Gene Bossard; White Sox Groundskeeper

Gene Bossard, 80, a Chicago White Sox groundskeeper who sculpted infields to help the home team. Under Bossard’s 40-year tenure, the Chicago infield became known as “Bossard’s Swamp” because he kept the grass wet to slow down ground balls. He was said to have used loose dirt or tightly packed soil to slow or speed a base runner, depending on whether the White Sox had a speed advantage against a particular team. After retiring, Bossard stayed with the team as a consultant for his son, Roger, who remains the team’s head groundskeeper. On Thursday in Chicago.