“Lansdowne Street is shown before game six of the 2013 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Fans gather on Yawkey Way before game six of the 2013 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“A vendor sells programs on Yawkey Way before game six of the 2013 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Former Boston Red Sox player Carlton Fisk wears a beard while throwing out the ceremonial first pitch during a pre-game ceremony before game six of the 2013 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox pitcher John Lackey delivers during the first inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia breaks his bat during the third inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“The cleats of Boston Red Sox right fielder Shane Victorino are shown during the first inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox right fielder Shane Victorino hits a three-RBI double during the third inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox right fielder Shane Victorino rounds the bases after hitting a three-RBI double during the third inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox left fielder Jonny Gomes celebrates alongside designated hitter David Ortiz, third baseman Xander Bogaerts, and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury after scoring on an RBI double by right fielder Shane Victorino during the third inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury react after scoring on an RBI double by right fielder Shane Victorino during the third inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew hits a home run during the fourth inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew reacts after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew reacts after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha looks down during the fourth inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the Boston Red Sox Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“ Boston Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew lunges for a ball during the third inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury gets caught in a run down during the eighth inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli hits an RBI single during the fourth inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli and designated hitter David Ortiz score on an RBI single by right fielder Shane Victorino during the fourth inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox pitcher John Lackey delivers during the first inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox pitcher John Lackey reacts after the fourth inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox catcher David Ross points during the first inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox pitcher John Lackey tips his cap after exiting the game in the seventh inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara jogs from the bullpen during the ninth inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara delivers during the ninth inning of game six of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara reacts after recording the final out to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 to win the 2013 World Series Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara and catcher David Ross react after recording the final out to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 to win the 2013 World Series Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara, catcher David Ross, and teammates react after recording the final out to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 to win the 2013 World Series Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox players celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 to win the 2013 World Series Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Fireworks explode over the Green Monster as Boston Red Sox players celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 to win the 2013 World Series Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”“Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell raises the World Series trophy after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 to win the 2013 World Series Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.”
So there it is.
The Boston Red Sox are the champions of the world and my long time dream of working for the team and photographing them win the World Series has come true.
It still hasn’t completely sunk in, to be honest, but I’m finally finding a little bit of time to at least get this post together and reflect on this whole experience.
I’m thrilled that we were ultimately able to beat the St. Louis Cardinals, but I’ll start off by acknowledging that had we lost, I still would have felt incredibly lucky to have been a part of this year’s run during the regular season, through the playoffs, and into the World Series. There are journalists, writers, photographers, and other team employees of all types that go their entire careers without the chance to work a World Series, let alone win one. I think that’s important to keep in mind. In no way do I take this opportunity for granted.
Shooting for a team as opposed to a newspaper or magazine or wire service is different in that you’re far more invested in the team’s performance. Not only is that notion of journalistic independence from your subjects gone, but your life revolves around the organization. You spend every day at the Park. You work with people from all parts of the organization, from media relations to marketing to baseball operations to the players and coaches themselves. Just as Major Leaguers make it their goal to win the World Series every year, I go about my work with the same mentality: bring it every day and do my part to make that happen. It must be the athlete in me.
Our left fielder, Jonny Gomes, said it best over the microphone at a gathering with players and front office members just hours after the team won: “You guys are champs, too.”
This year has been unlike any other Boston has ever seen, and this was the perfect ending to a tragic but inspirational story that has grown since Marathon Monday back in April. I feel lucky to have done my part in documenting all the great work the Boston Red Sox organization has done in response to help heal the city, from charity events to pre-game ceremonies to thrilling wins. From the first game back at Fenway after the bombings to the game six of the World Series, this organization has embodied what “Boston Strong” is all about. It became the common thread that kept everyone together.
I got my first taste of the playoffs last year in Baltimore while shooting two games of the ALDS between the Orioles and the Yankees at Camden Yards, but from a professional standpoint, this year’s playoff experience was constructive and valuable for me. With the playoffs comes a whole new set of responsibilities: arranging photo positions in the pits, working to accommodate scores of photographers from all over the world in your home stadium, traveling to work in other cities and stadiums, and pushing images out at a pace, quantity, and quality bigger and better than usual. Many of these things I hadn’t dealt with before. It’s all great fun, but it is a grind. Needless to say, I have yet to catch up on sleep, and I’m glad that these games are over for awhile. They were tense, to say the least, and watching them was both physically and emotionally exhausting at times.
Baseball’s biggest stage also brings the world’s most talented sports photographers and editors into one place, so as a young photographer, it was a pleasure to meet so many shooters whose work I admire, and to re-connect with colleagues I’ve met before.
This job is demanding and at times very grueling, so I’m thankful to many people for helping me along the way. I owe thanks to all my family and friends for their unconditional love, support, and understanding (even the O’s and Yankees fans, people who think baseball is boring, etc.). I also owe thanks to all those in the Red Sox community, and in particular, to the photography staff I work with. Mike, Brita, Cindy, Brian, Steve, Cummo and Marissa are all ridiculously talented photographers, and more importantly, are all great people. I’m honored to have gotten the opportunities I’ve had as a part of that group.
Here are the photos from the game six victory! Thanks so much for following along all season. It’s been a dream come true.
