2009 World Series Game 3

Posted on November 1, 2009

Yankees base runner Nick Swisher is safe at home plate as Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz applies a late tag in Game 3 of the World Series. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos)

 

Does it have to rain during every World Series game I shoot on the field? I am trying to make a little joke as I write this entry at 3:06 am after Game 3 in Philly (but it is really 4:06, except for the fact that I have already set my clock back to end Daylight Savings Time!). It is always so much easier to work when I don’t have to worry about rain. I am the lamest and most ill-prepared rain guy, but today I was ready for the rain that was forecast in the Philly area. After tonight’s game the weather was supposed to be great the rest of the week- we just needed to get through tonight’s game.

After our crew from MLB Photos arrived at the ballpark under dark skies I was assigned to photograph representatives from the MLB Network handing out these super cool Flip video cameras to all of the Phillies. It is always very awkward entering a big league clubhouse with a camera. They don’t want me in there any more than I want to be in there, but thankfully there were a few cool guys like lefty reliever Scott Eyre who loved their free gift and didn’t mid being photographed with it.

Around two hours before the scheduled first pitch I went outside to shoot some fans having a good time listening to a live band in front of the ballpark. The rain had stopped for a little while and the humidity was crazy! I had a good excuse to be sweating so much!

The game started out well for the Phillies, after a rain delay of over an hour delayed the start til 9:15pm. Struggling Phillies starter Cole Hamels started out great and was handed an early 3-0 lead, but he crumbled in the middle innings and left the game to thunderous boos from the fans who once booed Santa Claus.

The Phillies couldn’t muster mjuch offense after tagging Yankees starter Andy Pettitte for three early runs. The great Yankee veteran settled down and turned in a really gutty performance and deserves much of the credit for the Yankees eventual 8-5 win. Pettitte is one of my favorite pitchers to shoot, especially from first base. He is a classic lefty with a beautiful delivery and takes such a long stride. This makes for a wonderful frame when you catch his stride just right horizontally in your viewfinder (see below).

One of the highlights of this game for me was to see former Oakland Athletic Nick Swisher finally break out of his post season slump and put together a real nice game at the plate getting a double and a homer, and giving us all a pretty decent sequence of pictures when he slid home safely in a wacky play at the plate. Swisher has always been one of my favorite players to shoot, and he is really a good guy. This is why it was so fun to see him have a big night on the biggest stage of them all.

I was able to photograph this game from the same wonderful outside first base photo position thaqat I shot from during last year’s World Series in Philly. This is a great park to shoot in with very clean light and nice backgrounds. They did a nice job when they built this place! Tomorrow’s forecast calls for no rain so that means I will not get wet- which is a good thing!