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...
