SPORTS

Peanuts banned at this Indians baseball game

Dana Hunsinger Benbow
dana.benbow@indystar.com
For one night, fans at the April 29 Indianapolis Indians game, won't be eating peanuts.

The most traditional and iconic snack of baseball is being banned Wednesday from Victory Field.

No peanuts. No Cracker Jack. No peanut M&Ms. No peanut anything will be sold at the Indianapolis Indians game.

Fans in lawn seating also won't be allowed to bring peanut products of their own.

The peanut-free game is a first for the Indians, part of Peanut Allergy Awareness Night.

It's a big move. In a single season, more than 30,000 bags of peanuts are sold at Victory Field.

"We've received calls from fans over the years about not being able to come to the ballpark due to peanut allergy," said Jon Glesing, Indians senior marketing and communications manager. "Awareness for this is far from new in baseball, (but) we're finally at a point we can coordinate an awareness night."

Cracker Jack is a traditional baseball snack, but will be banned from the Indians game Wednesday.

Amy Ingram knows well the trials of sporting events and peanuts. Her son, 11-year-old Jackson, is severely allergic. A fan sitting in front of Jackson at a game, popping peanuts and throwing shells on the ground?

"We have to leave. We can't do that," she said. Ingram said what the Indians are doing is a great first step toward peanut allergy awareness, but she warns fans that doesn't mean all traces of peanuts will be absent from Victory Field.

The Indians, too, are making that disclaimer.

"We will make every reasonable effort to thoroughly clean the stadium, but cannot guarantee complete absence of peanut particles or residue," the Indians wrote in its blog post. "(It) does not mean the ballpark will be completely peanut-free. Fans with peanut allergies should exercise their normal precautions."

The game starts at 7:05 with the Indians taking on the Louisville Bats. Awareness night is a partnership between the Indians and Indy PoCHA (Parents of Children Having Allergies).

Representatives from Indy PoCHA will be on site in Victory Field's PNC Plaza to help educate fans and draw awareness to Food Allergy Awareness Week 2015 (May 10-16).

Follow Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow.