate identities in Minor League Baseball, including the Triple-A Lehigh Valley Cheesesteaks (IronPigs), Double-A Maine Whoopie Pies (Portland Sea Dogs), and Single-A Fresno Tacos (Grizzlies).
Since Fort Wayne’s Minor League Baseball franchise was founded in 1993 (known as the Wizards through 2008), 208 players and counting have gone on to play in Major League Baseball. After opening in ’09, Parkview Field has perennially been ranked as the No. 1 ballpark experience in the minors. Over the years, the TinCaps have been awarded as Minor League Baseball’s Organization of the Year, and also received accolades for community service, hospitality, promotions, and more. In 2022, Team President Mike Nutter won Minor League Baseball’s Executive of the Year Award.
