'Classic Baseball'
Veteran Sports Photographer's Ode to the Soul of the Sport

 Listen to Morning Edition audio

 Web exclusive: Listen to an extended, 30-minute version of Juan Williams' conversation with Walter Iooss Jr.

Reggie Jackson Photo © Walter Iooss Jr. Enlarge image

Cover of the book Classic Baseball: The Photographs of Walter Iooss Jr. (Harry N Abrams)

Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford Photo © Walter Iooss Jr. Enlarge image

April 28, 2003 -- Walter Iooss Jr. is perhaps the best-known photographer of the sport of baseball. He's been taking pictures since the age of 15, and began his career with a memorable assignment: capturing the moment when Roger Maris hit his record-breaking 61st home run in 1961.

Iooss has spent the past four decades covering baseball and other pastimes for Sports Illustrated -- and as he tells NPR's Juan Williams, every moment on the job has been a joy. "You know, a summer day in Wrigley Field, with the cumulus clouds... it's just like a little piece of baseball heaven," he says. (Iooss has also been a photographer for many of Sports Illustrated's famed swimsuit editions.)

His clear love of the sport is evident in the photos in his latest book, Classic Baseball: The Photographs of Walter Iooss Jr. Included in the collection of photos spanning Iooss' long career are legendary players, timeless moments and sometimes offbeat and unexpected images. The book is divided into seven sections:

» Faces
» Ballparks
» Pitchers
» Hitters
» Base Runners
» Managers
» Celebrations

Among the 170 photos are memorable faces and places: Legends like Joe DiMaggio, Sandy Koufax, Cal Ripken and Sammy Sosa, the old scoreboard at Wrigley Field, Philadelphia's aging Connie Mack Stadium, Seattle's pristine new Safeco Field, a young, buzz-cut Pete Rose mugging for the press, Roberto Clemente's intense glare, Hank Aaron rounding the bases, Pittsburgh's Dave Parker smoking a cigarette in the dugout, icons Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford, Mark McGwire's then-record 70th home run in 1998...

Iooss' photos almost elevate baseball players to a level above mere athletes, capturing the essence of the superlative physical skills of the best players, their grace under pressure, and all-too-human failings.

In Depth

 Hear NPR reports by Juan Williams

Other Resources

• Walter Iooss Jr.'s official Web site

• The Govinda Gallery in Washington, D.C. is currently featuring some of Iooss' baseball photos

E-mail this Page

 

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes    No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes    No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes    No
(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)