The Cardinals won the 1982 World Series with speedsters Lonnie Smith and Willie McGee and slick-fielding Ozzie Smith. But, of course, there is a downside. Players hate it, and with good reason. Lying under the fake grass and an inch or so of padding is a slab of asphalt or concrete. That wrecks havoc with knees and ankles.
Studies are inconclusive, but athletes are convinced it robs years from their careers.
Smart NFL teams who play on artificial turf have been practicing on grass for some time, in an attempt to extend their players' effectiveness. You can blame Dr. Harold Gores. It was first installed in the field house at Moses Brown School in Providence in 1964. Two years later, AstroTurf surfaced in Houston. Soon, outdoor multipurpose stadiums across the country went to turf as a cost-saving measure.