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Chatter Up, presented by Extra Innings Travel, explores baseball’s international reach, the connections it creates, and the stories that make the game so special. Join Shane Barclay for conversations with amazing members of our global baseball community.
In this episode, Shane talks to MLB field consultant Murray Cook about his journey from teenage minor league groundskeeper to building baseball fields for some of the biggest sporting events around the world. They discuss the art and science of groundskeeping, the challenges of transforming unconventional venues into MLB ballparks, and his experiences working on the Olympics, World Baseball Classic, Field of Dreams, and MLB games in London. They also explore the behind-the-scenes work that makes these events possible and how baseball brings people together across cultures.
⚾ Extra Innings Travel: https://extrainningstravel.com/
⚾ JapanBall: https://japanball.com/
⚾ Murray Cook: https://x.com/cookmurray/
⚾ Musical Score: https://clarkbarclay.com
00:00 - Introduction
03:06 - Murray’s journey into baseball groundskeeping
05:08 - A day in the life of a pro groundskeeper
08:52 - What makes a good groundskeeper?
11:03 - Grounds crews, mowing patterns, and field maintenance
13:35 - The science of baseball fields and international challenges
17:29 - Building fields around the world
21:44 - How MLB's special event ballparks come together
25:47 - The challenges of building MLB's London field
27:51 - From minor league groundskeeper to international field consultant
31:06 - How baseball connects people across cultures
36:50 - Show and Tell
46:44 - Conclusion
