Hartford Yard Goats become first baseball team to ban peanuts and Cracker Jack

The Hartford Yard Goats are rewriting the lyrics to “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” after announcing earlier this month its Dunkin’ Donuts Park will be peanut-free.

The Yard Goats, Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, are believed to be the first team to ban peanuts for an entire season.

Yard Goats ban peanuts for allergy reasons

Peanuts are prevalent at baseball stadiums, making it difficult for children with peanut allergies to attend games. The Yard Goats held two peanut-free games last year where the park banned the item and did a deep clean of the stadium.

[Batter up: Join or create a 2019 Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for free today]

Yard Goats President Tim Restall told USA Today the decision to go peanut-free permanently came after speaking with local parents of children with peanut allergies. According to USA Today, he “was moved by stories of trick-or-treating with gloves on, bringing one’s own cupcakes to classmates’ birthday parties and sitting in a separate area of the school cafeteria.”

“The way we look at it, if we eliminate this one item to allow kids to enjoy a baseball game, that’s what it all comes down to,” president Tim Restall told the Hartford Courant when the decision was first announced. “Why prevent someone from catching a foul ball or getting a picture with [mascots] Chompers and Chew Chew because of a food item?”

Peanuts, Cracker Jack and peanut topping for sundaes are all eliminated from menus. The team also checked that the Dunkin’ at the park doesn’t include peanuts in any of its offerings, per USA Today. People will not be allowed to bring peanuts in from outside.

Team takes economic hit

With baseball and peanuts so closely intertwined, there’s bound to be a lasting impact on the wallet. Restall said the Yard Goats will lose money on the decision since their food-service contractor gives the team a percentage of the profits.

Last year, per USA Today, that was 10,432 bags of $4 peanuts and 2,262 boxes of Cracker Jack that goes for $3.75. It’s more than $50,000 in peanut-driven snacks.

USA Today notes it could have a much larger economic impact. People may flock to the park because of its decision or they may stay away due to it.

A divided response

Parents took to Twitter to share their appreciation to the team, describing the anxiety they feel going places with a child who could die from peanut exposure.

Approximately 2.2 percent of children and 1.8 percent of adults in the U.S. have a peanut allergy, according to Food Allergy Research and Education. If there is contact with a peanut of any kind, there’s a chance of anaphylactic shock that an EpiPen can’t always help.

The Yard Goats are standing by their decision:

More from Yahoo Sports:
• Belichick changed his boat’s name to reflect SB win
• 22-year-old son of NFL head coach is arrested
• Panthers deal ‘proves’ NFL collusion, Eric Reid says
• Did Peyton Manning unknowingly help the Pats?