2009 World Series Game 5

Posted on November 3, 2009

Ryan Madson of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after striking out Mark Teixeira of the New York Yankees to end Game Five of the 2009 MLB World Series at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos)

 

Damn those Yankees are tough! After getting out to an early lead tonight and extending the margin to 8-2 I thought the Phillies MIGHT be able to coast to a nice garbage-time win over the Yankees tonight in Game 5 of the World Series in Philly. The never-say-die Bronx Bombers had other ideas and scared the crap out of the Phillies, their fans, and some photographers when they scrapped back with runs in the 8th and 9th innings and had the tying run at the plate when the game ended with the Phils holding on to an 8-6 win. We get to go back to New York!

My hope all along was that this series would last long enough to develop a story line and take us back to New York for a Game 6- and possibly a Game 7. The World Series is the jewel event of the season- the reward after shooting close to 100 spring training and regular season games. When the Series ends my year of covering baseball ends- and that is sad for me. I never want the season to end! Thanks to the hang tough Phillies, led by Cliff Lee’s pitching and some big home runs my season did not end tonight.

I came into this game assigned to shoot from the outside first base position I had shot from in Game 3. On top of shooting the game it was my job to go into the clubhouse and shoot the Yankees champagne celebration if the Yankees won tonight. In order to do this I had to prepare my wide angle camera with rain gear so my camera would work and not get fried after I got soaked in the Yankees clubhouse. Going into a champagne-soaked locker room is always a wacky time. There are usually some good images to make, but it aint easy dodging the sticky, smelly liquid that is flying all over the hot, humid and cramped room.

After the Phillies got out to an early lead there wasn’t much happening in the middle of the game, so I had fun goofing around trying to make a detail picture at first base showcasing the World Series logo as base runners stepped on the bag. I tried this with several guys and finally got a frame I liked when Pedro Feliz did what he does best, ground out.

When the Phillies lead became six runs at 8-2 I started counting my chickens a little early and began looking forward to a road trip back to Manhattan tomorrow and another game at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees did everything they could to upset many people, including myself. After Phillies reliever Ryan Madson stuck out Mark Teixeira for the final out of the game he let out a ferocious roar that made a nice picture for me (see the top of this post). If a camera would have been trained on me the picture would not have been nearly as good- but I promise you I was smiling really big!

See you in New York!