About Us
The objective of the PBGA is to:
- Support, advocate for, and uplift groundskeepers, field management professionals, and sports facility caretakers within Major League Baseball (MLB) and other professional baseball leagues.
- Raise awareness of our members’ roles and the importance of maintaining safe, high-quality playing surfaces and facilities.
- Provide resources, education, networking opportunities, and training opportunities to enhance the skills and knowledge of our members.
- Promote professional development and best practices in groundskeeping, field management, and sports facility maintenance.
- Foster a culture of excellence, professionalism, and continuous improvement within the groundskeeping community and in the MLB.
Our Story
The Professional Baseball Groundskeepers Association (PBGA) traces its roots back to 1998, when a small group of dedicated turf professionals gathered at the brand-new Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. With support from leading industry brands, the goal was simple but powerful: bring together people who cared deeply about the craft of sports field management to learn, share ideas, and build lasting connections. That first meeting included just a handful of representatives from Major League Baseball, the NFL, universities, and parks departments—but it planted the seeds for something special.
By 1999, the first official annual meeting was held, marking the beginning of a tradition that fostered collaboration, innovation, and lifelong friendships within the industry. Over the years, the group’s focus evolved, eventually centering on MLB groundskeepers and expanding into initiatives like field renovation projects in host cities and recognizing pioneers of the profession through the PBGA Hall of Fame.
Today, the PBGA stands as a proud, independent organization—born from shared passion and shaped by decades of camaraderie. Our mission remains true to those early days: to network, exchange ideas, and support one another in elevating the art and science of field management across professional baseball.
