Late Marshall Bossard voted into MLB Groundskeepers HOF

Legendary groundskeeper Marshall Bossard has been voted into the Major League Baseball Groundskeepers Hall of Fame, the Association of Major League Baseball Groundskeepers announced Tuesday. Bossard, a leader in the industry, was an integral part of the Cleveland Indians' grounds crew for 48 years, including serving as the Head Groundskeeper at Cleveland Municipal Stadium for 20 years. 

The induction ceremony was held on Monday, January 28th, during the 21st annual MLB Groundskeepers Meeting in San Diego, Calif. As part of the official ceremonies, Bossard posthumously received the Gary Vanden Berg Trophy in recognition of his "dedication and outstanding contributions to Major League Baseball and the sports turf industry." Bossard's father, Emil Bossard, was inducted into the MLB Groundskeeper Hall of Fame in 2012.

Bossard first embarked on his Hall of Fame career in 1936, when he became the Head Groundskeeper for the St. Paul Saints at Lexington Park. Coming from a long line of groundskeepers, Bossard moved to Cleveland in 1937 to work alongside his father and brothers, Harold and Gene, for the Cleveland Indians. Bossard worked at League Park and then moved with the team to Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1946, which transformed into a multi-use facility when it also became home to the Cleveland Browns in 1947. After years of incredible service, he was named the Indians Head Groundskeeper in 1965 and served in that position until 1985. 

In 1974, Bossard and his brother, Harold, won the annual "Good Guy Award," voted on by the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America, in honor of a player or member of the Indians staff who is most cooperative and exhibits professional behavior with the media through the season. Bossard, a cheerful man always willing to teach and share his knowledge in the art of professional grounds keeping, passed in 2001. 

"After his 50 years with the Cleveland Indians this is a great honor and tribute to my father in being inducted into the MLB Groundskeepers Hall of Fame," said son of Marshall Bossad, Alan Bossard. "The players loved his infield and he really worked hard and took great pride in his work to keep the field well-manicured. He was a great dad. Through all of the long hours at the ballpark everyday he always found time for his family. " 

"The Cleveland Indians could not be more proud of Marshall's induction into the MLB Groundskeepers Hall of Fame," said Bob DiBiasion, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Cleveland Indians. "He was something special with that ever-present cigar and smile. Marshall was a member of the team. He wanted our players to succeed and it was reflected in his passion for his work on our playing fields at both League Park and Cleveland Stadium."

Past inductees in the MLB Groundskeeper Hall of Fame include Emil Bossard (Cleveland Indians), George Toma (Kansas City Royals), Joe Mooney (Boston Red Sox), Dick Ericson (Minnesota Twins), Harry Gill (Milwaukee Brewers), Pat Santarone (Baltimore Orioles), Pete Flynn (New York Mets), Gary Vanden Berg ( Milwaukee Brewers), Marty Schwab (Cincinnati Reds), and Steve Wightman (San Diego Padres).