Dodger Stadium, Edison Field Chosen as Top Playing Fields

West Coast Turf Used on Four of Six Favorite Ballparks

West Coast Turf is excited to announce that its turfgrass sod is used on Major League Baseball players' top two favorite playing fields - Dodger Stadium and Edison Field - and four of the top six.

Results of a poll in the July 7 issue of Sports Illustrated showed that 23.2 percent of the players who responded chose Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles as having the best-quality playing field. Edison Field, home to the Anaheim Angels, received the second-highest number of votes with 11.2 percent.

Eric Hansen, turf manager of Dodger Stadium, cited West Coast Turf's sod as one of several features that helped Dodger Stadium earn top field honors. "We can always count on receiving quality sod and outstanding service from West Coast Turf." Hansen said. "Quite often an event is scheduled shortly after installation, so the service and quality of sod we receive is critical."

A tight-knit turf, along with grass that Dodger Stadium's grounds crew keeps cut at between nine-sixteenths to three-quarters of an inch, are keys to providing a player-pleasing surface, Hansen said. These characteristics allow Dodger Stadium's field to play quick and fair, he added.

"Turf maintained at or below three-quarters of an inch, provides a quick enough surface to satisfy the hitters and a true ball bounce and roll for the fielders."

In addition to Dodger Stadium and Edison Field, fields at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., and Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix were grassed with West Coast Turf sod. These fields together received 10.1 percent of the votes and were ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Sports Illustrated poll.