When constructing MLB parks, specifically outfields, how is drainage dealt with? Are there drains under the grass? Specific soil composition? Thx.
According to this article, which appears to be from a company that specializes in building athletic fields (including several MLB fields), it looks like it’s a combination of:
- A properly-built crown to the field surface itself
- A choice of what sort of soil is used
- Some manner of drainage system located under the field surface
One hopes that those are now where they can’t injure players.
Mantle said: “I was running as hard as I could to get over to it because Casey had told me before the game about how Joe had slowed up a little bit, he thought. Well, anyway, when I get there, Joe is already standing under the ball. He said, ‘I got it.’ And you don’t want to run into Joe DiMaggio. So when I tried to stop — I was going as fast as I could — my back cleat in my spike stuck in a rubber drain, and when it did, my knee went right out through the front of my leg and I just folded up on the field.”
The Red Sox rebuilt the outdated field in 2004 to improve drainage. The article has some details.
It’s got something to do with milkshakes and very long straws, IIRC.