Trash Pandas mascot + stadium up for ’10 best’ honors

The Rocket City Trash Pandas have been showered with accolades since their inaugural season in Madison back in 2021. And this year, two more honors could come the team’s way, as USA Today has nominated Sprocket (the team’s raccoon mascot) and Toyota Field in separate “10 Best” lists.

Here’s more:

Sprocket + Toyota Field give Trash Pandas national attention

Both Sprocket and Toyota Field have a chance to place in their respective 10 Best lists, but that also depends on voters.

Best Minor League Ballpark

Toyota Field has been nominated for the USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in the category of Best MiLB Ballpark.

One of the newest stadiums in the Southern League, Toyota Field has quickly become one of the premier destinations in Minor League Baseball.

To come up with the nominees, experts took several aspects of the park into consideration, from atmosphere and amenities to architecture and homages to major league fields or legendary players.

The nominees include:

• Autozone Park (Memphis, Tennessee)
• The Ballpark at America First Square (South Jordan, Utah)
• CHS Field (St. Paul, Minnesota)
• Coca-Cola Park (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
• Covenant Health Park (Knoxville, Tennessee)
• Dow Diamond (Midland Michigan)
• Durham Bulls Athletic Park (Durhan, North Carolina)
• FirstEnergy Stadium (Reading, Pennsylvania)
• Huntington Park (Columbus, Ohio)
• Jackie Robinson Ballpark (Daytona Beach, Florida)
• Keesler Federal Park (Biloxi, Mississippi)
• Modern Woodmen Park (Davenport, Iowa)
• Polar Park (Worcester, Massachusetts)
• Riders Field (Frisco, Texas)
• Sahlen Field (Buffalo, New York)
• Southwest University Park (El Paso, Texas)
• Sutter Health Park (West Sacramento, California)
• Toyota Field (Madison, Alabama)
• Truist Field (Charlotte, North Carolina)
• Victory Field (Indianapolis, Indiana)

You can vote for Toyota Field HERE.

Best MiLB Mascot

The Trash Pandas’ also have a chance to place among the 10 Best in the Minor League Mascot category. Sprocket has been nominated along with 19 other MiLB mascots for the best in the business.

Sprocket, obviously a raccoon (or “trash panda,” as the name implies) is a beloved addition to the fan experience at Toyota Field. And you can vote for him HERE.

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