Writer becomes member of Giants grounds crew for a day

Contra Costa Times columnist Rick Hurd was looking for a story. He pitched (usually is the opposite) an idea to the San Francisco Giants public relations office and they accepted. So Hurd was able to be a member of the Giants grounds crew for a day. I know… not exactly George Plimpton stuff. But Hurd did get a couple of stories out of the adventure.

Hurd went through a day of work with AT&T Park groundskeeper Greg Elliott, who Hurd describe “was as chipper as a resident of Pleasantville.” Elliott showed Hurd everything that goes into keeping up the field to making the outfield wall sparkle with the help of a couple of window washers.

But the exciting part was yet to come for Hurd. He stuck around for the game that afternoon and was a part of the grounds crew that dragged the infield during the third inning. Hurd’s main focus was not to trip, although Elliott gave him several other pointers. Hurd said dragging the infield seemed like it lasted “two nanoseconds,” but it actually took about 30. The first thing Elliott asked him when they returned from the field, “How’d the crowd look?” Hurd was unable to even take that all in while he was on the actual playing field during the game.

It’s always interesting, and funny sometimes, to read these accounts when sports writers step into a new role for a story.