Meet the guardian of Fenway Park
Boston’s Fenway Park is the hallowed home of the Red Sox, famous for the so-called “green monster” wall that lives out in high left field and the lone red seat in the bleachers that marks the park’s farthest home run.
David Mellor, director of grounds at Fenway Park, keeps the park and all its famous landmarks in good shape and ready for ball games.
Mellor knows all there is to know about the park itself, including temperaments of the green monster.
“The green monster, being 37 feet high and green, absorbs a lot of heat,” says Mellor. He says during the spring, fall and winter, the massive heat-absorbing wall helps melt the snow and warm up the grass. “But in the summer, that radiant heat is something we have to monitor and make sure the grass doesn’t get too hot or dry out,” Mellor explains.
Before it was his job to take care of the park, Mellor dreamt of pitching for Major League Baseball. But a tragic accident ruined Mellor’s plans to become a player for the MLB.
“A month after I got out of high school, before I could play baseball in college, I was hit by a car,” says Mellor.
In the end, Mellor was destined for Fenway.
“My job is the next best thing to playing, I’m very honored to be here,” Mellor says.
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