Tag Archives: Baseball

From the Upper Deck to Being on the Field during Fuji Photo Day at Candlestick Park

05 Thursday Dec 2019

Posted by in Baseball, Candlestick Park, Former Home of the San Francisco Giants, Lost Ballpark, Remembering Candlestick Park, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fuji Photo Day was one of my favorite promotions the SF Giants had at Candlestick Park. These pictures were taken back on Saturday, May 14, 1988, when the Giants played the Mets. This was back in the days when there were no digital cameras, and I shot with 35mm color film.

These pictures provide 3 levels of perspective of the field at Candlestick Park – looking from the top, overview behind home plate, and directly looking at the grass.

One of the things I loved about the Fuji Photo Days was being allowed to walk on the field. When we are allowed to be on the field at Oracle Park, I love to walk on a well groomed baseball field. I get really excited to be on the SF Giants playing field. Whenever I had an opportunity to walk on the field at Candlestick or Oracle Park, I touched the grass with my hands. It was also nice to sit on the grass to feel the softness of world class natural turf.

We can learn how to approach personal problems from the 3 levels as seen in these photos.

  1. View a problem from a broader perspective. Analyze the total effect of a problem.
  2. Narrow down to see various effects of a problem.
  3. Get up close to see one part of the problem

Let me translate this approach.

When I was mugged while shooting the demolition of Candlestick Park, I experienced anger, frustration, and bitterness.

  1. So I examined my past to see where my problem originated to get the broader perspective. These feelings originated from childhood bullying experiences.
  2. The effects of the problem continue to haunt me when I feel I am treated unjustly.
  3. Getting up close to find a solution revolves on my desire to replace the anger with peace via prayer and surrender.

Candlestick Park is not just a baseball stadium. It continues to show me life solutions are possible when we examine ourselves at all levels.

Find photos to inspire!

What was on the Southside of Candlestick Park?

26 Thursday Sep 2019

Posted by in Baseball, Candlestick Park, Football, Former home of the San Francisco 49'ers, Former Home of the San Francisco Giants, niners, San Francisco 49'ers, San Francisco Giants, sf 49'ers, SF Giants

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Do you remember the southern part of Candlestick Park. I took this shot in 1988.

I love looking at the design of the red pattern of the support beams circling the outside of the stadium.

The vintage cars in the parking lot remind us of this eta in the 80’s.

Notice the ramp which leads to other parking lot areas. It provided a safe ok walkway away from the moving cars.

Candlestick Park was a welcoming stadium. Tickets were affordable. I did not have to plan ahead to go to a game. I could spontaneously go to a game and just buy tickets to attend a SF Giants game.

Can we also learn to welcome people into our life? Are we accessible to people? Do we have walls preventing people into our lives? Do we share our experiences with others to encourage or help someone?

We can all learn from the legacy of Candlestick Park.

Fenway Park Living Museum

29 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by in Baseball, Boston, Fenway Park, Red Sox

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

As a baseball fan, I was very impressed by the Fenway Park Living Museum. I could have spent hours in there but unfortunately only had 10 minutes.  We had to rush through the museum as we had another scheduled tour to go to across town in Somerville that started in 30 minutes. This is another good reason for me to go back to Fenway Park for a Red Sox game in the future.

Unique Features of Fenway Park

20 Monday Nov 2017

Posted by in Baseball, Boston, Fenway Park, Green Monster, Massachusetts, Pesky's Pole, Red Sox, The Pesky Pole

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

I enjoyed going on the Fenway Park tour to see this ballpark’s many unique characteristics that make this stadium different than the rest in Major League Baseball. I am so glad that the Red Sox decided to stay at Fenway rather than build a new stadium and move to a different site.

My Surprise Meeting of Andres Torres – SF Giants Star Center Fielder

02 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by in Baseball, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Yesterday, we were invited to a good friend’s housewarming party in San Ramon.  I was looking forward to visiting with my friends whom I’ve known since the days when I worked as product photographer at the Good Guys.  I’ve been fortunate to be friends with these people for all these years.

It was a fun party catching up with all the different friends.  Little did I know that the fun party would become more exciting.  We just sat down to eat our huge plates of food.  The host of the party suddenly came to our table to announce that Andre Torres the former SF Giants player and one of the champions who won the 2010 World Series had just arrived.  We all thought she was joking.  The host is also notorious for making up silly nicknames for her friends.  So I thought she gave a new nickname to someone.  But as I looked up, I realized that Andre Torres really did arrive to the party.

I was so excited I jumped up and made my way to the kitchen area of the party room.  My friend introduced me to Andre Torres.  He was so genuinely warm and friendly.  When I shook his hand, I realized this was really him!  My friend started to ask him about his World Series Championship Ring.  He removed the ring and allowed her to look at it.  She was kidding him about the ring and handed me the ring to look at too.

I knew I had to act fast to get my camera ready.  I felt bad to ask if I could take a few pictures since Andre had a full plate of food.  But Andre was very nice and put down his food, so I could take these few pictures.  It was so exciting for me take these pictures of Andre Torres and also him wearing the ring.  We shook hands a couple of times during our interaction.  He was a humble man who still appreciates his SF Giants fans.  He thanked me for being a fan.  I thanked him for playing for the SF Giants and for winning the first World Series for San Francisco.  We are so appreciative for that tremendous win of the World Series.

It was a great honor for me to meet and speak with Andre Torres.  I’m glad I have pictures to remember the event.  I wish I had asked someone to take our picture together.  But I did take a picture of Andre with the host of the party.

When I left home to attend this party, I decided to bring my full frame Canon EOS 5D Mk IV camera to take group pictures of my friends.  I never dreamed that I would get to photograph Andre Torres.  I’m so glad I brought my camera with me so I could take this great Willie Mac Award winning San Francisco Giants player.

What did I learn from this experience?

  • To be thankful for these good friends and how they have blessed my life. Since I was thinking to take some group pictures to give my friends, I was prepared with camera so I could also take Andre Torres’ pictures.  I’m so glad I had my camera with me.
  • Give service and priority to friends first. Since I was putting my friends first by wanting to photograph them, I was blessed by being prepared for the surprise meeting of Andre Torres.
  • Be prepared for the unexpected photographs which you will always treasure.

 

On Top at AT&T Park

12 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by in AT&T Park

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

 

This was taken at the very top of AT&T Park.  I have a fear of heights.  So climbing up to this height and looking down was pretty scary.

I love to go to watch the SF Giants and try to get there earlier so I can freely roam the stadium.  I did this at Candlestick Park and hope to do more of this at AT&T Park.

As I reflect and look at this picture, I do remember my fear of being up so high.  It was a long ways down.  But being on “top” gave a great view of the stadium.

This reminds me that we can have mixed fears when we are on top of our “game” no matter what that is.  Achievements are valuable and rewarding.  But we need to realize when on top, to be thankful and realize to fall is dangerous.

The San Francisco Giants are a great example of winners who keep striving to get back on top.  We all need to realize in whatever we do – Don’t Give Up To Make it to the Top!

 

Welcome to Candlestick Park!

19 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by in Candlestick Park

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Photography exhibit being taken down today, Wednesday, April 29.

We love this photo that Tony took over 25 years ago.  He could spend endless hours roaming around the stadium before watching the San Francisco Giants play baseball.  There are fans who purchased these red chairs to keep as a memento of fun times they shared with family and friends at this stadium.  Fans felt welcomed whenever they went to Candlestick Park.

This picture is a reminder to me to be “welcoming”.  Can you think of people you know that make us feel “unwelcomed”?  They give off a persona that makes us feel uncomfortable or awkward.  They can do nice things for us and show kindness to us.  But we know there is a limit to what they will do to be nice.  Not that we want to take advantage of someone’s kindness,  but it is nice to know there are people we can count on when we need help.

We want to be approachable people that will welcome others into our lives.  Our hope is to be a positive influence to those we encounter.  We want to show others they can count on us to be there for them.  It may not be reciprocated.  But that is ok.  A good 2017 goal would be to give unselfishly and sacrificially our time, money or material goods to meet others’ needs.  Hope this picture can also remind others to be “Welcoming”!

Source: Welcome to Candlestick Park!