End of an era: Nobody mows artificial turf
EUGENE, Ore. -- Every day during baseball season, Chris Haener works from 9 in the morning to 11 at night to keep the field at Eugene Civic Stadium ready for the Eugene Emeralds.
When the Ems move to PK Park next season, the artificial turf there won't require Haener's services.
His time at Civic will leave Haener with some great memories.
Among Haener's favorites?
"Watching Mat Latos pitch," he said. "He's a pitcher now pitching in the show with the Padres. He was here last year, so it's kind of cool saying you watched him before he was famous."
For the last games of a 40-year tenure at Civic, Haener will be mixing clay and dirt to smooth over the pitcher's mound and battling with the maintenance of sprinklers.
Haener's job requires he pay attention to even the smallest details, like making sure there's not any grass mixed in with the dirt -- or vice versa.
And come game time, Haener doesn't get to sit back and relax during a ball game. You'll find him behind home plate so when something goes wrong -- like a player loosening a base from a slide -- Haener is the first to respond.
