Take Me Out to the Museum
Stories from the Ballpark
I’ve been fortunate this Summer to work with the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers in various roles. In what’s evolved from a back-up Public Address Announcer gig, I’m now often running the video boards as Show Control and operating cameras for the MiLB.tv broadcasts. Last week the Round Rock Express came to town for six games and I found myself in each of my three roles over the course of the home stand.
On this particular night, I was working Camera One, located in the camera well at the far end of the first base dugout. It’s not unusual to share the camera well with another photographer for a few innings here or there, and I’ve gotten accustomed to introducing myself and having light-hearted conversation since we’re usually standing shoulder to shoulder. I’ve met members of the local press, writers for national publications, and more. On this particular evening, as I carried my equipment down the long concrete steps of Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark I noticed a woman sitting alone in the shade of the second-deck overhang. It was well before gates-open, so I knew she had to be somehow associated with the teams or entertainment for the evening. While I’ve grown familiar with most of the game day staff, on any given night there are numerous people working in the ballpark who I’ve never seen before.
She called out to me as I passed, lugging the massive camera, tripod, and viewfinder cases down the awkwardly distanced steps, “I have a couple of lenses in the camera well, let me know if they’re in your way.” I nodded politely and responded, “I’m sure you’re fine for now; I’ll let you know if I need them moved!”
As I entered the camera well I saw the women’s lenses; she had several strewn about. Two cameras with various sized lenses leaned up against the first base dugout and a case with several others nearby. I began setting up Camera One, sweating in the unforgiving late summer sun. A few minutes later the women joined me in the well and started moving her equipment out of my way. We struck up a conversation, and as is usual I immediately inquired who she shoots for. She told me she shoots for Major League Baseball but is in town working on a side project.
“I write books on the side, and I’m in town working on a project outlining baseball along Route 66—from Chicago all the way to Santa Monica,” she explained. “I’ve recruited a legend from each state along the historic highway to help me tell the story.”
There are many baseball-greats who hail from the state of Oklahoma, so I curiously asked who she was working with here.
“Johnny Bench.”
Well, that’s quite a name to drop and I’m sure my expression told her I was interested in learning more.
“He actually wrote a really great essay that I’ll include. He’s such a wonderful person,” she continued. “I was here several years ago with him, working on another project. It was sort of funny, we caravanned across the state in a little RV, he and I. We pulled up here at the ballpark right in front of the Johnny Bench statue up there on the street,” she said, gesturing toward the main entrance, “It was hours before gates opened and we were essentially the only ones here. There was one family, a small child and his parents taking pictures with the statue right in front of us. I jumped out of the van and ran over to chat with the family. I asked the little boy, ‘Hey, do you want to see a magic trick?’ The kid said yes, so I told him that I could make that statue come to life. He was confused, but I made him close his eyes, and spun him around three times, counting out loud as his parents stood by watching curiously. About the time I got to three, Johnny walked around the side of the RV and stood right in front of the kid. His parents gasped, he opened his eyes, and there they stood in the presence of the living legend. The kid was simply surprised that I’d produced a man, but his parents were blown away! I mean, it’s Johnny Bench! He was so great, Johnny took pictures with the family and chatted for several minutes before we went our separate ways. It was such a special moment.”
It’s so easy to go about our day to day routines in spite of one another. It often feels like pulling teeth to even make eye contact on the street, let alone truly engage. She doesn’t want to talk to me. What would I even say? It’s so hot out here, I’ll just set this camera up and go find something to eat. Those thoughts nearly robbed me of that moment. Fortunately, even stronger than my introverted tendencies are my reverence and curiosity for this game.
There’s an energy, a history, a story that’s begging to be told. That’s what we love about baseball, isn’t it? A common thread stitched throughout time connecting our modern world to one long past. Alex Levy, Jennifer Aniston’s character in the Apple+ drama The Morning Show characterizes my feelings perfectly when she asks, “That’s what we love about baseball, isn’t it? It’s a museum parading around as a sport.”
The next time you’re at the ballpark, challenge yourself to strike up a conversation with a stranger. In the concessions line, in the bleachers, wherever you are. Lean into the spirit of the game and enjoy the museum for what it is—you never know the stories you’ll hear.
TM