Rick Kaminski never hit a home run, drove in a run or pitched in a major league game, but he's getting a full baseball style memorial.
Kaminski died this week at age 67. Known as "The Peanut Man," Kaminski worked Mariners games from the Ruppert Jones days to the Ichiro era. He was acclaimed for his behind-the-back and over-the-shoulder peanut tosses to generations of baseball fans.
He worked in the printing business when he took a part-time gig at the Kingdome in 1977. Rick gave up plans to attend law school after becoming hooked on slinging nuts for what was then an expansion franchise.
Seattle's pro baseball franchise hasn't had much of a history on the field; the M's have the third-longest active pennant drought in baseball. Only the Cubs (65 seasons) and Nationals/Expos (42 seasons) have gone longer than the M's 34 years without reaching the World Series. But they get extra credit in my book for paying respects to one of the characters of the game.
The M's will have a moment of silence in honor of "The Peanut Man" before tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Seattle Times reports fellow vendors will take part in a ceremonial peanut bag toss in the stands in Rick's honor.
Kaminski's name will even be written in the dirt behind second base.
A special video will play after the first inning, honoring Rick's impact on Mariners fans.
Safeco Field vendors will wear a patch with Rick's name on their sleeves for the rest of the season.
An exhibit of memorabilia from Kaminski's career will be displayed at the Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest and at the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame at Safeco Field until season's end.
