SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Former major league groundskeeper joins RiverDogs

Published on March 27, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC -- Charleston RiverDogs co-owner Mike Veeck has announced the hiring of Mike Williams, a former head groundskeeper with two major league teams, as the head groundskeeper at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

A native of Athens, OH, Williams comes to the RiverDogs having served most recently on the grounds crew for the World Baseball Classic at Hiram Bithorm Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from March 12-16.

"I've been chasing him for two years to come work for the RiverDogs, so that should tell you I what I think of Mike Williams," said RiverDogs co-owner Mike Veeck.

Williams previously worked as head groundskeeper with the New York Mets and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

"Riley Park has the potential to be one of the best fields in the country and Mike (Geiger, current groundskeeper) and I will work our tails off to make it that way," said Williams. "I'm here to make things better and the experience I have will benefit everybody."

A professional groundskeeper since 1993, Williams, 40, is a 1989 graduate of Ohio University with a bachelor's degree in recreation management and he added a master's degree in 1991 in athletic administration. He furthered his education in turf management at Cornell University from 1995-96.

"Baseball has been a passion of mine since I was 6, and it is all I ever wanted to do," he added. "As a kid, I was a ‘park rat' and all I did was hang around the ball park. I learned to chalk lines at a very early age."

Williams, who was a member of the Ohio University baseball team, credits R.C. Reuteman currently General Manager of the Tri-City Valley Cats, a Astros affiliate in Albany, NY, as a key influence in his career. He also points to Ohio University baseball coach Joe Carbone and Bill Woodell, his high school coach, as his professional inspirations.

As a visitor to Riley Park in the late 1990s, Williams stated that he felt that it was a "beautiful ball park." He befriended Veeck while the two were working for the Devil Rays.

"I've long been an admirer of Mike and his father (Hall of Famer Bill Veeck), and firmly believe that Mr. Veeck was the best major league owner that ever lived," Williams said.

Williams, a perfectionist by nature who claims that groundskeeping is an art, added that working with the RiverDogs in Charleston is "going to be the best situation I've ever been in, and I'm looking forward to this season."

While Williams will have the unique task of maintaining Riley Park's playing surface throughout the RiverDogs' five-month season, he will commute home occasionally to Tallmadge, OH, to be with his wife of 13 years, Shelly, and daughter Lindsay (7), and son, Timmy (2).

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from March 27, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central