"Game 1 hero," Camden, New Jersey, August 2007

Game 1 hero, originally uploaded by NJ Baseball.

With Spring Training well under way and Opening Day now three weeks away, I've been enjoying all the baseball images popping up (as well as looking through some of my own). So when it came time to find a celebration, I thought back to some of the home-run high-fives I've captured over the years. This one was at Camden's Campbell's Field, where Matt DeMarco (center) won the first game of a doubleheader with a walk-off home run. Looking at the smile on his face, it may have been the first such home run of his life.

"Keeping cool," Hudson Valley, July 2006

The staff of the Hudson Valley Renegades ensures that their unofficial mascot stays cool on a hot day as they give the fans some brief relief.

"The eyes have legs," New Jersey, May 2005

Family portrait

I just had to dig up this photo of the characters for the Lakewood BlueClaws' eyeball race to post for Lens Day. (I only got the e-mail a few hours ago; not sure why it didn't come on Wednesday.)

The eyes have it.

Day 276 of 365

Last look for the year

Spent one last day at Citi Field -- mainly for the Shake Shack. Yeah, we can get it in Manhattan, but the tickets were free. Wanted one last shot similar to the one I took the first time I saw it in February.

Day 228 of 365

Just some trinkets around my cube

A Surfin' Sizemore bobblehead obtained (for free) at a Cleveland Indians game in July, a Mets Pez dispenser, a "Baseballasaurus" plush toy I was given sometime in high school (or childhood?), and a 2004 All-Star Game ceramic boot given out to fans and reporters at the game in Houston.

Day 224 of 365

Jack the Jackal

After nearly three summers of living 15 minutes from Montclair State's campus (and one rained-out attempt), I finally got myself to a New Jersey Jackals game on a Wednesday morning. And then I left in the eighth before three straight rallies! The visitors took the lead in the top half, the home team came back in the bottom half, and the visitors responded in the ninth to win. Crazy game.

Day 190 of 365

Pepsi Porch panorama

A panoramic shot from the Pepsi Porch seating section in right field at the Mets' ballpark. Four images stitched in Photoshop.

Day 180 of 365

Getting the gun reading

Taking in a Trenton Thunder matinee.

Day 176 of 365

Well, orange you a pair

Waiting for a friend outside Citi Field.

"Play at the plate," New Jersey, July 2006

Gomez meets Jason Brown

Getting that perfect shot of a play at the plate is always a goal of mine at the ballpark.

Day 142 of 365

Fenway sunset

Began the vacation with a Mets-Red Sox game at Fenway Park in Boston.

Day 135 of 365

At Nationals Park

A presidential gathering before the game.

Day 129 of 365

Reyes steals third

Yeah, two Mets games in three days. We went to this one because Casey wanted to see her Pirates, even if they aren't that good. I splurged on some seats 15 rows behind the third-base dugout and put the 300mm lens to good use.

Day 127 of 365

I can be center field

Watched the Mets beat the Phillies from center field, standing on the concourse behind the seats. A great view -- so close to the Apple!

Day 119 of 365

Photo op

On a beautiful spring afternoon at Citi Field, I took pictures of people taking pictures of people at the old Home Run Apple.

Day 103 of 365

Jewel of Queens

Citi Field is beautiful, even if the result on Opening Night wasn't.

Day 88 of 365

The Jackie Robinson Rotunda

For a $5 ticket, I went to Citi Field and didn't watch a baseball game. Georgetown and St. John's were playing, but we spent the time walking around, eating and taking in the new ballpark.

Along with a lot of photos.

Day 66 of 365

Batter going up

It's been a busy week, so I finally posted a handful of photos I'd taken since Monday. There have been a couple of days when I didn't pick up the camera until late and had to find photos before time ran out, rather than come across the pictures (such as this one, for example).

For this one, I realized as I was walking into my building for work that I needed an image, so I passed the elevator at the front of the building for the one in the middle to get a shot I'd had stored in the back of my head for just such a day.

Day 50 of 365

Putting on the finishing touches

I got a glimpse of the future when I went out to Queens for a look at the past.

"Container ship delivery," Staten Island, July 2007

Shipping lanes

The Ballpark at St. George sits right next to the Staten Island Ferry terminal, providing sweeping views of Upper New York Bay on a summer afternoon. On a clear day, the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan stand out (though, sadly, that view is not as spectacular as it once was.

During day games in particular, the traffic on the water provides a moving backdrop to the game -- as with this container ship just beyond the right-center field wall.