As Main Street Baseball concludes its contest to name Modesto’s new Pioneer Baseball League team, six finalist names have been selected for a community vote. The process comes after the City Council approved a lease agreement for John Thurman Field, paving the way for a new team following the Modesto Nuts’ last game at the stadium.
The contest, sponsored by Cost Less Foods of Stanislaus County, drew 1,015 entries. Dave Heller of Main Street Baseball explained, “We asked the people of Stanislaus County to help us name the team because this team really belongs to the people who live and work here. We’ve narrowed the list down to six names that we believe reflect the history, culture and character of the region.“
Voting is currently open at www.modestobaseballclub.com and will close on November 7. The winning name will be announced at a press conference at Cost Less Foods in Ceres on November 10.
Among the finalists, “Cruisers” was noted as the most frequently submitted entry. However, due to naming rights already held by a local soccer club—the Modesto Cruizers—Main Street Baseball determined it could not use that name. Other proposed names were also set aside because of conflicts with existing teams or trademark concerns, including “Aggies,” “Heat,” “Mavericks,” “Low Riders,” “Reapers,” and “Crushers.”
“Whichever (name) they choose, this team will be family-friendly, fun, affordable and a proud representative of Modesto and its people,” Heller said.
