Photo by John Kmitta.
David Mellor, senior director of grounds for the Boston Red Sox, retired Sunday, September 29, following the Red Sox season finale.
Mellor announced his retirement Saturday via Instagram, during which he stated, in part, “With mixed emotions I’m stepping back from my daily responsibilities as Senior Director of Grounds for the Boston Red Sox. I look forward to contributing to the industry & causes near my heart while I spend time w my family & pups. I am honored & humbled to have worked 39 yrs in MLB. The full list of people I need to thank is too lengthy to post, I worry I might miss someone & that would be a disservice to my appreciation of their importance.”
In addition to serving the Red Sox since 2001, Mellor has also cared for ballparks used by the California Angels, San Francisco Giants, Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers. He also worked eight years for the Green Bay Packers games at Milwaukee’s County Stadium.
His mowing patterns have been featured in the American Folk Art Museum and an international art exhibit. David has published books on gardening and horticulture, Picture Perfect: Mowing Techniques for Lawns, Landscapes, and Sports and The Lawn Bible: How to Keep It Green, Groomed, and Growing Every Season of the Year. He has co-authored or contributed to eleven other books.
His book, One Base at a Time: How I Survived PTSD and Found My Field of Dreams, recounts his struggles with PTSD, and his perseverance in overcoming his debilitating symptoms.
