Best Seat in the House
Photography, sports and life as seen through the lens of Seattle Times photographer Rod Mar.
SubscribeApril 26, 2008 2:44 AM
Mariners: Note to Self -- Get a Helmet
Posted by Rod Mar
Ichiro almost took my head off with a foul ball tonight.
In the first inning, he sliced a ball foul that made like a heat-seeking missile.
Right. At. Me.
I saw it coming (albeit briefly), and just as the ball got bigger in my sight, I bailed, falling to the floor of the third-base photo well.
I was holding onto my 400mm lens and camera by the monopod, and the ball scored a direct hit on the side of rim of the lens, missing the glass of the front element by only an inch.
My lens now has a dent the exact size of a Major League Baseball.
Probably would have taken my head if I hadn't moved, rendering me a life-sized bobblehead on Ichiro bobblehead night at the ballpark.
Luckily, I happened to be looking at the hitter, since it was Ichiro. Had the Mariners been in the field, I might have been focusing on the pitcher and never seen it coming.
That could have been bad. Or, it could have knocked some sense into me.
Time to get a batting helmet.
P.S. Tom, thanks for calling me on your cell phone from the 300 level to make sure I was okay...now that's friendship.
Digg
NewsvinePosted by Andrew Villa
10:11 AM, Apr 28, 2008
Good to hear the ball hit you lens and not you! I love reading your blog Rod.
-Andrew
Posted by ceepdublu
7:10 PM, Apr 28, 2008
On average, how many lenses/bodies/etc. do Times photographers destroy... err... "lose in the line of fire" each year? It seems like baseball would be the most likely place to have small projectiles heading straight for gear, but I'm thinking that those lovely plastic garbage bags you've shown at football games in the past aren't the most durable pieces of protective equipment.
Posted by ron storer
8:08 AM, May 04, 2008
What a story...glad you are ok!
Posted by Former intern
2:32 PM, May 04, 2008
Man, I'm glad you're okay. Only eight lives left ;-)
UPDATE - 12:32 PM
Recently listed
Popular searches
May 10, 08 - 02:04 AM
Side-Tracked for Spot News
May 7, 08 - 01:33 AM
They're Poets and They Know It.
May 5, 08 - 06:24 PM
UW Crew: The Rain and Windermere Cup
May 2, 08 - 06:09 PM
Seahawks: Already?!
Apr 30, 08 - 05:26 PM
UW Crew: Power to the Purple
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
Open Houses | Find this weekend's open house listings.  Or search by location: |
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Briefs | Soccer: New Mexico suspends hair-pulling player Elizabeth Lambert
- Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
- Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman
- How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall
- 3 Cascade Mountain passes close due to snow; more rain, wind expected Sunday
- Heavy snow in Cascades shuts down roads
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- 10 ways to take control of your health
- The birth of 'Grunge,' in photos by Michael Lavine
- How do innovators think?
- Danny Westneat | Lee the Horse Logger found slow wagon shrank tumor
- 10 investing missteps to avoid
- Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
- Guest columnist | Cut the South Carolina jokes, Seattle. Get ready to compete
- Consortium on verge of owning Eastside railway land
Posted by Kendrick
9:20 AM, Apr 28, 2008
That's a major fear of mine every time I step into a photowell at a game... glad to see you got quick relexes though!
My dad was shooting up at a group of boy scouts as they were repelling down a cliff, a football sized rock came spiraling down and he moved his head just in time, but it smashed his hand and demolished the camera...