Rick Kaminski
Encyclopedia
Richard J. "Rick" Kaminski (1944–2011) was a printer, real estate agent
, and stadium food hawker
. Kaminski is best remembered as "The Peanut Man," a comedic trick-toss expert who used a variety of styles to hurl packages of peanuts
to customers in the stands of the Kingdom and Safeco Field
at the games of the Seattle Mariners
for more than three decades. Kaminski practiced his unique art from the time of the team's entry into the ranks of Major League Baseball
in 1977 until the time of his death, during which time he became one of the informal public faces of the franchise.
in 1944. Kaminski attended King's Garden
, a private Christian school in North Seattle before graduating from Seattle's Lincoln High School
. In high school Kaminski was a right-handed pitcher on the baseball team — an athletic assignment that would train him well for future endeavors.
Kaminski was a veteran of the United States Army
during the Vietnam War
. Following his return from his stint in the Army, Kaminski returned to his native Seattle and enrolled at Shoreline Community College
, located just north of the city. There he was elected class president in 1973.
to replace the departed Seattle Pilots
, who played the 1969 season before departing to become the Milwaukee Brewers
. Kaminski, who was working as a printer with designs on becoming an attorney in the future, took a part-time job as a food vendor in the stands of King County Stadium
for the new franchise.
Kaminski began his storied career as a stadium hawker selling beer
— one of the more lucrative sales tasks for the commissioned vendors. However, due to competing periodically in tennis tournaments, Kaminski missed a number of shifts and was demoted by the stadium concessionaire to selling lower-priced items.
Selling each bag of peanuts proved time-consuming, as money was slowly passed from hand to hand, after which the product slowly made the trip in the other direction. In an effort to speed up this process, Kaminski began launching peanut bags through the air to his customers, a technique which proved to be not only faster but which entertained the crowd, boosting sales. Speeding up the process further, in later years Kaminski frequently made use of a tennis ball
into which was cut a slit for the insertion of cash for the aerial completion of financial transactions.
Over time Kaminski developed a repertoire of fancier and even-more-entertaining throws, made with such flair and prowess that his tosses were occasionally documented on ESPN SportsCenter's nightly highlight reels. He was known not only for his uncanny accuracy but also for a steady stream of humorous banter which he exchanged with fans.
Kaminski's trademark peanut toss was a behind-the-back line drive thrown for distance with velocity — with a Mariners scout clocking one such Kaminski throw at 72 miles per hour with a radar gun
. Other Kaminski creations included the "Sky Bag," the "Curve Bag," the "Long Bomb," and the "No-Look Behind The Back."
Despite his more prominent career tossing peanuts to tens of thousands of hungry fans, Kaminski worked also as a Seattle real estate broker.
Kaminski's career was remembered at the time of his death in a statement by Mariners president Chuck Armstrong
, who recalled:
The root of Kaminski's iconic status was analyzed by one Safeco denizen:
Kaminski's death was marked by the team with a moment of silence prior to the playing of the national anthem at the July 29, 2011, Mariners game against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays
. Following this brief memorial, Mariners vendors further paid tribute to Kaminski by hurling ceremonial bags of peanuts into the crowd. Kaminski memorabilia was displayed by the team in its baseball museum and hall of fame at Safeco Field for the duration of the 2011 campaign.
Real estate broker
A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a party who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate/real property and attempts to find sellers who wish to sell and buyers who wish to buy...
, and stadium food hawker
Hawker (trade)
A hawker is a vendor of merchandise that can be easily transported; the term is roughly synonymous with peddler or costermonger. In most places where the term is used, a hawker sells items or food that are native to the area...
. Kaminski is best remembered as "The Peanut Man," a comedic trick-toss expert who used a variety of styles to hurl packages of peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
to customers in the stands of the Kingdom and Safeco Field
Safeco Field
Safeco Field is a retractable roof baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington. The stadium, owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority, is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and has a seating capacity of 47,878 for baseball...
at the games of the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
for more than three decades. Kaminski practiced his unique art from the time of the team's entry into the ranks of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
in 1977 until the time of his death, during which time he became one of the informal public faces of the franchise.
Early years
Richard J. Kaminski, best known by the nickname "Rick," was born in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
in 1944. Kaminski attended King's Garden
King's Schools
King's Schools is a private Christian school, Preschool through 12th grade, located in North Seattle, Washington. 98% of the graduates of King's High School go on to higher education.-History:King's was founded in 1950 by Mike and Vivian Martin...
, a private Christian school in North Seattle before graduating from Seattle's Lincoln High School
Lincoln High School (Seattle, Washington)
Lincoln High School is a former public high school in the Seattle Public Schools district of Seattle, Washington, USA.-History:The school was built in 1906 to handle the growth in the area. It was founded in 1907; until 1971 it was a three-year high school, thereafter a four-year high school...
. In high school Kaminski was a right-handed pitcher on the baseball team — an athletic assignment that would train him well for future endeavors.
Kaminski was a veteran of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Following his return from his stint in the Army, Kaminski returned to his native Seattle and enrolled at Shoreline Community College
Shoreline Community College
Shoreline Community College is a community college in Shoreline, north of Seattle, Washington. It is located in a residential area east of Shoreview Park. The college contains 83 acres and continuously serves 12,000 full and part-time students....
, located just north of the city. There he was elected class president in 1973.
Career
In 1977 Seattle was granted a new franchise by Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
to replace the departed Seattle Pilots
Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...
, who played the 1969 season before departing to become the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Kaminski, who was working as a printer with designs on becoming an attorney in the future, took a part-time job as a food vendor in the stands of King County Stadium
Kingdome
The Kingdome was a multi-purpose stadium located in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood. Owned and operated by King County, the Kingdome opened in 1976 and was best known as the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League , the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball , and the...
for the new franchise.
Kaminski began his storied career as a stadium hawker selling beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
— one of the more lucrative sales tasks for the commissioned vendors. However, due to competing periodically in tennis tournaments, Kaminski missed a number of shifts and was demoted by the stadium concessionaire to selling lower-priced items.
Selling each bag of peanuts proved time-consuming, as money was slowly passed from hand to hand, after which the product slowly made the trip in the other direction. In an effort to speed up this process, Kaminski began launching peanut bags through the air to his customers, a technique which proved to be not only faster but which entertained the crowd, boosting sales. Speeding up the process further, in later years Kaminski frequently made use of a tennis ball
Tennis ball
A tennis ball is a ball designed for the sport of tennis,approximately 6.7 cm in diameter. Tennis balls are generally bright green, but in recreational play can be virtually any color. Tennis balls are covered in a fibrous fluffy felt which modifies their aerodynamic properties...
into which was cut a slit for the insertion of cash for the aerial completion of financial transactions.
Over time Kaminski developed a repertoire of fancier and even-more-entertaining throws, made with such flair and prowess that his tosses were occasionally documented on ESPN SportsCenter's nightly highlight reels. He was known not only for his uncanny accuracy but also for a steady stream of humorous banter which he exchanged with fans.
Kaminski's trademark peanut toss was a behind-the-back line drive thrown for distance with velocity — with a Mariners scout clocking one such Kaminski throw at 72 miles per hour with a radar gun
Radar gun
A radar speed gun is a small doppler radar unit used to measure the speed of moving objects, including vehicles, pitched baseballs, runners and other moving objects. Radar speed guns may be hand-held, vehicle-mounted or static...
. Other Kaminski creations included the "Sky Bag," the "Curve Bag," the "Long Bomb," and the "No-Look Behind The Back."
Despite his more prominent career tossing peanuts to tens of thousands of hungry fans, Kaminski worked also as a Seattle real estate broker.
Death and legacy
Kaminski died July 26, 2011 in Seattle of a brain aneurysm.Kaminski's career was remembered at the time of his death in a statement by Mariners president Chuck Armstrong
Chuck Armstrong
Charles G. Armstrong is an American attorney and former officer of the United States Navy, who currently serves as the president of the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball club.-Seattle Mariners:...
, who recalled:
"Rick was a fixture at Seattle sporting events for as long as I can remember. His speed and accuracy with a bag of peanuts was matched by his quick wit and smile. He always seemed happy to see you, even if he was meeting you for the first time."
The root of Kaminski's iconic status was analyzed by one Safeco denizen:
"He talked quickly, in a high-pitched, slightly-nasally voice, and he didn't shy away from a little flirty talk with the ladies. He'd sometimes make comments that are likely not in the Mariner Vendors Handbook — never lewd, mind you, but if you were following the thread, not G-rated either. Rick was an individual. And that's why he was beloved. Not the speed of his peanut throws, not his banter, not his 34 years of service. It's that he was unique. It's that he took something boring and made it into something joyful. That's called artArtArt is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, folks. He turned his job into art."
Kaminski's death was marked by the team with a moment of silence prior to the playing of the national anthem at the July 29, 2011, Mariners game against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. Following this brief memorial, Mariners vendors further paid tribute to Kaminski by hurling ceremonial bags of peanuts into the crowd. Kaminski memorabilia was displayed by the team in its baseball museum and hall of fame at Safeco Field for the duration of the 2011 campaign.
External links
- "Peanut Man for M's HOF," YouTube.com/ Uploaded May 9, 2009.
- "Rick the Peanut Man," YouTube.com/ Uploaded July 28, 2011. —Musical tribute.
- "Rainier Beer Ad: Bill the Beerman and Rick the Peanut Vendor," YouTube.com/ Uploaded October 20, 2007. —Surrealist early 1980s TV ad featuring real-life vendors Rick Kaminski and "Bill the Beerman" Scott.