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Oct 15

Time machine: Royals in Omaha

This is apparently real life; it doesn’t seem possible but multiple sources confirm that the Royals are one win away from the World Series. One thing that tickles me about this Playoff team – among many things – is how many of them I’ve shot in Omaha.

It’s been a privilege meeting and shooting these guys who somehow, some damn how, have stolen the hearts of the sports world at large. I haven’t seen so many people in sports media just enjoy a pure sports spectacle in a long time. Maybe ever.

Here are all the former Storm Chasers and O Royals, as seen by a handful of my cameras through several years of learning on the job.
Tim Collins!
Tim Collins, doing a slip ‘n’ slide on beer and a plastic drop cloth. As one does.

That's a long stride, you guys
Danny Duffy, pitching.

Kelvin Herrera during the National Anthem
Kelvin Herrera, a big crowd, an American flag.
Greg Holland
Greg Holland, back when they were the Omaha Royals. I have newer ones, but a little nostalgia seemed more fun.

Another of Ventura
Yordano Ventura, shortly before #LETSTHROWFIRE became a Thing.

Salvador Perez mugging with Omaha manager Mike Jirschele
Salvador Perez, with bonus Mike Jirschele! This is one of my favorites, because Jirsch was in the middle of trying to make a serious point to Salvador, and Salvador just cuts him off mid-sentence, pulls him over to where I was standing, and asks him to mug for a picture. And Jirsch, not normally a fan of mid-game shenanigans, did it!

Colon throwing across the diamond
Christian Colon exists! Maybe he’ll play someday!

Tongue.
Eric Hosmer, with bonus Terrance Gore

Omar Infante in the dugout
Omar Infante, and gum.

Moose admiring his home run
Irving Falu and Mike Moustakas
Mike Moustakas, this year and then back in 2010.

4/4 then came up laughin at himself
Lorenzo Cain, laughing at himself after tripping over his feet in center field.

PART FOUR: The slide
Jarrod Dyson, stealing.

Home run swing! Alex Gordon
Alex Gordon, back when he was a failed 3B prospect trying his hand at left field. This was a home run.

Terrance Gore getting caught stealing
Terrance Gore, believe it or not, was caught stealing once. Here is proof! (that’s old friend Anthony Seratelli with the tag for Las Vegas.)

Sheepish Billy.
Billy Butler, looking sheepish. He has stayed in the Majors for so long I don’t actually have any photos of him playing in an Omaha uniform. I was got here in 2007, when he still played outfield and was on the way up, and I watched in 2008 when he was demoted and all the Omaha players hated on him the whole time.

There is not much of a larger point here. Baseball is awesome; these dudes were wee minor leaguers before they started hogging airtime on SportsCenter; I want them to win today.

There’s Always This Year?

 

Related posts:

  1. Vote Omaha Royals!
  2. The Royals Caravan stop in Omaha’s Kroc Center
  3. Photos of the Day: Omaha Royals v. Salt Lake Bees

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