The team was known as the Modesto Athletics (or A's) from 1975 to 2004. The club was also known as the Modesto Reds (1966–1974 and 1946–1961) and Modesto Colts (1962–1964).
The Nuts were expected to leave Modesto following the 2024 season after the city and the Mariners were unable to agree on paying for ballpark improvements that Major League Baseball required. However, a deal was reached to keep the team in Modesto through at least the 2025 season. After the 2024 season, the Mariners sold the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings, who immediately announced that the 2025 season would be the last in Modesto. For the 2026 season, as part of a shuffle of Diamond-owned team relocations, the Nuts franchise will relocate to San Bernardino as a new incarnation of the Inland Empire 66ers.
History
HWS Baseball purchased the Modesto Minor League Baseball franchise in 2005.[1] The franchise became an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies that year.[2] The Nuts nicknames was selected by fans in an online vote, over the names Crop Dusters, Derailers, Steel, and Strikes. Nuts relates to the agricultural industry in the region. Fans and a Modesto Bee sports columnist were initially negative about all five potential names.[3]
After the 2006 season, John Thurman Field was renovated with a new scoreboard and upgraded infield. The following opening day, April 7, 2007, was the largest crowd ever at a Modesto minor league game.[5]
In 2011, the Nuts set their attendance record for five straight seasons and were honored as back-to-back California League Organization of the Year for 2010 and 2011.[8]
Following the 2016 season, the Seattle Mariners purchased a majority share of the Nuts, and the teams entered into a player development contract making Modesto a Mariners affiliate. HWS Baseball continued to manage the team's day-to-day operations.[9]
The Nuts won the California League championship in 2017, sweeping both the division series and the league series and winning nine games in a row dating back to the final three regular-season games.[10] This was the Nuts' ninth league title and the first as part of the Mariners organization.
In conjunction with Major League Baseball (MLB)'s restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Nuts were organized into the Low-A West.[11] In 2022, Low-A West was renamed the California League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization and was reclassified as a Single-A circuit.[12] In 2023, Modesto won the California League championship.[13]
After the city of Modesto and the Mariners were unable to come to terms on who would pay for the roughly $32 million in improvements to John Thurman Field mandated by MLB, the Nuts planned to leave Modesto after the 2024 season.[14] However, the city and the Nuts came to an agreement in August 2024 to keep the team in Modesto for another year. The Nuts agreed to pay an annual rent of $600,000 with an additional $75,000 for improving the field. A long-term lease agreement had to be reached by April 1, 2025, or the team could leave following the season.[15] A month after it was announced the Nuts would stay in Modesto for another year, they won their second straight California League title.[16]
The team was sold to Diamond Baseball Holdings on December 12, 2024.[17] Diamond, the largest owner of MiLB teams, planned a "musical chairs" format in the aftermath of the purchase that will take effect in the 2026 season. The Nuts would move to San Bernardino and assume the Inland Empire 66ers nickname, but keep the Mariners' affiliation, reuniting the two for the first time since 2006. The 66ers would relocate to Rancho Cucamonga and assume the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes nickname and be affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels for the first time since 2010. The Quakes will move to Ontario and a new 10,000-seat stadium being built there to become the Ontario Tower Buzzers.[18]
The Nuts played their final home game on August 31, 2025, losing to the Stockton Ports, 5–4, with 2,295 people in attendance.[19] Their final game was played on September 8 against the San Jose Giants at Excite Ballpark, winning 9–6 in 10 innings.[20]
Josh Suchon was the team's radio play-by-play broadcaster in 2007.[21] Greg Young was the team's play-by-play broadcaster from 2008 to 2011.[22] He was replaced by Alex Margulies for 2012 and 2013.[23] Keaton Gillogly did play-by-play from 2014 to 2022.[24][25] Mario Ramos, who had been the PA announcer, was the team's final play-by-play broadcaster.[26][27]
A Nuts mascot in 2009
Mascots
The Nuts had three mascots: Al the Almond, Wally the Walnut, and Shelley the Pistachio.[28][2]
Notable alumni
Years with the Nuts or other Modesto minor league team are listed in parentheses.
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