Logo/Mascot Profile ] Photograph Photograph Courtesy of the Montgomery Biscuits Photographs Photographs Courtesy of the Modesto Nuts

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[ Logo/Mascot Profile ] Photograph Photograph Courtesy of the Montgomery Biscuits Photographs Photographs Courtesy of the Modesto Nuts

EVERY YEAR, CALIFORNIA to 1946. The present-day franchise dates When Modesto baseball signed a BRINGS IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to 1966, when the Modesto Reds—along new player development agreement with from the sale and exportation of its with the Reno Silver Sox—debuted in an the Colorado Rockies, it was obviously nuts. The nut industry in Stanislaus eight-team Single-A California League. illogical to retain the title of Athletics. County is second only to milk as the Ironically, although the team’s name That sparked a two-month-long ‘name area’s top commodity and is a major remained the Reds for the next eight the team’ contest. Once all the nomina- contributor to the economic growth of seasons, there was never any associa- tions were submitted, management put California. While walnuts and almonds tion between Modesto and the major the five most popular names on the are traditionally the most popular nuts league Cincinnati Reds—only the team’s Web site for a decisive, online in California’s fertile and scenic Central Kansas City Royals and St. Louis vote. The final tally had the Nuts win- Valley, a new breed recently debuted Cardinals. ning handily with 52 percent of the vote. that locals are already going “nuts” over, In 1975, the team switched affilia- Crop Dusters placed second with 34 per- the Modesto Nuts: the California tions to nearby Oakland and took on the cent support, Steel and Derailers—both League’s newest minor league baseball parent team’s nickname. This began a allusions to the railroad history in nickname. three-decade-long tradition of Modesto Central Valley—finished third and fourth Even though 2005 marks Modesto’s Athletics baseball that remained unal- respectively, while the Strike was a dis- inaugural season as tered (except for the logo) until the tant last with 2 percent of the vote. the Nuts, baseball’s player-management agreement between To design an image quirky enough roots in the Central Modesto and Oakland expired last to match its new nickname, Modesto Valley reach back season. turned to Dan Simon of Studio Simon in

AT THE YARD | June 2005 11 ATY0605p010-019 4/21/05 2:08 PM Page 12

[ Logo/Mascot Profile ]

official logo, Al is California’s only life- print and ID kids for free, and that’s part- size almond. After sprouting arms and nered with the YMCA and a local credit legs, Al can be seen roaming around the union.” Nuts’ John Thurman Field all season Although PeaNUT is an elephant, long. Modesto’s favorite pachyderm will only Making up the second half of be eating the nuts grown fresh from the Simon’s logo is another one of the Central Valley soil. After all, trying to Central Valley’s favorite agricultural break the shells of his mascot compan- products: Wally the Walnut. Sporting a ions that almost match his height would maroon baseball cap and an endless, be awfully difficult! goofy smile, Wally decorates the Nuts’ PeaNUT, Al, and Wally cheered on alternate hats. While slightly stockier their favorite team at a packed John than his almond companion, the walnut Thurman Field on April 7 for the Nuts’ mascot still stands over 5 feet tall (and inaugural game against none other than almost as wide) when he cheers for his the Oakland Athletics’ Single-A Stockton favorite team at home games. Along with Modesto’s two newest and biggest nuts, the team retains a PeaNUT: Though the Oakland Athletics organization left Modesto, mascot from its days as the Athletics: PeaNUT stuck around to keep an eye on the two new Nuts. PeaNUT the Elephant. HATS OFF! Louisville, Kentucky. Highly touted as “Luckily he’s got a name like one of the nation’s leading logo design- PeaNUT,” says Brian LaFountain, the ers, Simon created logos for the Los Nuts director of public relations, about << home Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles the team’s stroke of good luck. “He’ll still Angels of Anaheim, and the NFL Super be one of the Nuts.” Bowl. With his artistic genius, the Nuts Aside from completing the Nuts’ undoubtedly boast one of the most fun trio of mascots, PeaNUT became an inte- and unique new logos in minor league gral figure in the Modesto community alternate baseball and two of the coolest—and during the past few seasons and remains >> nuttiest—new mascots. the ballclub’s feature mascot for now. To pay tribute to California’s nutty “We have a PeaNUTs Reading commodity, Studio Simon gave birth to Program that goes out and involves over Al the Almond. With a subtle, devious 1,500 kids in the community that is grin ingrained in his shell, Modesto’s in its fourth year currently,” explains favorite almond always sports a maroon LaFountain about PeaNUT’s role in hat with the letter ‘M’ for his hometown. Modesto and its surrounding areas. The Nuts’ true home cap, however, is “There is also PeaNUT’s Passport to << batting solid black adorned with Al’s portrait. Safety, which is four times a year. We go practice In addition to being half of the Nuts’ out along with PeaNUT and we finger- Images Images Courtesy of Studio Simon

12 AT THE YARD | The Game Starts Here