Johnny Damon #18 of the New York Yankees gets ready to take batting practice before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 17, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

It took all winter, but free agent outfielder Johnny Damon finally found a place to play ball in 2010. On Saturday afternoon Damon signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers for $8 million. The 36-year-old Damon hit .286 with 24 homers for the Yankees last year and was hoping to get a big multi-year deal in the off season. Damon reportedly turned down a two-year deal to return to the Yankees for $14 million a few months ago. I bet he wishes he had that offer now!

Johnny Damon of the Boston Red Sox bats in game 4 of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Bush Stadium in St. Louis, MO on October 27, 2004. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I remember shooting Damon when he was a youngster out of Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Florida during spring training in 1997. I was on assignment for Upper Deck shooting the Kansas City Royals in Baseball City when Damon helped form the nucleus of a nice young ballclub with Jermaine Dye. He later ended up spending a forgetful season in Oakland in 2001 before he signed a big free-agent deal with the Red Sox for the 2002 season. Damon was a perfect fit in Boston where he helped lead their club to their dramatic 2004 World Series title (see above and below).

Johnny Damon of the Boston Red Sox celebrates in the clubhouse after game 4 of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Bush Stadium in St. Louis, MO on October 27, 2004. (Photo by BradMangin)

After the 2005 season Damon did the unthinkable and signed a HUGE contract with the rival Yankees (four years for $52 million) and ended his run in the Bronx with a World Series title in New York last season. After Damon rejected the Yankees offer many people thought he might end up back with Oakland to play for the Swinging A’s. That would have been fine for me as I have always enjoyed photographing Damon. He has a great smile and has always had a flair for the dramatic. He might have helped out the A’s, but I guess they ran out of money after they signed Ben Sheets.

Johnny Damon Signs with Tigers – Images by Brad Mangin

Many people thought that Damon might just retire as spring training camps were opening and he was still without a team to play for. The market has changed so much in the past few years. The big deals are gone for most of these guys- especially the older ones like Damon trying to hang on for one more big pay day. This off season has been the year of the one-year contracts. That is pretty much all anyone is getting. Damon should lead-off for the Tigers and will bring them some great veteran leadership in 2010. I am sorry I will not get to see him in spring training as he will be working out in Tigertown (Lakeland), Florida, which is a long ways away from my spring home of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Russell Branyan of the Seattle Mariners gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California on Saturday, April 11, 2009. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Cleveland Indians have agreed to sign free-agent lefty slugger Russell Branyan to a one year contract worth $2 million according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. The 34-year-old Branyan had a very odd breakthrough season with the Mariners last year belting 31 homers and slugging .520. The Mariners offered to bring Branyan back for 2010 but he and his agent thought his big year would bring in a gigantic contract in the $20 – $30 million range. WRONG!

Russell Branyan #30 of the Seattle Mariners bats against the Oakland Athletics during the game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 27, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Branyan’s 2009 numbers look super fishy when you compare them to his career numbers, which spell out J-O-U-R-N-E-Y-M-A-N. Before last year’s aberration in Seattle Branyan’s best year was 2002 when he hit a combined 24 homers with 56 RBIs with the Indians and Reds. He spent the rest of the decade bouncing around from Milwaukee to Tampa Bay to San Diego to Philadelphia to St. Louis and back to Milwaukee before he landed in Seattle last year as a free agent with no expectations.

Russell Branyan of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on July 20, 2008. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Branyan will report to Indians spring training in Goodyear, AZ in a few days and will have much to prove in camp to people that last year was not an HGH-fueled fluke. I can’t be the only person suspicious of his numbers last year. Baseball is a funny game, but not many mediocre ballplayers have break out seasons at age 33 while hitting in a park like Safeco Field where long fly balls go to die. I am sure I will be shooting Branyan in a few weeks when the Cactus League season opens down in Arizona. I am just glad the Giants didn’t fall for his smoke and mirrors season last year.

Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves in action during a game against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California in 1999. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Tom Glavine, one of the steadiest and craftiest lefties of my generation, announced his retirement on Thursday. Glavine always reminded me of Warren Spahn when he pitched with his style on the mound, and he will be joining the Boston and Milwaukee Braves great in Cooperstown in four years after he put together a stunning career that will become even more impressive as the years go by.

Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves in action during a game against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California in 1995. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Glavine finished his career with a career record of 305-203 with a 3.54 ERA from 1987 through 2008. He spent 17 seasons with the Braves and 5 years with the Mets (where he won his 300th game). Glavine was a 10-time All-Star, won the NL Cy Young Award with Atlanta in 1991 and 1998 and helped the Braves win the 1995 World Series.

Atlants Braves pitcher Tom Glavine plays golf in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am in January of 1993. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Glavine helped form one of the most dominant pitching staffs I have ever covered with the Braves in the mid-1990’s when he joined John Smoltz, Steve Avery and Greg Maddux. I remember when the Braves were awful in the late 1980’s and they had the three young starters (Glavine, Smoltz and Avery) in their rotation. They kept throwing them out there every fifth day, allowing them to take their lumps and learn the art of pitching. It really paid off a few years alter when they started their run of winning 14 consecutive division titles (WOW!). It all started with their great young pitching staff- led by Glavine.

Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a game against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California in 1997. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

By the time Maddux joined Glavine, Smoltz and Avery in 1993 in was not even fair. These guys were the consummate professionals, always trying to out duel each other on the mound and on the golf course (see above). Every time Glavine was pitching on television you just had to watch and marvel at his pin-point control that allowed him to get the outside strike called against right-handed batters when he was in his prime. Good thing for Glavine that Major League Baseball did not bring in the robotic QuesTec system for monitoring ball and strikes calls until the end of his career. Once they brought in this system in 2001 Glavine did not get the outside strike, and his effectiveness declined and he had to learn how to pitch differently.

Tom Glavine of the New York Mets pitches during the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on May 8, 2007. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The 43-year-old Glavine will now join the Braves front office staff as special assistant to Braves president John Schuerholz. Because he hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2008, Glavine will appear on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in the same year that former teammate Greg Maddux becomes eligible. That will also be the same year Frank Thomas is eligible. 2013 should be an amazing class of newcomers to Cooperstown!

Adam Kennedy #29 of the Oakland Athletics waits for his next at bat against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on July 18, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Washington Nationals signed free agent infielder Adam Kennedy to a one-year contract worth $1.25 million on Friday. The 34-year-old Kennedy hit .289 with 11 homers and 63 RBIs in 586 plate appearances with the A’s last year and was one of the few offensive bright spots in the A’s mediocre and boring lineup. Many fans were hoping the A’s would bring Kennedy back in 2010, but after this signing it means he will be donning the red and white of the worst team in the National League- but hey- it’s a paycheck!

Adam Kennedy #29 of the Oakland Athletics bats against the Texas Rangers during the game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 24, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I will always remember Kennedy for the three homers he hit against the Twins in the 2002 ALCS when he helped anchor the Halos world championship infield. The other thing I think of when I hear Kennedy’s name is his ugly swing and how difficult it is to photograph (see above). Kennedy keeps his head pointed straight down when he makes contact, making it really hard to get a good frame of him hitting the ball. Whenever I shoot Kennedy in the good light from third base the best chance I have of getting a nice frame of him hitting is when he goes the other way and laces the ball into left field, causing him to look up (so I can see his face) to see where the ball went (see below).

Adam Kennedy #29 of the Oakland Athletics bats against the Texas Rangers during the game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 24, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The career .277 hitter will add some veteran stability to the Nationals infield- but man are they BAD! That is one team that I don’t mind missing in spring training as they will open camp next week in Florida, which is a long way from my post in Arizona where I will be covering Cactus League action in a few weeks.

Frank Thomas of the Oakland Athletics sits in the dugout during a game against the Cleveland Indians at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA on May 4, 2006. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Chicago White Sox great Frank Thomas announced his retirement Friday following a 19-season career in which he hit 521 homers and won two American League MVP awards during a news conference at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. Thomas did not play last season so this announcement did not come as a surprise.

Bobby Kielty and Frank Thomas of the Oakland A's celebrate after defeating the Minnesota Twins in Game 3 of the ALDS at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA on October 6, 2006. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Thomas will always remembered for his great career with the White Sox, but I enjoyed photographing him in 2006 when he had a real nice season with the A’s here in Oakland. Thomas hit .270 with 39 homers and 114 RBIs during the A’s division-winning season in 2006. Frank’s great year put him in 4th place in the American League MVP balloting and made him a fan-favorite in Oakland. It was fun to see such a great player like Thomas still be able to play. Unfortunately he was a different player when he came back to Oakland in 2008 to finish his career. By then it was pretty much over when Thomas took his final big league at bats wearing the green and gold.

Frank Thomas of the Oakland A's bats against the Detroit Tigers during Game 2 of the ALCS at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA on October 11, 2006. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Thomas broke into the majors with the White Sox in 1990 and finishes his Hall of Fame career with 521 home runs and earned over $104 million in his career. He will be a first ballot Hall of Famer four years from now and undoubtedly earn Sox team photographer Ron Vesely his first trip to Cooperstown to document the historical weekend.

Frank Thomas Retires – Images by Brad Mangin

30 of my baseball photographs will be featured in a one-night only Slide Show Night at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles this coming Thursday night, February 11, 2010 at 7pm. The nice folks at the Annenberg Space for Photography asked many photographers from all over the world to submit 30 images to them last month, and out of all the submissions they chose 30 international sports photographers to participate in this one-time event.

It will be fun to see the work of some of my friends who were among the 30 photographers selected to be a part of the show. Colleagues in the show include Ben Liebenberg, Matt Brown, Robert Beck, Smiley Pool, Wally Skalij, Dustin Snipes and others.

Here are the details for the event:

Date: February 11th, 2010
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Location: 2000 Avenue of the Stars #10
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Admission: Free
Parking:  $1.00 with validation in visitors parking lot

This photograph of A's pitcher Rich Harden in spring training is one of my 30 baseball photographs that will be featured in the Slide Show Night at the Annenberg Space for Photography.

The Annenberg Space for Photography is a wonderful new gallery space that opened in Southern California less than a year ago. The Annenberg has already hosted gallery shows from some of the best names in the photography world, including the current exhibition SPORT: Iooss & Leifer, featuring the amazing work of Walter Iooss and Neil Leifer. I made the drive down south to see the show and to hear Sports Illustrated picture editor Jimmy Colton lecture at the Annenberg last month. I was blown away by the gallery space and the effort the Annenberg Foundation has made to showcase the work of sports photographers.

I love all aspects of photography and always enjoy visiting galleries to look at photographs. What has made The Annenberg so special is that they have gone through so much effort to feature sports photography. Most galleries showcase wonderful photography featuring everything from portraits to reportage. Recent gallery shows I have attended featured the work of Baron Wolman, Jim Marshall and Josef Koudelka (Invasion – Prague 1968). However, I have never seen a space dedicate itself to sports photography like The Annenberg, and that is why I am so humbled to be a part of their Slide Show Night this Thursday.

I have been published many times over the years, but I have never had my photographs featured in a gallery. When I was asked to submit 30 images I wanted to send them images that said something about me. I am a baseball guy, so I sent them nothing but baseball. This should make me stand out on Thursday night! I put together a slide show of my 30 images for everyone to look at below. I hope to see you at the show!

Annenberg Show – Images by Brad Mangin

Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys in action against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California in 1995. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

All-time great Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith joined six others who were elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. The NFL’s career rushing leader was joined by career receiving leader Jerry Rice, John Randle, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau. Smith and Rice were named to the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys in action during Super Bowl XXX against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona on January 28 1996. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Smith rushed for 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns during his career with Dallas and Arizona and won an MVP award in the Super Bowl. I had many chances to shoot Smith during his career as the Cowboys made many appearances at Candlestick Park to take on the 49ers in important regular and post-season games during the 1990’s. He always pissed me off because he was so good and the Cowboys always seemed to have the 49ers number. The better day Smith had, the worse day the Niners had.

Running back Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys lies on the ground hurt during the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California in 1995. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The one big NFC Championship game that the 49ers won over the Cowboys was made possible when Smith got hurt right in front of me and my cameras when I was on assignment for Sports Illustrated in 1995 (see above). The 49ers hung on to win 38-28 on the way to their last Super Bowl win, thanks to Smith’s injury.

Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys in action during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California in 1995. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The 2010 Hall of Fame class will increase to 260 the number of all-time greats permanently honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Enshrinement of the Class of 2010 will take place in Canton, Ohio on Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. ET. I am sure this will be an evening Smith and his six other classmates will never forget.

Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers in action during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California on November 11, 2000. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

San Francisco 49er great Jerry Rice has been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 in an announcement made late this afternoon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida according to a Tweet by Matt Maiocco. Maiocco adds that Eddie DeBartolo will introduce Rice at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio in August. Rice joins Russ Grim, John Randle, Rickey Jackson, Emmitt Smith, Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little as the newest former NFL stars to be named to a very exclusive club.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice in action making a touchdown catch during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California on October 9, 1991. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Rice holds every major receiving record, was chosen first-team All-Pro 10 times, and was a 13-time Pro Bowler during 20 NFL seasons, most of which were spent wearing the red and gold at Candlestick Park. I first had a chance to photograph Rice back in 1986 when I shot a pocket full of Kodak Tri-X black and white film at my first 49er game while I was a photojournalism student at San Jose State University (see below). Back before the NFL uniform police became so over-zealous Rice was very stylish with his uniform and always had a white towel hanging from his waist with “Sweet Rice” written on it.

Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers kneels on the sidelines during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California in 1986. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The 49ers had a great team in the early 1980’s and were coming off their second Super Bowl win after a great 1984 season when they drafted Rice out of Mississippi Valley State. Most of my early memories of Rice are of him dropping passes in his rookie year as it took him awhile to get acclimated to the pro game.

Jerry Rice of the Oakland Raiders in action making a catch during a game against the New York Jets at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California on January 8, 2002. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Rice ended up settling into his role with the 49ers and benefited from having the chance to catch passes from back-to-back Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young. By the time his career with the 49ers ended Rice seemed to own almost every big touchdown record in the NFL.

Jerry Rice of the Oakland Raiders watches on the sidelines during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California in 2001. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Many 49er fans were disappointed when Rice left the team after the 2000 season and signed with the Oakland Raiders, but this made Bay Area football fans happy as they were still able to follow their favorite player closely. I was happy to still have the chance to shoot Rice, this time in the silver and black at the Oakland Coliseum. Rice hung on a little to long, playing with the Seahawks after a productive stint in Oakland. Rice went to training camp with the Denver Broncos prior to the 2005 season but retired shortly before the season began.

Jerry Rice Enters Hall of Fame – Images by Brad Mangin

Although many people immediately think of his fine showing on the television show Dancing with the Stars when they hear the name Jerry Rice, I will always look back on the wonderful Hall of Fame career of one of the greatest athletes I have ever photographed. Congrats JR.

Ryan Garko of the Cleveland Indians gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on May 12, 2007. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Seattle Mariners reached a one-year agreement with journeyman first baseman Ryan Garko today for $550,000. The 29-year-old Stanford alum spent several productive years in Cleveland before being traded to the Giants on July 27, 2009. His stay in San Francisco could not have bee any worse as he got off to a horrible start and quickly took up residence in skipper Bruce Bochy’s dog house. Garko hit .235 with the Giants and hit two homers in 115 at-bats.

Ryan Garko #23 of the San Francisco Giants bats against the Chicago Cubs during the game at AT&T Park on September 26, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Mariners are hoping that Garko can be a potent right-handed bat for them playing first base or DH’ing against lefties (Ken Griffey Jr. will get most of the DH AB’s against righties). For Garko’s sake I hope he can bounce back to the hitter he was in 2008 when he hit .273 and knocked in 90 runs. Garko was abysmal last season as a Giant. In my book he became the right-handed equivalent of John Vander Wal. Many Giants fans will remember when the Giants acquired the lefty pinch-hitting specialist from the Pirates for the stretch run in 2001 (along with Jason Schmidt). Vander Wal SUCKED. KNBR radio talk-show host Brian Murphy rooted so hard for Vander Wal that he sung a song about him every time he came to the plate. It did not help.

I will be looking for Garko when I visit the Mariners in Peoria next month. I hope he plays better in the blue and white than he did in the orange in black. Garko was never a Giant.

Melvin Mora #6 of the Baltimore Orioles fields a ground ball at third base during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on June 6, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Colorado Rockies signed the versatile Melvin Mora to a one-year contract on Sunday worth $1.3 million according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The 38-year-old Mora hit .260 with 8 homers for the Orioles last year, playing all of his games at third base.

Melvin Mora of the Baltimore Orioles smiles in the on-deck circle during a game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA on August 26, 2004. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

By signing the the two-time all-star the Rockies will have the right-handed-hitting utility player they’ve been seeking this winter. Mora can play all over the infield and outfield, giving the Rockies tons of versatility coming off their bench.

Melvin Mora #6 of the Baltimore Orioles bats during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on June 6, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Mora is a career .278 who has been fun for me to photograph every year with the Orioles when they made their annual visits to Oakland to play the A’s. He has always been a good ballplayer who wasn’t afraid to flash his great smile before or during a game.

Robert Andino #12 (left), Melvin Mora #6 and Felix Pie #18 of the Baltimore Orioles get ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on June 6, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Mora will be another new guy in a new uniform for me to photograph this March when I head down to Arizona to photograph spring training. I just hope I don’t have to make the trek down I-10 to Tucson to see him play. Hopefully he will take the bus north to the valley so I can shoot him in my local area.