2011 MLB All-Star Game for Sports Illustrated

Posted on July 20, 2011

Brian McCann of the National League tags out American League base runner Jose Bautista at home plate during the 2011 MLB All-Star Game at Chase Field on July 12, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

 

I wrote earlier about the cool assignment I had last week to head down to the blistering-hot city of Phoenix, Arizona to shoot the MLB All-Star Game festivities on assignment for Sports Illustrated. After shooting the Futures Game on Sunday and the Home Run Derby on Monday night it was time for the main event: The All-Star Game itself, starting at 5:30pm Tuesday night at Chase Field in Phoenix. By the time I got the the ballpark around 2pm I was excited and ready for the game. I know it is just an exhibition, but since I am a baseball guy this game is fun for me. Very fun.

I attended my first All-Star Game as a fan with my good friend Phil Bueno back in 1984 at Candlestick Park. We got a 17-game Giants season ticket plan that season, which allowed us the chance to buy All-Star Game tickets. We had good seats in the upper deck behind first base and felt very special as Giants fans to have all of the biggest names in the game come to our city to play in our park. After the game I could not wait till I would have the chance to see another one.

Since I was a kid there was always something special about seeing all of the players wearing their regular uniforms, playing together on the same teams. I always wanted the chance to shoot an All-Star Game, and finally got the chance in Seattle in 2001. Soon after I was able to shoot one in Houston in 2004, in the Giants home yard in 2007, followed up by the game in Anaheim last season. By the time this game rolled around I felt like an All-Star Game veteran. I knew how things worked and understood where I needed to be and when. Getting the chance to work with our great crew from the magazine made things even easier.

The build up to the game started the night before, when our crew joined other friends for a raucous post-Home Run Derby dinner at the Italian Grotto in Scottsdale. The Grotto is our favorite spring training hangout and we just had to make the trek across the valley to see the owner Garry and his awesome staff. We were not disappointed as Garry took good care of us and was in rare form. Our editor Nate Gordon kept joking with fellow photographer John Biever and myself that we were going to have to shoot the red carpet parade the following day under the red-hot sun. Luckily Nate was kidding. Unfortunately many of our friends DID have to shoot the parade and barely survived to tell us about it.

I was assigned to shoot the game from first base, and Biever was shooting from third base. In a game like this I do not care where I shoot from. I am just happy to be there so UI can help out the ball club. Really! Once the pre-game festivities were finished I was happy we were finally getting down to the actual game itself. Shooting the game is fun, but lately there has not been much action. This year was different. We actually had a few plays at the plate (see top) and some funny moments on the field that made for some good pictures.

The wackiest moment on the field took place in the top of the 8th inning when Padres closer Heath Bell came into the game. Bell did his usual sprint in from the bullpen, but added a new twist. He did a pop-up slide on the infield grass behind the mound at the end of his run and sent the crowd into a frenzy. Luckily I was not blocked and was able to get a few frames of this most-unusual entrance (see above).

It was apparent that the National league was going to win as the game got closer to the 9th inning, and that made me happy. I am not a huge fan of the whole “this game counts” stuff, but if the rule is going to be in effect, then the National league might as well win just in case the Giants make the World Series- again! When the NL won last year there was NO WAY I thought this would matter to the orange and black. However, after last post-season I know that anything can happen, and having the home field advantage is pretty huge for the World Series. Once Brian Wilson locked down the save (see above) it was a done deal, and I thought that was pretty cool.

After the game it was a few quick frames of MVP Prince Fielder with his shiny new trophy (see above) and a mad scramble for some ice cold Gatorade before we hit our new favorite late night spot for food and drinks in downtown Phoenix: Hanny’s! Being able to find a place that serves food and drinks late, let alone one that is across the street from the media hotel is a HUGE score. Upon finding our table and settling into his comfortable reclining couch-like seat Nate declared Hanny’s his favorite place ever. I can’t say I disagreed with him. After a long and fun three days on the road the smallest things can make a group of cranky photographers so happy!