“ Ben has progressively built his career and established himself as a top-tier sports field manager. His work ethic is constant and consistent with results. He gives his best every day – not only for the Bears, but to support our industry and our colleagues. He is a tireless learner and worker, and has gained a reputation as a rising star with exceptional knowledge, skills and drive.”
RISING STAR AWARDS
Ben Baumer, CSFM
Assistant Groundskeeper, Chicago Bears Football Club
“ ONE THING I REALLY ENJOY about working in the NFL is how much our profession has evolved beyond simply maintaining grass,” said Rising Star Award Winner Ben Baumer, CSFM.“ We collaborate with sports science, equipment, operations and other departments throughout the organization; and we increasingly use data and technology to help guide decisions about our playing surfaces.”
As assistant groundskeeper for the Chicago Bears at Halas Hall, the team’ s training facility and headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois, Baumer enjoys looking for new technology, practices and ideas that can help provide the safest, most consistent, and highest-performing playing surfaces possible.
“ That includes everything from mowing, fertility, irrigation, painting and field preparation to monitoring moisture, firmness and overall surface performance,” he said.“ Soldier Field, where the Bears currently play their home games, is operated by the Chicago Park District, so our role there is a little different. We work closely with the grounds team at Soldier Field throughout the NFL season, work all Bears home games, and assist with the NFL-mandated field testing that is completed prior to each home game.”
But long before his career journey led him to the NFL, Baumer’ s path to sports field management was influenced by his father, who serves as parks commissioner for the Batesville Indiana Parks and Recreation Department.
“ My dad was probably my first influence in this industry because he introduced me to maintaining athletic fields, and was the person who initially suggested that sports field management could become a career,” said Baumer.
As a youth, Baumer spent a lot of time around athletic fields and helped to maintain them. He also worked for his uncle’ s lawn care company and a local landscaping company throughout high school.
“ My parents instilled in me the values that have shaped how I approach my career and life: work hard, never be satisfied, always look for ways to improve, and understand that you can accomplish a lot if you have the right mindset and are willing to make sacrifices along the way,” he said.
Following an industry field day at Victory Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians, Baumer’ s dad told him to look into sports field management as a potential career fit, as it combined sports, turf management, and working outdoors.
“ That eventually led to an opportunity to work part-time on the grounds crew for the Indianapolis Indians,” said Baumer.“ I would drive an hour each way from Batesville to Indianapolis just to work a part-time job because I enjoyed it that much. Once I experienced what went into preparing a professional playing surface and being part of the team behind the scenes, I was all in.”
Baumer went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Turf Science and Management from Purdue University while also working with Purdue Athletics maintaining its athletic fields. During college, he interned with the Washington Nationals. Baumer credits his professors at Purdue with giving him the scientific foundation that he still relies on today.
Upon graduation from Purdue, he became grounds manager for Brownsburg Community School Corporation before getting the opportunity to join the Chicago Cubs in 2015, where he spent three and a half seasons.
“ Being part of the Chicago Cubs organization during the 2016 World Series championship will always be something I’ m extremely proud of,” he said.“ Getting to experience a championship in professional sports – and knowing that our grounds crew played a small role in something that meant so much to the organization, the city and Cubs fans everywhere – is something I’ ll never forget.”
Following his time with the Cubs, Baumer went to work for Northwestern University Athletics and then the Washington Commanders before joining the Chicago Bears in March 2020.
“ I’ ve now spent more than six years with the Bears, and every stop along the way – from high school and college athletics to Minor League Baseball, Major League Baseball and the NFL – has challenged me in different ways, helped me grow, and ultimately prepared me for the next opportunity in my career,” he said.
In addition, he has tried to learn something from everyone with whom he has worked.
“ Whether it’ s another groundskeeper, a coach, an equipment manager, a sports scientist, or someone completely outside our profession, there is always something you can take away that makes you better,” he said.“ If there is one sports field manager whose career and approach I strive to emulate most, it would be my current boss, Ken Mrock. Working alongside him with the Chicago Bears has given me the opportunity to learn from his decades of experience at the highest level of our profession. I’ ve learned a tremendous amount from him about maintaining NFL-caliber fields; but, just as importantly, about leadership, professionalism, and the standards it takes to have a long and successful career in this industry.”
Baumer feels fortunate to have learned from a wide range of people throughout his career, and hopes that he can pass those lessons to the next generation of sports field managers. His message to others is to take advantage of opportunities, even when they push you outside your comfort zone.
“ I’ m naturally a reserved person,” he said.“ Earlier in my career I wouldn’ t have pictured myself speaking at industry events, mentoring others, or serving on a national board. I’ ve learned that growth usually comes from saying yes to opportunities that make you a little uncomfortable.” He would also tell young people that there isn’ t one perfect path through this industry.“ I’ ve worked in Minor League Baseball, college athletics, a school corporation, Major League Baseball and the NFL,” he said.“ Every one of those experiences taught me something different and helped prepare me for the next opportunity. Work hard, ask questions, build relationships, and don’ t wait for someone to tell you what you should be doing next. Be proactive.
“ Most importantly, don’ t be afraid to reach out to people you respect in the industry,” he added.“ The relationships you build can become just as valuable as the technical knowledge you develop.”
Baumer has built many relationships in the sports field management industry by serving as vice president of the Illinois Sports Field Managers Association, as well as elected director at large on the national SFMA Board of Directors.
“ Being elected by fellow professionals to help represent our membership at the national level is something I take a lot of pride in, and it gives me an opportunity to contribute to the profession beyond my everyday job,” he said.
Baumer is also proud of becoming a Certified Sports Field Manager, as well as his career growth during his six-plus years with the Chicago Bears.
“ I’ ve tried to become someone who doesn’ t just complete the work in front of me, but continually looks for ways to improve our operation,” he said.“ That growth has put me in a position where I am currently being considered for the head groundskeeper position that will become available when my boss, Ken Mrock, retires. Regardless of how the process ultimately turns out, having the opportunity to be considered for that position means a lot to me.”
No matter where Baumer’ s career leads him in the future, he hopes that he can inspire others.
“ Work hard, keep learning, put yourself in uncomfortable situations from time to time and take advantage of opportunities when they come,” he said.“ You might end up accomplishing things you never pictured yourself doing when you first entered the profession.”
Working in professional sports has also taught Baumer not to get too high or too low based on one day.
“ There are going to be times when things don’ t go exactly according to plan,” he said.“ Gather as much information as possible, make the best decision you can with what you know at that moment, and then be willing to adjust when circumstances change. You learn quickly that you can’ t control everything, but you can control how prepared you are, how you respond, and the standard you hold yourself to.”
When he’ s not dealing with workplace challenges, Baumer is an avid sports fan, and enjoys listening to the Pat McAfee show during his commute to work from his home in Chicago’ s Loop.
Said Baumer,“ I love the way Pat and the boys talk about sports, life and completely random stuff while still doing things their own way. They don’ t take themselves too seriously and aren’ t afraid to push back against the traditional way sports media is‘ supposed’ to be done. I can appreciate that mindset.”
In addition to following sports, Baumer recently took up golf, and also enjoys spending time with family and friends.
“ I don’ t have kids of my own, but my sister has 1½-year-old twins, and I love spending time with them whenever my schedule allows,” he said.“ And even outside of work, I don’ t think you ever completely turn off the sports turf part of your brain once you’ ve been in this profession long enough. Whether I’ m watching a game, golfing, or visiting another facility, I still catch myself looking at the playing surface, noticing little details and thinking about how I would approach it. I guess after doing this long enough, it just becomes part of who you are.”
Baumer’ s peers say he is a calm and influential presence in a very high-pressure work environment, and that his attention to detail is unparalleled. That type of feedback is what makes recognition such as the Rising Star Award so special, Baumer said.
“ There are so many talented people in our profession doing incredible work every day, so to have people within the industry believe that I was deserving of this recognition is something I’ m extremely grateful for and proud of,” he said.“ Sports field management is a profession where a lot of the best work happens behind the scenes. If we’ re doing our jobs well, most people watching a game or practice probably aren’ t thinking about the playing surface or the people responsible for it. To be recognized by peers who understand exactly what goes into providing those surfaces – the long hours, attention to detail, sacrifices and challenges that come with this profession – makes it especially meaningful.”
He also sees the Rising Star Award as motivation for what he has yet to learn and accomplish.
“ I want to continue growing as a sports field manager and as a leader, while finding more ways to give back and help move our profession forward,” said Baumer.“ This industry has given me opportunities and experiences that I never could have imagined when I first decided to pursue it as a career. To now be recognized by the people within that same profession is incredibly special, and it motivates me to keep working toward what comes next.”
WHAT THEIR NOMINATOR HAD TO SAY:
“ Ben has progressively built his career and established himself as a top-tier sports field manager. His work ethic is constant and consistent with results. He gives his best every day – not only for the Bears, but to support our industry and our colleagues. He is a tireless learner and worker, and has gained a reputation as a rising star with exceptional knowledge, skills and drive.”