Red Sox head groundskeeper Dave Mellor is retiring on Sunday after the team’s last game of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.
Mellor has been with the Red Sox for 23 years and has a total of 39 years in Major League Baseball. He has also worked for the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, and then-California Angels.
Additionally, he spent eight years maintaining the famous Lambeau Field for the Green Bay Packers.
“With mixed emotions I’m stepping back from my daily responsibilities as Senior Director of Grounds for the Boston Red Sox,” Mellor shared on social media just before Saturday’s game against the Rays.
“I look forward to contributing to the industry and causes near my heart while I spend time with my family and pups. I am honored and humbled to have worked 39 years in MLB.”
Before the game on Sunday, Boston manager Alex Cora praised Mellor for his hard work in keeping Fenway’s grass in great shape, especially after events like concerts that take place at the ballpark throughout the year.
“We work hard, we do,” Cora said. “Nobody works harder than that guy. Think about all the concerts. We go on the road and there are five concerts here. That field is ready six days later. It’s amazing.”
