Tales of a Wrigley Field groundskeeper

By Maureen Callahan

Ever wonder what the Friendly Confines are like long after the fans have left the ballpark? The stadium always looks great because of the dedicated grounds crew that takes care of the National League’s second-oldest ballpark. Whether it’s before, during, or after a game or concert—day or night—this group sees themselves as the caretakers of a lifelong friend.

Just ask Downers Grove business owner Spencer Lock. One step into Four Star Framing at 2321 Ogden Ave, and it’s obvious what this team means to him. Framed baseball memorabilia pays tribute to the all-American game.

Just as he was finishing college about two decades ago, Lock was out with friends at a bar in Wrigleyville. He fell into a conversation with a member of the groundskeeping crew who passed Lock’s name and number along to the head groundskeeper. After a phone interview, Lock nailed down what was, at the time, a dream job.

That summer, he began by doing the menial tasks all new crew members do – sweeping up trash in the concourse and cleaning the stands after games. “But I wasn’t picking up garbage for long,” said Lock. “Every time the boss asked for volunteers for absolutely anything, I always raised my hand. It wasn’t the highest-paying job around, so I didn’t know how long I would be able to stay, and I wanted a chance to do everything.”

Each day was different, which Lock recalls as one of the best things about it. “Every spring before the season starts, crew members are sent up to the roof to hang out the flags,” he remembered. “Even though I’m terrified of heights, I volunteered!”

“I saw Dusty Baker sprinkle holy wateron the field before home games.
I talked to Ron Santo every day.”
– Spencer Lock 

Not all jobs are as innocuous as that one. “There was a sewer behind home plate – not sure if it’s still there after they did the renovations – but I had to put on a rain suit and hose it out after it rained. That job, along with hosing out the garbage compactor, were the worst,” Lock recalled. “It was the foulest-smelling stuff ever!”

But, as many lifelong Cub fans agree, the job was like taking care of an old friend. This group is one of the most vested maintenance crews anywhere. The first concert held at Wrigley Field was Jimmy Buffett. “The head groundskeeper asked us [the crew] if he should have security run the infield or if we wanted to do it,” said Lock. “We all said, ‘This is our infield, so we’ll take care of it.’ We had to resod the entire infield after the show!”

One of the better jobs was dragging the infield after the third and sixth innings because the crew was in the dugout for about half an inning each time, which allowed them to interact with players. On getaway days, groundskeepers assisted with hauling players’ luggage to the airport buses. “Those days were fun because we often got to talk to players and eat lunch in the locker room,” said Lock.

Photo by Ty Downs

He also had opportunities to get to know players. Mark Pryor often joked with the grounds crew. “I saw Dusty Baker sprinkle holy water on the field before home games. I talked to Ron Santo every day,” Lock recalled as he relayed the story. They passed each other daily in the dugout. Every day, Lock asked him if he thought the Cubs would win. “Every day, he replied, ‘We’re going to win today, Spencer.’ On the last day of the season, I said, ‘Mr. Santo, I introduced myself to you on the first day of the season. How do you remember my name every day? And Ron Santo replied, ‘Don’t think too highly of me, kid, you’re wearing your nametag!”

Lock’s favorite part of the job was definitely the scoreboard. “A friend ran it, so one time when the Cubs were blowing out a team, and nobody was paying attention, I was able to get up there,” he said.

When you’re as big a fan as Lock, having lunch on the infield on sunny afternoons makes for great memories later in life. Even the overnight shifts, though slightly spooky in a place this old, were a privilege. “We basically watered the field 24 hours a day for a few days after a concert to be sure it turned green again. We took turns staying overnight to turn the sprinklers on and off. It was a little bit creepy being there alone late at night, but it’s not something everyone gets to do.”

For Lock, who grew up playing Little League and then eventually travel baseball in Lisle, spending time at Wrigley was time well spent. He and his wife attend spring training every March. “My wife’s parents have spring training season tickets,” he said. “We’ve been sitting with the same group of people for years. We’re all friends now. It’s fun.”

Although the job was never going to be permanent for Lock, he is glad he had the chance to do it at the point in life when he did. Sometimes, the best opportunities in life find you if you’re open to being found.