Modesto’s new Pioneer Baseball League team will be called the Roadsters, according to an announcement made by owner Dave Heller at the Graffiti USA Classic Car Museum. The name is intended as a tribute to Modesto’s cruising history. The team’s initial choice, Glow Riders, will now serve as a secondary identity for select games that highlight low-rider culture.
Heller acknowledged some community discomfort with the original name as the team prepares for its first season in May at John Thurman Field. “It’s not been a straight line,” he said during the event. “It’s been a curvy, winding road to get there, but we got there, and that’s really great.”
The term “roadster” refers to a two-seat convertible car such as the 1961 Corvette Heller used during the announcement ceremony. The vehicle was provided by the museum and driven from an adjacent exhibit room.
The Roadsters are set to replace the Modesto Nuts, who relocated to San Bernardino after the 2025 season. Unlike their predecessors, this new team will not serve as a developmental affiliate for Major League Baseball but may attract players seeking to continue their careers.
Team manager J.T. Snow commented on the rebranding process: “I loved the new name,” Snow told The Modesto Bee. “They came out with the Glow Riders, got a little pushback. I don’t think that people knew what it was all about. So I give a lot of credit to Dave and the whole Modesto team to make the adjustment. Just like baseball, you need to make adjustments.” Snow also mentioned his personal connection through his father Jack Snow’s ownership of a 1960s Corvette.
The team’s mascot remains Cruiser, a San Joaquin kit fox depicted wearing sunglasses and driving a roadster in its logo design—a nod both to local wildlife and car culture.
The Graffiti USA Classic Car Museum honors “American Graffiti,” George Lucas’ film based on his experiences growing up in Modesto. Heller suggested potential future collaborations between his team and the museum but did not provide specific plans.
At Monday’s unveiling event, attendees were served traditional ballpark foods while viewing new cap designs; however, merchandise has yet to become available for purchase.
According to an official release, Roadsters’ main colors are described as candy apple red, egg cream malt and neon diner blue—alongside orange and black referencing Snow’s time with another club.
Andie Kat and Greg Gallup of Slightly Obsessed Studios created most of the logos; Francis Santaquilani of FS Design developed artwork for Glow Riders after previously working with one of Heller’s other teams in Iowa.
Following public criticism over both name selection and voting procedures—where Graffiti and Harvesters each received 469 votes but Glow Riders had more unique voters—Heller hosted an open forum at Sidelines Whiskeyjacks bar for additional community feedback.
