BEFORE They were the World Series Champions...

[MJPhotos24]

Well, haven't shot much except football lately so watching the World Series it was good to see guys I've worked with in the past, some gotten to know very well, celebrate a well deserved Championship....pulled some bad images from my early days to share. Ryan, Chase, Ryan M, all were bad scans of old prints so quality is pretty bad compared to the actual prints - need to buy a neg scanner eventually.

OK, gear...I'll try to remember, but no guarantee...


#1 - MVP Cole Hamels smiles for the camera during his first season with the Lakewood BlueClaws of the the South Atlantic League. Cole was a good friend of a good friend that played with Batavia the season before who helped me find and get Cole to mug - really good guy during this "shoot" though only got to meet him once more in "AA" ball. This image was shot with the Canon 10D and Sigma 24-70 2.8 (?) and 420EX flash. Watch your backgrounds so you dont get the grounds crew bending over on his neck.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/SS/Muckdogs-01.jpg



#2 - The big guy on deck while with the Batavia Muckdogs in 2001. Staring down the pitcher of course. Ryan IS one of the friendliest guys in baseball, just like he was in low-A ball. This image was shot, ummm....lets say a Canon Rebel 2000 film camera, 70-300 5.6 kit lens, 70-200 2.8 Sigma, or Tamron 200-400 f/5.6 push/pull.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/SS/Muckdogs-02.jpg



#3 - Even in Batavia Ry pulled the ball pretty hard. Over right field fence is a driveway of sorts, a hill, a fence up the hill, a playground and then a pool area (or what used to be a pool) - he hit it over them all. This was shot with the same as above I assume.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/SS/Muckdogs-03.jpg



#4 - Chase Utley is a shy guy, believe it or not. In 2000 with the Batavia Muckdogs his first duty in professional baseball was to get this photo taken, which you can see all over Ebay as his first baseball card. Chase was picked up at the airport, shown the clubhouse and his locker, changed and was grabbed immediately by me to take this photo and others. This was taken with the 2000 Rebel + kit lens I assume with the 420EX I obviously didn't know how to use.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/SS/Muckdogs-04.jpg



#5 - This was Chase first at bat in professional baseball right before the first pitch he saw. I remember taking this one just to get his first AB and pretty much the only good one if I remember correctly. Rebel 2000 and know this was taken with the Tamron 200-400 since I got it that morning. Ahh, still remember being impressed with it going 400 - bokeh ? what? I got really bad advice from a bad photographer back then to shoot in TV mode. This image ended up being on the best of Batavia set also heavy on ebay.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/SS/Muckdogs-05.jpg




#6 - Ryan Madson was a fan of the photographer in 1999 with the Batavia Muckdogs - that's why he decided to copy the photog and bleach his hair. At least that's what I tell myself and made fun of a few guys about. I was playing college ball at the time and had the bleached hair this summer, many players did it together in a few day span. He wasn't really up to the idea of this photo but snapped it anyways. Definately taken with the Rebel 2000 and some kit lens, short/long I dont know.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/SS/Muckdogs-06.jpg



#7 - Kyle Kendrick lets one go while with the Batavia Muckdogs in 2003, his second season in professional baseball. This image ended up being on his top prospect card from the NYP League. Kyle turned down a scholarship to play Division 1 football to accept an offer from the Phillies. He spent three seasons in low-A ball and some questioned if he'd return to football - the 4th season he really started to shine and now has the ring to prove it. Kendrick was not on the active roster due to injury however, but helped the team majorly during the regular season! Taken with the 10D and god only knows what lens. 70-200 2.8 Sigma is my guess.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/SS/Muckdogs-07.jpg




#8 - In 2003 a teammate of Kendrick was J.A. Happ, a late season call up with the Phillies who made the active roster for the playoffs. Happer was a stud for the Muckdogs in '03 and will be a lefty threat for years to come out of the bullpen. Taken with the same setup as the one above I do believe.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/SS/Muckdogs-08.JPG



Two more horrible images of Utley and Madson at....
www.sportsshooter.com/mikejanes
They look a lot worse than the prints actually do!

[RonnieA]

Cool to see these, Mike. Nice commentary too.

These shots bring back memories. I remember the pool in right field and checking out the hottie life guard during batting practice. I remember the Marlboro Man in right center and the sandwich shop down a few blocks from the field that we ate at nearly every damn day. I also remember giving up a solo shot between the scoreboard and light pole in Utley's mug shot. :) For a good portion of the two months I spent there, I lived across the street from the park with Marquis Grissom's younger brother in a 5th Wheel trailer that a retired fireman and his wife setup for us in their driveway. They didn't charge us a single penny - which was huge when you're only making $850/month. They also hooked our "pad" to their cable TV and pretty much feed us every night. I'll never forget it. Thanks for posting these!

[Darsk47]

Very cool to have shot all these champs in their early days. Good thread Mike.

[chris270]

Nice thread Mike, great to see some of these guys in the early days of there career.

[Maddog12]

Nice thread,,,,,I enjoyed it!

I am a Cardinal fan, but was happy to see a National League team win the Series this year. Thank God it wasn't the Cubs:D

[MJPhotos24]

Cool to see these, Mike. Nice commentary too.

These shots bring back memories. I remember the pool in right field and checking out the hottie life guard during batting practice. I remember the Marlboro Man in right center and the sandwich shop down a few blocks from the field that we ate at nearly every damn day. I also remember giving up a solo shot between the scoreboard and light pole in Utley's mug shot. :) For a good portion of the two months I spent there, I lived across the street from the park with Marquis Grissom's younger brother in a 5th Wheel trailer that a retired fireman and his wife setup for us in their driveway. They didn't charge us a single penny - which was huge when you're only making $850/month. They also hooked our "pad" to their cable TV and pretty much feed us every night. I'll never forget it. Thanks for posting these!

Ahhhh, Antonio Grissom. Long time since I've heard that name. I was just a little lad back then getting those team sets signed. Still have Rob Nash's broke bat, my first. Remember the fans wondering, "is that catcher named Ruth related to the Babe?"; sitting with Gene Schall in the stands a few times as he sat with the pitchers charting when injured. All the auto hounds wanting Tyler Greene when he first got there being a first rounder. The Marlboro Man was removed, as were all smoking advertisments, from milb parks and fans were not happy to see him go, of course they were not happy to see the old stadium go either in a sense. I remember a family setting up a trailor in their driveway, I think they did that up until a few years ago! Of course the years have all melted together so it coulda been any time. Rent this season was a norm of $40-60/week/each a player told me for houses.

The pool is gone, I'm pretty sure it was filled in and is now a b-ball court or something. Do miss those lifeguards, remember a few BP's yelling up to them when the players wouldn't. North Side Deli is still there and still makes amazing subs! It's still the first eat for most players after the game, that or a sports bar in town they get gift certificates for free food/drinks.


Very cool to have shot all these champs in their early days. Good thread Mike. Thanks Darcy, minor leagues are definately better IMPO to shoot, before the fame.


Nice thread Mike, great to see some of these guys in the early days of there career. It's definately interesting to see these guys grow over the years, see guys like Howard, Utley, Josh Hamilton, BJ Upton, etc. etc. starting out.


Nice thread,,,,,I enjoyed it!

I am a Cardinal fan, but was happy to see a National League team win the Series this year. Thank God it wasn't the Cubs:D

I get a little flak being a Mets fan (and not for just being a Mets fan and there patent pending collapses) but for wearing my Cardinals jacket. The Muckdogs are now affiliated with the Cards so of course have to wear it, away from the stadium usually since I shoot the visiting team as well and dont want them bustin' on me.

[Maddog12]

My brother did an internship with the Norfolk Tide when Jose Reyes was down there. It was pretty neat to hear my brother tell some behind the scenes stories. Reyes gave him a bunch of stuff (bats, batting gloves, game worn hats, etc).

[Sledhed]

Nice to see the old stuff Mike, but I was pulling for the Rays (that's why the Phillies won)

[MJPhotos24]

My brother did an internship with the Norfolk Tide when Jose Reyes was down there. It was pretty neat to hear my brother tell some behind the scenes stories. Reyes gave him a bunch of stuff (bats, batting gloves, game worn hats, etc).
Never saw Reyes in the minors - only rehab in Spring Training. Got him now many times in the bigs down there and once in the regular season, but missed his growing up.

Nice to see the old stuff Mike, but I was pulling for the Rays (that's why the Phillies won)
I think it's time you start rooting for, well anyone but the Cubs. Maybe root for every team BUT the Cubs!

[Maddog12]

I think it's time you start rooting for, well anyone but the Cubs. Maybe root for every team BUT the Cubs!

AMEN BROTHER!

[fslshooter]

Nice thread, Mike -- thanks for sharing the images and stories. Having images like these in the archives and living the stories that go with them are among the reasons I prefer shooting minor league baseball. Truth is I don't even like to shoot major league baseball. I much prefer to watch those games on TV -- far from the madning crowds, enhanced security procedures and major league attitudes some guys develope when they're making big bucks.

[MJPhotos24]

Nice thread, Mike -- thanks for sharing the images and stories. Having images like these in the archives and living the stories that go with them are among the reasons I prefer shooting minor league baseball. Truth is I don't even like to shoot major league baseball. I much prefer to watch those games on TV -- far from the madning crowds, enhanced security procedures and major league attitudes some guys develope when they're making big bucks.
I agree Jerry, much prefer shooting minors! Actually had a few players ask me that this season, ones I've seen since rookie ball to the bigs asking if I cover it as much and what not, nope, maybe 5 MLB games a year - minors is just plain better IMO.