Indianapolis Indians grounds crew stays ready to play ball
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A degree from Purdue University and countless hours on the job gives Joey Stevenson the magic touch around one of Indianapolis’ crown jewels: Victory Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians.
“I grew up on a family farm, but I started working on a golf course when I was 15 years old,” Stevenson said. “I just fell in love with it and later got the itch to work in professional baseball.”
As the Indianapolis Indians head groundskeeper, Stevenson and his tireless team at Victory Field in downtown Indianapolis are an award-winning bunch. They’ve remained perfectionists, even this spring as games across the sport are on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We could definitely play ball, we are about 90% to where we need to be,” Stevenson said in late April. “That other 10% is just kind of dotting our I’s and crossing our T’s on some of the work that we need to pop for professional baseball.”
Given the mint condition of the playing surface, Stevenson and his crew figured: Why not let a rookie try to screw it up?
WISH-TV’s Charlie Clifford was that rookie, a member of the grounds crew for one day, and it only took an hour to realize this job is strictly for the professionals.
Thankfully, the damage has been undone and your favorite summer getaway will be ready, no matter how long it takes.