MiLB names Charlie Weaver Groundskeeper of the Year

December 15, 2022

Minor League Baseball (MiLB) recently named Charlie Weaver of the Rocket City Trash Pandas in Madison, Ala., the Groundskeeper of the Year. MiLB chose Weaver out of 120 teams in the entire MiLB system.

“Winning something like this is very meaningful to me. Just to have our hard work recognized throughout the entire season,” Weaver said. “To be acknowledged as the best in the league and all of baseball truly means a lot.”

A Madison native, Bob Jones High School alumnus and former pitcher for the University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team, Weaver returned to his hometown and joined the Trash Pandas in July 2019 after previously working for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

“All of us are so excited for Charlie and his staff,” Andy Schatzley, Trash Pandas manager, said. “It’s an incredible accomplishment and doesn’t surprise any of us who are lucky enough to be around him every day.”

With Colby Hunter, assistant groundskeeper, Weaver maintains Toyota Field, which opened in 2020. This past season, the Trash Pandas grounds crew stayed busy as the team played a full 69-game home schedule and the first two playoff games in Toyota Field history.

In surveys conducted throughout the Southern League, the playing surface at Toyota Field ranked the best in the circuit. Weaver’s field received the highest praise in each category, including infield and outfield turf areas, player safety, professionalism of crew and handling of weather conditions.

“To win something like this takes a great group of people around you. I would not be able to do anything like this if it wasn’t for Colby, our game day staff, the support of our front office and especially my wife,” Weaver said. “This should be a grounds crew of the year award because, without everyone else, none of this would be possible.”