Category: Ballpark-Prints

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Washington Senators 1971 Spring Training

Spring Training 2021 comes to an end on March 30, and the 2021 MLB season officially begins April 1, with the Yankees vs. Blue Jays at 1:05 at Yankee Stadium.

My archives are a series of Ozzie Sweet original film/pictures taken in 1971 at the Washington Senators Training camp. This year made it 50 years ago. Since 90-percent of those pictures have not been seen in public, I thought, time to share them. On March 22, I began posting pictures of Ozzie Sweets 1971, Washington Senators, photoshoot for Sport magazine on my Twitter page.

Why 1971? In February 1971, the Washington Senators spring-training camp opened, helmed by manager Ted Williams.

Ted Williams Ranked the fourth greatest ballplayer in the history of MLB

In camp is Curt Flood, who lost his challenge to baseball reserve clause in court. And Denny McLain, who broke baseball’s rules associating with gamblers.

Curt Flood, age 33, left the team 13 games into the season, never to play again. Denny McLain fought with Ted Williams all season, winning only 10-games, losing 22. By the age of 28, 1972 playing for two other teams, 2x Cy Young and 1x MVP, and last pitcher to win 30 games going 31-6 1n 1968, was out of baseball forever.

For more information:

Curt Flood https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/07/how-curt-flood-changed-baseball-and-killed-his-career-in-the-process/241783/

Denny McLain https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2018/09/06/1968-detroit-tigers-denny-mcclain/1195283002/

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For 50-years, I have been involved in printing and making prints, a subject I will expand on in future blogs. Part of why I revised and updated my website was my desire to close down my fine art studio. Going into 2020, I was thinking about how to close down. As much as I love photography, I love printmaking. The shutdown allowed me to be away from the studio and think uninterrupted about what I wanted. Then one day, my inbox started dinging, with sales from images of mine on Fine Art America. I had not forgotten about them, just not thinking of them. There printing is excellent, and I visited my page and started looking at other artist’s works. Then I remembered Getty was on FAA selling images using their services. Then I discovered that the Daily News, a New York City newspaper, was also working with FAA printing service. Needless to say, lightbulbs were popping off, and pieces starting to come together. The next thing I knew, I was working with Squarespace, 99design, and Soda Creek.


Letting go of printing, in the end, was easier than I imagined.

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Late yesterday the Mets signed Yoenis Cespedes for three years with an Opt-Out clause after one year. This made think of Charles Oscar Finley maverick owner of the A’s  who passed away twenty years ago. In March 1960, he purchased the Kansas City A’s and for the next 20 years, would be a thorn in the side of two Baseball Commissioners and the other owners.

As an owner, he was behind baseball playing World Series games at night, and the Designated Hitter. Now after 42-years it appears in 2017, the National League will finally adopt the DH. Other ideas, like using an orange baseball for night games were considered silly.

Courtesy of Nancy FinleyCharles O. Finley
Courtesy of Nancy FinleyCharles O. Finley

But, Charles Finley’s biggest contribution to baseball and all sports, is Free Agency. Through his failure during 1974, baseball season to meet certain obligations in Catfish Hunters contract, an arbitrator declaring Hunter, a free agent and his subsequence signing of a five-year contract with the Yankees. Following the 1975 season, a grievance was filed by Andy Messerschmitt of the Dodgers and Dave McNally of Expos, arbitrator, Peter Seitz ruled for the players declaring them free agents. This verdict ended the Reserve Clause that tied players to teams forever. Charles Finley then said what may be his boldest idea “Make Them All Free Agents Every Year”. Marvin Millet opposed this knowing it would it would keep player salaries low and the owners were afraid of the concept.

What was once scared owners and maybe the players is now taking hold in a unique concept, the opt-out after one to three years now being part of bigger contract signings.

It is early in the game, but as the opt-out becomes more attractive in contract negotiations, it will make for some exciting times in player and team moves.

 

 

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Having a winning team will help the Cleveland Indians and next year should be their turn-around year. But, it may not help them in attendance, Cleveland schools opened August 10th this year the second week in August. That’s about the standard time every year. One could argue they get out early in May. But, those of us who live in the northern part of the USA know most years the weather in May is, iffy. Ballpark attendance for the cold weather teams does not rise until June.
As for it still being August and, sunset in Cleveland after 8 p.m even into September it’s still a school night, parents do not want to take their kids to weeknight games.

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Spring Training 1951
Spring Training 1951 Photographer Ozzie Sweet Registered Copyright Holder Paul Plaine Ballpark Prints LLC

Cover Shot for Sport Magazine March 1960 Photographer Ozzie Sweet Registered Copyright Holder Paul Plaine Ballpark Prints LLC
Cover Shot for Sport Magazine March 1960
Photographer Ozzie Sweet Registered Copyright Holder Paul Plaine Ballpark Prints LLC

 

Mickey Mantle 1960 Photographer Ozzie Sweet Registered Copyright Holder Paul Plaine Ballpark Prints LLC
Mickey Mantle 1960 Photographer Ozzie Sweet Registered Copyright Holder Paul Plaine Ballpark Prints LLC

Mickey Mantle 1964 Photographer Ozzie Sweet Registered Copyright Holder Paul Plaine Ballpark Prints LLC
Mickey Mantle 1964 Photographer Ozzie Sweet Registered Copyright Holder Paul Plaine Ballpark Prints LLC

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Today in the media it is evaluation day of who is the winners and losers in MLB’s annual July 31st trading deadline. Watching the 4 pm countdown yesterday on Fox Sports (I’m on the Jersey Shore in rented beach house) and seeing my team the NY Yankees standing pat made me very happy. My first thoughts were of that old baseball adage. “The trades you don’t make are your best ones.”(1)

I am 100% a fan of baseball and enjoy watching games of all the teams, and all that goes on from the fall Hot Stove League to the August Waiver Wire, and everything in between. I just love it.

After the 4 pm deadline that is 4:15 pm as the commissioner office needs that extra 15 minutes to approve last of the last minute deals. Then the conversation starts who won who lost. After reviewing all the transactions, it struck me that the players being traded were for minor leagues who are not the front-line prospect, as one would expect.

But all of the stories surrounding the Yankees and trades it was only about their rated front-line prospects, and late last night 21 year Luis Severino one of the prospects every team wanted was called up. He’s scheduled to make his major league debut Tuesday night. I expect a lot of second-guessing from the media and fans next Wednesday.

As of today, the Blue Jays who were voted this year’s trading deadline winners are 6-games behind the Yankees, so should all know by the end of this season if standing pat was the right decision.

1- The trades you don’t make are the best ones.
Attributed to Branch Rickey and also Bill Veeck

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1970 Washington Senators
1970 Washington Senators

 

Spring Training 2015 is 30 days away let the countdown begin. I will be leaving February 24th with a two-day stop in Washington DC to visit US Copyright office. My other countdown is after two years this coming Monday we will be  moving into our new place in Bronxville NY. It is going be such a relief not thinking about real estate properties.

In 1970 Sport magazine hired Ozzie Sweet to photograph spring training and spend a little extra time shooting the Washington Senators two new players Denny McLain and Curt Flood. Plus shoot Ted Williams for the cover of the spring training issue.

Over the next 30 days, I will be posting images from Ozzie Sweet and my spring training trips.

 

2015 Cactus League Reporting Dates
Team Pitchers & Catchers First Workout Position Players First Workout Location
Angels February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Tempe
A’s February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Mesa
Brewers February 20 February 22 February 25 February 26 Maryvale
Cubs February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Mesa
Diamondbacks February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Scottsdale
Dodgers February 19 February 20 February 25 February 26 Glendale
Giants February 18 February 19 February 23 February 24 Scottsdale
Indians February 18 February 20 February 22 February 24 Goodyear
Mariners February 20 February 21 February 24 February 25 Peoria
Padres February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Peoria
Rangers February 20 February 21 February 25 February 26 Surprise
Reds February 18 February 19 February 23 February 24 Goodyear
Rockies February 20 February 21 February 27 Scottsdale
Royals February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Surprise
White Sox February 19 February 20 February 24 Glendale

2015 Grapefruit League Reporting Dates
Team Pitchers & Catchers First Workout Position Players First Workout Location
Astros February 20 February 21 February 24 February 25 Kissimmee
Blue Jays February 23 February 27 Dunedin
Braves February 20 February 21 February 25 February 26 Orlando
Cardinals February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Jupiter
Marlins February 20 February 20 February 24 February 24 Jupiter
Mets February 19 February 21 February 24 February 26 Port St. Lucie
Nationals February 19 February 21 February 24 February 26 Viera
Orioles February 19 February 20 February 24 February 25 Sarasota
Phillies February 18 February 19 February 23 February 24 Clearwater
Pirates February 18 February 19 February 23 February 24 Bradenton
Rays February 22 February 23 February 27 February 28 Port Charlotte
Red Sox February 20 February 21 February 24 February 25 Fort Myers
Tigers February 19 February 20 February 23 February 24 Lakeland
Twins February 22 February 23 February 27 February 28 Fort Myers
Yankees February 20 February 21 February 25 February 26 Tampa

 

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Sy Berger creator of Topps Baseball Cards passed away Sunday December 14.
To this day every spring I drive to the store when Topps Baseball Cards go on sale and buy a few packs sit in my car and open them. Not because I’m a collector (anymore) but because it still gives me a feeling of being a kid again. Thank you Sy Berger for a lifetime of fun.

 

 

Sy Berger' 2004 Topps Bseball Card
Sy Berger’ 2004 Topps Bseball Card

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I decided to revisit my season ” My 2012 MLB Team Predictions ” to see how I did. First think I notice that I got the AL East  completely wrong.  Next I also picked an extra team the Diamondbacks by mistake  in the NL West.  I was at many Florida spring training games this year and watched the teams is helpful. My research for the Arizona teams was TV, radio, and the internet.  Looking back over my predictions I have to say not unhappy. I also still stand by my World Series prediction, the Nationals.

AL East         AL Central    AL West

Yankees         Tigers             A’s

Rays#             Royals#          Angels#

Orioles           Indians           Rangers

Red Sox         White Sox       Mariners

Blue Jays       Twins              Astros

 

Royals over Angels Wild Card Game

Yankees, Rays ALDS winners

Rays over Yankees

 

National League

NL East        NL Central       NLWest

Nationals      Cardinals          Dodgers

Braves           Pirates#            Giants#

Marlins         Reds                  Diamondbacks#

Mets              Cubs                  Rockies

Phillies          Brewers             Padres

 

Pirates over Diamondbacks Wild Card Game

Nationals, Giants NLDS winners

Nationals over Giants 

 

 

2014 World Series

Nationals over Rays in 7 games