My Favorite Baseball Photos; The 2007 All-Star Game, the 30-3 Game, & Cal Ripken's Send-Off

This first photo was taken during the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco at AT&T Park. Willie Mays was honored before the game and it was actually a fairly emotional moment for those in attendance, and perhaps a little for myself as I had never seen in him in person. He was escorted by his god-son Barry Bonds on the field and into a vintage pink Chevy as well as gave two leather jackets to both Jose Reyes and Derek Jeter.



I have added a few more photographs into the post, as there's one of he being escorted into the car by Derek Jeter, a long shot of the field, one of him in the Chevy going along the warning track, a lithograph of Willie spread along the field and one of an umpire getting emotional during the ceremony.












Considering where my bud and I were in the stadium, I was happy to have gotten those shots - it was a once in a lifetime thing to have seen.

***

These group of shots are of the infamous 30-3 game where the Baltimore Orioles lost to the Texas Rangers during the summer. I was in the stands during that game and basically that night it was more or less open seating. Never did I think that game I was going to be witness to history, and keep in mind, the Orioles actually had the lead at one point, 3-0.

I watched every moment of that game from the beginning, to the ugly, bitter, historic end...













***

The final series of shots are from this summer, in July, as the Orioles celebrated Cal Ripken heading into the Hall of Fame before a game with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I left work early that day to enjoy the festivities and take it all in. Anyhow, I had seats along the third base line and just snapped away that day, thus here are the best shots from that evening. I didn't go to Cooperstown; however, I felt privileged to have been a part of it.





Here's a vertical long shot of the field and the scoreboard before the game...



Here's a photo of the 2632 banner on the warehouse of B&O Railroad in Camden Yards...



Cal acknowledging and tapping hands with Little Leaguers...



Cal with Mayor Sheila Dixon...



Cal Ripken speaking to the crowd...



Cal throwing out a ball to a lucky fan in the stands...

***

I'll be doing this throughout the 2007-2008 off-season and beyond. Let me know what you think, and if you have a shot that you like, drop me a line or leave a comment...