Modesto Nuts
Encyclopedia
The Modesto Nuts are a minor league baseball
team in Modesto, California
, USA
. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League
and a farm team
of the Colorado Rockies
. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field
. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats 4,000 fans. In March 2007, the City of Modesto installed a new video scoreboard and made improvements to the infield playing surface.
The Nuts adopted their current name in 2005, after the team's affiliation with the Oakland Athletics
ended. Before then, the team was known as the Modesto Athletics (or A's). The new name was chosen to reflect the several types of nuts
that are grown in the region.
Greg Young does play-by-play for all home and away games, and Modesto Bee
sports writer Brian VanderBeek does color commentary in the middle innings of most home games. The play-by-play position was formerly held by Joshua Suchon, who now works for the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
On June 2, 2006, manager Chad Kreuter
resigned to become the head baseball coach of the University of Southern California
. Kreuter replaced his father-in-law, Mike Gillespie. As of 2010, the club is managed by Jerry Weinstein.
In Spring 2008, the team was the subject of Bush League TV
's short internet video "Bush League 101: How to Bush League a Bush League Baseball Team." The Bush League TV
team plans to have a tailgate at a road game in June.
The Modesto Nuts have two mascots:Al the Almond and Wally the Walnut. These mascots make their presence seen not only at the park cheering on the Nuts, but in the community of Modesto as well.
On August 1st, 2011 Modesto Nuts Outfielder Kent Matthes became the Nuts all-time single season Home Run leader with 21 homers on the season. As of August 2nd Matthes has 22 home runs on the season.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team in Modesto, California
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
and a farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
of the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field
John Thurman Field
John Thurman Field is a stadium in Modesto, California. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Modesto Nuts minor league baseball team of the...
. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats 4,000 fans. In March 2007, the City of Modesto installed a new video scoreboard and made improvements to the infield playing surface.
The Nuts adopted their current name in 2005, after the team's affiliation with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
ended. Before then, the team was known as the Modesto Athletics (or A's). The new name was chosen to reflect the several types of nuts
Nut (fruit)
A nut is a hard-shelled fruit of some plants having an indehiscent seed. While a wide variety of dried seeds and fruits are called nuts in English, only a certain number of them are considered by biologists to be true nuts...
that are grown in the region.
Greg Young does play-by-play for all home and away games, and Modesto Bee
Modesto Bee
The Modesto Bee is a California newspaper, originally founded in 1884 as the Daily Evening News and published continuously as a daily under a variety of names. Prior to its purchase by Charles K. McClatchy and McClatchy Newspapers in 1924, it merged in the same year with the Modesto News-Herald,...
sports writer Brian VanderBeek does color commentary in the middle innings of most home games. The play-by-play position was formerly held by Joshua Suchon, who now works for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.
On June 2, 2006, manager Chad Kreuter
Chad Kreuter
Chadden Michael "Chad" Kreuter is a former catcher in Major League Baseball and the former head coach of the USC Trojans baseball team....
resigned to become the head baseball coach of the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. Kreuter replaced his father-in-law, Mike Gillespie. As of 2010, the club is managed by Jerry Weinstein.
In Spring 2008, the team was the subject of Bush League TV
Bush League TV
Bush League is a website and Internet video show for young men. The site covers sports, technology, gadgets, video games, girls, and popular culture, with videos consisting of how-tos, interviews, and behind-the-scenes event footage.- History :...
's short internet video "Bush League 101: How to Bush League a Bush League Baseball Team." The Bush League TV
Bush League TV
Bush League is a website and Internet video show for young men. The site covers sports, technology, gadgets, video games, girls, and popular culture, with videos consisting of how-tos, interviews, and behind-the-scenes event footage.- History :...
team plans to have a tailgate at a road game in June.
The Modesto Nuts have two mascots:Al the Almond and Wally the Walnut. These mascots make their presence seen not only at the park cheering on the Nuts, but in the community of Modesto as well.
On August 1st, 2011 Modesto Nuts Outfielder Kent Matthes became the Nuts all-time single season Home Run leader with 21 homers on the season. As of August 2nd Matthes has 22 home runs on the season.