Six Decades of Home Runs, Heroes, and Hard-Hitting Innovation

The installation in the Astrodome wasn’t just a novel solution to grass maintenance, it sparked an innovation journey that has fundamentally changed how baseball is played at every level, from little league to Major League Baseball.

Celebrating AstroTurf’s deep-rooted history with baseball from the Astrodome to MLB

AstroTurf has been the surface for some of the most historic moments in the sport, beginning with the first MLB game on synthetic turf between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 21, 1966 and extending over 12 World Series and 8 Major League All-Star Games. Today, as the Official Synthetic Turf of Major League Baseball, AstroTurf still leads the way as the most trusted turf system in the industry.

The first baseball turfs optimized maintenance and durability

Since that first installation, AstroTurf has been an integral part of America’s baseball story. As the game evolved, so did the surface beneath it. AstroTurf was adopted by numerous MLB teams in the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in multi-use stadiums where field maintenance and durability were paramount. Responsive, consistent and durable, it brought a different style of play to the sport, one that favored quick infielders and speedy baserunners.

The Diamond Series marks the arrival of tailored turf

But AstroTurf didn’t just keep pace. It helped to transform the sport.

In 2008, AstroTurf became the first company to develop a sport-specific turf system for baseball with the creation of the Diamond Series, a groundbreaking technological advancement tailored to the unique demands of the diamond.

The AstroTurf Diamond Series achieves the most natural playability of all synthetic turf and marked a pivotal shift from generic turf to baseball-engineered systems. With it, came realistic ball bounce, improved traction, and tailored design from the batter’s box to the warning track.

The tailoring is made possible by thousands of hours of research and testing providing the data to custom make baseball fields and give each AstroTurf baseball turf a unique ‘home field’ advantage.

Turf powered by science

AstroTurf and baseball’s relationship is rooted in science. No other synthetic turf company has invested more resources into research and development. For over 12 years, the company has maintained a partnership with the University of Tennessee’s Department of Turf Sciences.

This collaboration has led to advancements in player safety, field performance, and durability. Dr. John Sorochan, a renowned turfgrass expert from the University of Tennessee, has been instrumental in guiding the scientific foundation of the AstroTurf Diamond Series, ensuring that the product meets the highest standards of safety and playability.

Trusted from little leagues to World Series

AstroTurf’s heritage in the game extends far beyond the professional level. From local little leagues to top-tier NCAA Division 1 programs, AstroTurf has supported the grassroots of the game through communities and collegiate play. Since 2009, more Division 1 college baseball programs choose AstroTurf’s Diamond Series than any other artificial turf provider.

AstroTurf’s advances in drainage systems and durable surfacing allowed athletes to play and practice in challenging weather conditions, an advantage for college teams whose seasons begin earlier than their professional counterparts.

Every day, thousands of athletes play on AstroTurf fields from young kids just learning to play baseball, to high school elite athletes enhancing the game for coaches, fans, and players at all levels.

A legacy that keeps growing

The bond between baseball and AstroTurf is more than historical – it’s foundational. Now, as the Official Synthetic Turf of the MLB with a long and intertwined history of partnerships at all levels of the sport, AstroTurf continues to shape how the game is played and how it is experienced by the players, coaches and fans who live and breathe the game.