MLB’s reporters chronicled the 2024 baseball season from begin to end. However an image is value 1,000 phrases — and so they snapped loads of these, too.
From Spring Coaching by means of the World Sequence, on and off the sector, our reporters had been in a position to seize pictures of so many distinctive baseball moments, even simply with the cameras on their telephones.
We requested them for his or her favourite pictures from 2024, and to explain what made every image particular. Right here they’re.
These are 18 of MLB.com’s finest behind-the-scenes pictures of the yr.
1. Rickey on the Coliseum
“Rickey Henderson seems to be off into the space earlier than throwing out the primary pitch on the A’s remaining recreation on the Oakland Coliseum.”
— A’s beat reporter Martín Gallegos
2. Baseball within the Midnight Solar
— Particular initiatives author Matt Monagan
“On June 23, the fortieth anniversary of The Ryne Sandberg Sport, the Cubs unveiled a statue of the Corridor of Fame second baseman. As Sandberg addressed a crowd that stuffed Gallagher Method and stretched down Clark Avenue, the 2024 Cubs staff headed up Wrigley’s ramps to observe from above. I snapped this picture, as a result of it was hanging to see the gamers, in uniform, standing like followers within the ballpark, away from the sector.”
— Cubs beat reporter Jordan Bastian
4. Eclipse gazers in Cincinnati
“Reds gamers checked out the photo voltaic eclipse from the sector at Nice American Ball Park on April 8. The eclipse occurred simply because the Reds had been taking batting follow earlier than taking part in the Brewers. Because the sky grew darker, the gamers grew to become like every other curious individual. Somebody supplied them with the glasses required to view the eclipse safely and, for a number of moments, everyone seemed up. Then they went again to work and resumed hitting.”
— Reds beat reporter Mark Sheldon
“Earlier than flying from Cincinnati to Atlanta on the morning of the photo voltaic eclipse in April, I finished within the airport lounge, the place they had been giving freely pairs of eclipse glasses. I scooped up a few pairs and made my method to Atlanta and the ballpark, the place the opposite reporters and I had been shortly joined on the sector by a bunch of curious gamers. Good factor I had the glasses … They grew to become a well-liked merchandise as gamers, together with Francisco Lindor, handed them round to get a glimpse of the eclipse.”
— Mets beat reporter Anthony DiComo
6. Remembering the Say Hey Child
“The lack of Willie Mays earlier this yr made it clear how massive his legend loomed over San Francisco. I used to be on the Giants’ first residence recreation after he handed on June 18, and it was particular to see how the staff and its followers honored him — particularly with each Giants participant sporting Mays’ No. 24. Much more shifting was seeing the tributes followers left on the statue on Willie Mays Plaza. He was bigger than life, however on the similar time, he affected so many individuals on a private stage.”
— Dodgers beat reporter Sonja Chen
“Coolest second of 2024: When Paul Skenes visited Milwaukee for the primary time, he nervously requested for an viewers with Bob Uecker.”
— Brewers beat reporter Adam McCalvy
8. Large G teaches Little Leaguers
“The Little League Traditional was among the finest occasions I’ve had the chance to cowl, due to moments like this one. I snapped this picture of Giancarlo Stanton instructing pitch grips to Little Leaguers on the bus trip from the Williamsport airport to the Little League advanced. The children had been clearly excited to fulfill gamers like Stanton, Aaron Decide, Gerrit Cole and Jazz Chisholm Jr., however the professional athletes appeared to get simply as a lot of a kick out of the expertise.”
— Yankees beat reporter Bryan Hoch
9. Unforgettable Dominican journey
“For me, the spotlight of the season got here in Spring Coaching, when the Rays and Pink Sox performed two video games in Santo Domingo. It was a particular journey, particularly for the Rays’ Dominican gamers and employees. The picture I took right here is of Junior Caminero, surrounded by media in his hometown. However there are two psychological photos that can stick with me for a very long time, and people scenes had been the lede and kicker to my story: Jose Siri — equally excited and exhausted — leaning up towards a wall and catching his breath as we spoke within the tunnel between the dugout and clubhouse earlier than the primary recreation, and Caminero sitting on the sector to observe the postgame fireworks with an enormous smile on his face. Simply an unforgettable weekend.”
— Rays beat reporter Adam Berry
“In March, I used to be standing with one other reporter within the Blue Jays’ clubhouse, which was largely empty, when a participant walked over and requested if we knew the place his locker was. It was Joey Votto, the Canadian baseball icon and potential Corridor of Famer. Votto had simply landed in Dunedin after signing a Minor League contract, and whereas it by no means labored out between Votto and his hometown staff, I’ll at all times keep in mind watching Votto sit at his new locker, pulling contemporary bats from their plastic sleeves as he launched himself to new teammates. There have been shocked seems to be on the faces of the Minor League gamers who neighbored him within the clubhouse as he settled in: ‘Hello, I’m Joey Votto.'”
— Blue Jays beat reporter Keegan Matheson
“A younger Rangers fan sporting a ‘WS Champs ’23’ jersey seems to be on as Adolis García — who crushed eight residence runs throughout Texas’ World Sequence run — hits in a ‘B’ recreation throughout Spring Coaching.”
— Reporter Manny Randhawa
“Nats southpaw MacKenzie Gore ramps up for the 2024 season throughout Spring Coaching, throwing off the mound together with his signature supply.”
— Nationals beat reporter Jessica Camerato
“My second day of Spring Coaching featured a matchup between one of the best place prospect (Jackson Holliday) and one of the best pitching prospect (Paul Skenes) in baseball. It lasted only one pitch, with Holliday grounding out towards a 100 mph fastball from Skenes.”
— Nationwide prospects reporter Jim Callis
“Tucker, the Mariners’ clubhouse canine, prowls for treats, mates, mischief and something in between at Seattle’s Spring Coaching facility. Adopted in 2022 by means of a shelter in Japanese Washington, Tucker is a ubiquitous presence all through the season — however particularly in Spring Coaching, his favourite time of yr because of the wide selection of freedom and actual property he has to roam in sun-soaked Arizona.”
— Mariners beat reporter Daniel Kramer
“Jose Altuve is without doubt one of the most humble gamers within the recreation, and he innocently wore a “Tuve All Day” cap whereas assembly some followers on the sector in July.”
— Astros beat reporter Brian McTaggart
16. Jazz and Nick on the monitor
— Marlins beat reporter Christina De Nicola
“Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, two Boston-born actors, swung by Fenway Park to advertise their new film. It was cool to have the ability to ask each of them questions in regards to the Pink Sox. I am a giant fan of them each.”
— Pink Sox beat reporter Ian Browne
18. Willie’s plaque at Rickwood
“Willie Mays’ Corridor of Fame plaque was introduced from Cooperstown, N.Y., to Birmingham, Ala., the place Mays’ Giants and the Cardinals performed MLB’s first regular-season recreation at Rickwood Subject, the oldest skilled ballpark within the nation and the positioning the place Mays’ profession started in 1948 as a 17-year-old with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. Mays handed away two days earlier than that June recreation, and this plaque on the sector was certainly one of many reminders all through Rickwood and Birmingham that week of his presence and impression.”
— Reporter Betelhem Ashame
