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.

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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...













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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...

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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...

The Baltimore Orioles Made History For All The Wrong Reasons: O’s Lose to the Texas Rangers, 30-3

An article I wrote on the historic game on Wednesday that had the Baltimore Orioles getting whipped 30-3 by the Rangers via the DC Sports Box E-Zine...

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I realize this is the DC Sports Box, not the Baltimore Sports Box; however, on Wednesday in the city to the north of us, history was made – for all the wrong reasons.

As we know, the Nationals are the team that reigns supreme in Washington, but only a few years ago, most baseball fans in region rooted for the Baltimore Orioles.

They had to root for them, not out of blind loyalty; alas, only because there were the only team in the mid-Atlantic to root for.

Thanks to mismanagement, Peter Angelos, nine consecutive losing seasons, the departure of Cal Ripken to retirement, a revolving door of managers, and fan apathy, the Baltimore Orioles have not had a lot to be proud of.

Now the indignity has gotten worse, at least for the time being.

On Wednesday, the Baltimore Orioles lost the first game of a doubleheader to the Texas Rangers, by a score of 30-3. According to the record books, it was the ninth time a major league team scored 30 runs, and not only did they set the American League record for the most runs given up, but the modern day record (games since 1900).

No, this score did not come from some beer league softball game and the Baltimore Ravens did not take on the Dallas Cowboys.

This was a Major League Baseball game score.

In a display of futility that has not been seen in a century, Baltimore starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera, relievers Brian Burres, Rob Bell, and Paul Shuey combined to serve up 30 runs – all earned.

For those of you who do not know, the Texas Rangers are a second division team in the American League Central, one stocked full of rookies and young players only getting their feet in the big leagues. Aside from All-Star Michael Young, Sammy Sosa, Kevin Millwood and former National Brad Wilkerson, you would not know most of the team if you saw their faces on milk boxes.

Well, we will probably never see another event like this for decades, or perhaps a lifetime, but the Rangers on Wednesday scored five runs in the fourth inning, nine runs in the sixth, ten in the eighth and six more in the ninth.

So, to top it all off, I saw every minute of the carnage in person.

I grew up as an Oriole fan, and have rooted for them all my life; thus, Wednesday was one of the most painful nights I can remember, but also one of the more fun and memorable. I made new friends with fans; we talked about the state of the Orioles, and also started rooting for the Rangers after the 24th run.

Yes, we started rooting for the other team.

Wednesday’s game was a total fluke and is a part of the ups and downs of baseball along with life in general; however, some fans believe what the Rangers were able to accomplish is symptomatic as to what is wrong with the Orioles today – bad luck, horrible management, and a storm cloud over them.

From what I have seen with some in the national media, the above statement could be true.

In all honesty, from my point of view, Wednesday was just a bad night – a very bad one.

Life will go on, and things will be ok; however, I will never forget history being made in front of my very own eyes.

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Photos: Texas Rangers vs. Baltimore Orioles: August 22nd - Game One, the 30-3 Loss...

Texas Rangers v. Baltimore Orioles; Aug. 22, 2007

Well, here are photos from the historic game on Wednesday, where the Orioles got whacked 30-3 by the Texas Rangers.

Hope you enjoy!

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Proud Partner: Ticket Network:

We have top views at Orioles, games, plus a loaded NFL, schedule. Check these tix to Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos.