Great Americans: Meet the first woman to become the head groundskeeper for an MLB team

For nearly three decades, Heather Nabozny has dedicated her career to preserving one of the great fields of America’s pastime. A Michigan-native with a lifelong love of the outdoors, she didn’t set out to be a trailblazer, but in 1999 the Detroit Tigers asked her to become their head groundskeeper, making her the first woman to hold the job in Major League Baseball history. NBC News’ Tom Llamas reports. 

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SearchSearchFacebookTwitterEmailSMSBlue SkyWhatsappPrintRedditFlipboardPinterestLinkedinLatest StoriesPoliticsU.S. NewsWorldSportsBusinessHealthLABOR DAY DEALSTiplineGreat Americans: Meet the first woman to become the head groundskeeper for an MLB teamSept. 4, 202602:36Texas Attorney General investigates military healthcare contractor TriWest01:33Trump calls war with Iran ‘small potatoes’ for U.S.01:24Powerful storms upend holiday travel01:30Now PlayingGreat Americans: Meet the first woman to become the head groundskeeper for an MLB team02:36UP NEXTLindsay Clancy murder case ends in mistrial02:23Miraculous rescue over a week after deadly flood disaster00:53Drone attacks escalate in war with Ukraine01:50Legal showdown over pro players in college football01:25Families fight to sue Roblox02:44Mark Sanchez to plead guilty01:24Powerful storms blast Midwest01:41Lindsay Clancy’s defense attorney blames single juror for deadlock01:55Good News: School celebrates end of fourth grader’s cancer journey01:19Gloria Steinem, feminist trailblazer, dies at 9201:57Vance says conflict with Iran is not a ‘war’01:273 killed, including gunman, in Minneapolis mass shooting00:41Police officers injured in Minneapolis shooting01:02Good News: Teen who’s never been to a high school dance makes big homecoming proposal01:27Dashcam video shows arrest after police pursuit01:30Energy Secretary in Venezuela to tout major oil deal01:57Nightly NewsGreat Americans: Meet the first woman to become the head groundskeeper for an MLB team02:36CopiedFor nearly three decades, Heather Nabozny has dedicated her career to preserving one of the great fields of America’s pastime. A Michigan-native with a lifelong love of the outdoors, she didn’t set out to be a trailblazer, but in 1999 the Detroit Tigers asked her to become their head groundskeeper, making her the first woman to hold the job in Major League Baseball history. NBC News’ Tom Llamas reports. Sept. 4, 2026