John Thurman Field

Entrance to John Thurman Field, Aug-2004.

The easy-to-assemble seating bowl.

A view from in front of the press box.

Chronological Tour: Stop 75

• Location: Neece Drive at Tuolomne Boulevard, Modesto, Calif. (map it using Google Maps)
• Opened: 1955 (renovated 1997)
• Home team: Modesto A’s (1975-2004), Nuts (2005-present), California League
• Capacity: 4,000

Rating: 3 baseballs

The prefabricated stadium, similar in design to Lake Olmstead Stadium in Georgia though without the roof, made it easy to install. A recent site visitor tells me that the Nuts – a new name following the end of the team’s affiliation with the Athletics after 30 years, paying homage to the almond groves of the area – added a new video board for the 2007 season.

I thought the old structure was rather comfortable for watching a game, and the new one is just as comfortable. The only complaint I had was a very slow souvenir stand worker the day I visited in 2004, but that may have been an aberration.

On my 2018 trip, the video board was in evidence, but so was a $6 per vehicle parking fee. The ticket taker said that it may have been an effort to recoup revenue from declining attendance. I would think the opposite strategy might work better. I then discovered that the ownership group also owns the team in Niles, Ohio, where they charge a walk-in fee to discourage folks from parking outside the designated area.

Despite the above shortcomings, the place itself did have some charm, so it was a mild surprise when the city and the Nuts’ parent club, the Seattle Mariners, announced in July 2024 that they had not come to terms on a lease agreement and the team would be moving out after the 2024 season. There was consideration that the club would relocate temporarily to a college field in Southern California for 2025, but ultimately the city and the Mariners agreed on lease terms for one more season.

Ultimately, the club is still likely to land in SoCal. A new complex is being built in Ontario, expected to be ready for the 2026 season. That will likely involve several affiliation shifts, as the Los Angeles Dodgers, who currently have an affiliate in Rancho Cucamonga, are looking at placing their affiliate in Ontario. The Nuts could wind up there or in San Bernardino come 2026.