The Great American Pastime (minor league style)
I'm burned out on big league sports... overpaid primadonnas, labor lockouts, drug scandals, outrageous ticket prices, etc.
But I still love sports, so decided to sample the minor league experience last week... the San Jose Giants, which is a single A
baseball club. Minor league stadiums are nice, intimate venues for photography, but I was worried I might be turned away
at the gate if I showed up with my camera gear. I called the stadium office to find out the rules, but the kid I talked to didn't
know for sure. He just " thought" it would be OK, which didn't do much to ease my concerns :-/. But I showed up with my backpack
and a monopod, and breezed right though the gate.
Here's a look at the infield seating at San Jose Municipal Stadium. It was built in 1942, as a WPA project, and holds just over 4,000 fans.
When I was approaching my seat, I saw security guards were positioned in each aisle, but they weren't your normal beefy bouncers.
I decided to put my freedom-to-photograph to the test, and take my first pictures of... the security gurards! One of them gave me a
mean look when she saw the 80-200 line up on her...
View attachment 11198
but by the 2nd inning, the guards were posing for me
.
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The kids that attended the game were as thrilled by their access to the players as the players were about being asked for their autographs.
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The baseball was competitive, hard played, and exciting, and to my uncritical eye, near to major league levels.
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But for me, the most memorable sights were of the young fans enjoying a fine day at the park.
View attachment 11204
It was a super day for baseball, and the home team won! I've already purchased another set of tickets for this Friday
.
I'm burned out on big league sports... overpaid primadonnas, labor lockouts, drug scandals, outrageous ticket prices, etc.
But I still love sports, so decided to sample the minor league experience last week... the San Jose Giants, which is a single A
baseball club. Minor league stadiums are nice, intimate venues for photography, but I was worried I might be turned away
at the gate if I showed up with my camera gear. I called the stadium office to find out the rules, but the kid I talked to didn't
know for sure. He just " thought" it would be OK, which didn't do much to ease my concerns :-/. But I showed up with my backpack
and a monopod, and breezed right though the gate.
Here's a look at the infield seating at San Jose Municipal Stadium. It was built in 1942, as a WPA project, and holds just over 4,000 fans.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
When I was approaching my seat, I saw security guards were positioned in each aisle, but they weren't your normal beefy bouncers.
I decided to put my freedom-to-photograph to the test, and take my first pictures of... the security gurards! One of them gave me a
mean look when she saw the 80-200 line up on her...
View attachment 11198
but by the 2nd inning, the guards were posing for me
View attachment 11199
The kids that attended the game were as thrilled by their access to the players as the players were about being asked for their autographs.
View attachment 11200
View attachment 11201
The baseball was competitive, hard played, and exciting, and to my uncritical eye, near to major league levels.
View attachment 11202
View attachment 11203
But for me, the most memorable sights were of the young fans enjoying a fine day at the park.
View attachment 11204
It was a super day for baseball, and the home team won! I've already purchased another set of tickets for this Friday