South Bend stadium going back to grass field

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - A bit of magic will be returning to Four Winds Field this week.

Thats the way South Bend Cubs President Joe Hart sees it as the teams stadium returns to a natural grass playing surface.

I think it will be amazing, Hart said. I remember as a kid growing up, and even now when I go to a Major League stadium, whats the first thing you do? Even before I go to the concession stands. You walk in. You dont even go to your seats. You just walk into where you can look out and see the field. I think thats the experience thats going to come back here now.

Players will love it, Hart added. From a play-ability standpoint, having Roger (Bossard) do it, its going to be a Major League field.

Work began in late September. After tearing out the FieldTurf surface thats been in place for four seasons and putting down 7 1/2 inches of sand on the field, the team plans to begin laying sod today, finishing by Friday, Bossard told the South Bend Tribune (http://bit.ly/1s2ZVFV ).

Bossard is no ordinary groundskeeper. Hes put in 12 big league fields, including Wrigley Field, Fenway Park and his home field, U.S. Cellular Field, where he is the head groundskeeper for the Chicago White Sox. Hes been working on White Sox playing surfaces for 46 years.

Its crucial to get the sod down now, Bossard said Monday while praising his crew and taking a short break amid another long day and night at Four Winds Field.

While most people are looking forward to putting their lawn mowers away in a few weeks, the South Bend Cubs are looking forward to finally using one 10 days after the sod is in.

I need three to four weeks of good growth to get my feeder root down a couple inches, Bossard said. And I think I am going to get it. I want to get the feeder roots down at least 2 inches by the time the first snow hits. Ive been saying a rosary.

After the sod is laid, he will begin a maintenance program that will include a couple of different fertilization procedures. He likes the forecast calling for mild weather the next five days. Hes not that worried about any frost.

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South Bend stadium going back to grass field