HOOSIER STATE TENDERLOINS SERIES: Presented by Indiana Pork

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Parkview Field will host the now annual Hoosier State Tenderloins Series presented by Indiana Pork from Thursday, June 20 through Saturday, June 22 as the Fort Wayne TinCaps take on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers affiliate) in Minor League Baseball action.

During those three games, delicious tenderloin sandwiches will be on the menu at Parkview Field. In the spirit of Hoosiers helping their fellow Hoosiers, for each sandwich sold, a meal of ground pork is being donated by Indiana Pork to the Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, based in Fort Wayne. Last year’s Hoosier State Tenderloins Series saw more than 2,000 tenderloin sandwiches sold and ground pork meals donated to those in need.

“Indiana Pork is excited to partner with the TinCaps to showcase the Breaded Tenderloin Sandwich,” said Jeanette Merritt, Director of Communications for Indiana Pork. “Hoosier pig farmers know how popular it is. But it’s also very exciting to donate ground pork to the local food bank and show just how much farmers want to make sure they’re feeding their neighbors.”

Meanwhile, the award-winning ballpark’s centerfield concourse will also feature a petting farm, making Parkview Field feel like a festival. Animals at Parkview Field will include goats, sheep, pigs, alpaca, chickens, bunnies, and even a pony.

The TinCaps (High-A, Midwest League affiliate of the San Diego Padres) will play as the Hoosier State Tenderloins, wearing 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 Indiana 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.

While the Breaded Tenderloin Sandwich is universally revered around the Hoosier State (even if it isn’t the state’s official sandwich, yet), 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.

The State of Indiana is the fifth-largest pork producing state in the U.S. with nearly 3,000 Hoosier pig farmers.

“The debut of our Hoosier State Tenderloins Series was so popular last year, fans were hungry for it to return,” 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. We appreciate the continued generosity of our friends with Indiana Pork for making this event bigger than baseball.”

The Hoosier State Tenderloins are in company with 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).

In 2023, the TinCaps and Tenderloins were featured nationally on MLB Network during the Minor League Baseball Awards Show in October as one of eight finalists for the “Best Alternate Identity” category.

Tickets start at just $7 and are available through TinCaps.com, by calling 260-482-6400, and at the Parkview Field Ticket Office.