After two decades of keeping the grass greener on the other side—and making sure it was just as perfect at home—Nicole Sherry is stepping away from her role as head groundskeeper for the Baltimore Orioles. The team confirmed her departure on Monday, marking the end of an era at Camden Yards.
When Sherry took the job in Baltimore, she made history as only the second female head groundskeeper in Major League Baseball. Over the past 20 years, she has been the quiet force behind one of the most pristine playing surfaces in the game, ensuring that every blade of grass and every grain of dirt was game-ready for the Orioles and their opponents.
Her final week on the job will be a memorable one. On Monday night, Sherry was still on the field, hose in hand, working alongside her crew to water down the infield—a testament to her hands-on leadership. She will groom the mound for the last time on Tuesday night before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Baltimore's game against the New York Yankees.
Sherry isn't leaving the diamond entirely—she's trading her rake for a new role in public service. On Wednesday, she will join the Maryland Department of Agriculture as assistant secretary of Plant Industries and Pest Management, bringing her green-thumb expertise to a state-wide stage.
For Orioles fans and the sports world alike, Sherry's departure is a bittersweet moment. Her legacy at Camden Yards is one of precision, passion, and breaking barriers—a reminder that the game's most important work often happens long before the first pitch.
