The California League may end in the long run with Modesto, but professional baseball seems poised to remain.
The independent Pioneer League will discuss placing the team at John Thurman Field, the current home of Modesto Nuts.
During Tuesday’s closed session, Modesto City Council discussed the potential terms of the lease during negotiations between the mayor and Pioneer League president Michael Shapiro. The council did not act Tuesday, and neither Shapiro nor a city spokesperson immediately returned a message seeking comment.
Modesto’s California League history dates back to 1946 – John Thurman Field opened in 1955, but the nuts come from the last three home stands.
After negotiations due to the collapse of the renovated stadium and new lease, the team was sold last December and will move to San Bernardino, a part of the California League shuffle next season.
The Modesto team will be giving 14 in total next year two new teams in the league. Leagues prefer even-numbered teams for scheduling purposes.
Other new teams will play at Long Beach, the city’s first entry into the independent league since 2009.
On Tuesday, Long Beach City Council unanimously approved an agreement with the Expansion Pioneer League team that shares the Long Beach state baseball program and historic Blair Field.
“The Long Beach team is an opportunity to show what makes Long Beach great: our diversity, our passion, our community spirit,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement.
Paul Friedman, co-founder of the Pioneer League’s Oakland Ballers, will be one of the owners of the Long Beach team. In the Times story of last year’s Baller and how it fills the baseball void created in Auckland by athletics departures, Friedman had already turned his eyes to Long Beach.
“I think there should be a Pioneer League team in Long Beach,” Friedman said. “Long Beach has its own identity. If you’re from Long Beach, you don’t want to be told you have to be a Dodger or Angel fan.”
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