Feb. 14, 2008
Story and pix By Ken Krayeske • 9:30 AM EST
Andre Dawson, former Chicago Cubs superstar outfielder, checked in as a coach Feb. 15, 2005 at the Marlins training camp in Jupiter, FL. I called him as he was walking to the locker room, and he turned to look at me, and I got this shot.
Spring is just around the corner. In just a few hours from now, pitchers and catchers report to the St. Louis Cardinals training facility in Jupiter, FL. Hooray.
Since it is freezing and yuck outside in Connecticut, and it was yuck inside Congress yesterday with Mr. Clemens potentially perjuring himself, I thought happy baseball thoughts would be in order.
A few years ago, I had the luck to be able to show up to the first day of pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training at the Marlins' facility, which they share with the Cardinals.
We love baseball because it means summer, playing and fun. And at the first day of camp, I found some people who were there for love of the game. And, of course, the autographs.
An autograph hound catches the late Bill Robinson, an outfielder with the 1979 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. Robinson was a hitting coach for the Marlins, got fired, and ended up with the Dodgers. He died in July 2007.
The man on the tricycle shows off an autograph. This is America.
It wouldn't be a photo shoot from me if I didn't take a study of the tricycle, complete with Cardinals' stickers on it. The kids in the background are comparing autographs, which they get through the fence.
My caption info for this one sucks - this is an unknown catcher signing an autograph through the fence. I wish I had better notes...It's not very professional. But who cares. It is the first day of Spring Training! Rejoice!
