Vendor Roger Owens has been a vendor since 1962 at the Stadium and is as much a part of the show as what happens on the field.
Owens aka “Roger Owens the Peanut Man” has been a regular at Dodger Stadium, selling his product with his signature tosses and flair. However, that practice of throwing nuts will no longer be allowed.
According to TMZ, Owens is no longer allowed to toss peanuts to fans at the stadium. The Dodgers aren’t putting an end to the practice, it’s from Levy Restaurants, the company in charge of concessions at Dodger Stadium.
Owens admitted that he was heartbroken by the decision.
“They have time to see it coming,” Owens said. “It’s not some bullet that goes straight through. I’m always wanting to make sure that whoever I am throwing to will catch the bag of peanuts.”
In this day and age, this ban likely has to happen as it will prevent a future lawsuit in the event that an errant throw from Roger Owens injured a fan. In this country, people will sue for almost anything.
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Even though the Dodgers’ 2022 ticket agreement protects the team and the vendors from lawsuits, it could be a public relations nightmare if it were to be caught on film and go viral on social media.
Ownes first developed his signature pitch in 1962 when a hard-to-reach customer yelled at him to toss a bag of peanuts. Instinct told Owens to reach around his back and throw it underhanded to the man sitting in the second level behind home plate. Fans cheered as the peanuts soared through the air, and a star was born.
“I’m the only pitcher in the MLB making less than $1 million,” he joked. “We’re like a family out there.”
