As Berry measured distance and height, a hammer waited nearby. Two bags of infield conditioner rested on a cushioned seat, while red dirt-covered gloves were crumpled on a dirt-stained floorboard.Ī tightly wound string ran from the mound to the plate. In the back of a golf cart with an attached trailer were tools: brooms and a shovel. He said he'd gladly speak as soon as he could, then added, "I've got to go check on the mound real quick." "If you get a good one, it's a very nice sanctuary."īefore Game 1 of 162, I spent some time with Berry. "The ballpark is a sanctuary," Keuchel said. If every good job requires a little art, Berry is a classic MLB artist whose medium is dirt. He packs, sweeps, surveys and watches over the sacred circular space. "He's a character and a celebrity of the ballpark, and he's a big piece of the Astros."īerry's official job title is just one word: grounds-keeper. "There's just something about his spirit that is just very endearing to the players, to the other groundskeepers, to the fans," Ryan said.
The man who has been around the Astros for almost five decades and still swears there's nothing like another day at the ballpark. The bullpen catcher who gloves warmup heat from a starting pitcher about to strike out the side. The old woman who kindly greets your family as you walk through the gate. More than any other sport, baseball is made up of people who are barely known and never played the game.
I wish he would stay here for 20 more years." Willie Berry ran around in a space suit, perfecting the Astrodome when it still wowed the world.īerry befriended Nolan Ryan and Joe Niekro, became close with the world champion "We Are Family" Pittsburgh Pirates and was on his way in when Hank Aaron and Willie Mays were on their way out.Īstros ace Dallas Keuchel: "I appreciate everything he does. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Show More Show Less ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Show More Show Less 10 of10 Portrait of the Houston Astros groundskeeper, Willie Berry at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, March 23, 2017, in Houston. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Show More Show Less 9 of10 Portrait of the Houston Astros groundskeeper, Willie Berry at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, March 23, 2017, in Houston. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Show More Show Less 8 of10 Portrait of the Houston Astros groundskeeper, Willie Berry at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, March 23, 2017, in Houston.
( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Show More Show Less 7 of10 Portrait of the Houston Astros groundskeeper, Willie Berry at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, March 23, 2017, in Houston. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Show More Show Less 6 of10 Houston Astros groundskeeper, Willie Berry works on the pitcher's mound at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, March 23, 2017, in Houston. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Show More Show Less 5 of10 Houston Astros groundskeeper, Willie Berry works on the pitcher's mound at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, March 23, 2017, in Houston. Pool/staff Show More Show Less 4 of10 Houston Astros groundskeeper, Willie Berry works on the pitcher's mound at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, March 23, 2017, in Houston. Berry is considering retirement after 46 years this season. Smiley N. PHILLIP/STF Show More Show Less 3 of10 Former Astros pitcher Roger Clemens, left, greets Berry during a 2013 visit to Minute Maid Park. He moved along with the Astros to a new ballpark the next season. DAVID J.
#Chronicle circle y park and trail series
Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Show More Show Less 2 of10 Willie Berry picks up the bases for the last time after the National League Division Series game between the Astros and the Braves on Oct. 1 of10 Astros groundskeeper Willie Berry takes a brief break to look back on 46 years of service at Minute Maid Park and before that the Astrodome.
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