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Thomas D’Arcy O’Donnell's avatar

Great story .. ! We’re ’huge’ Jackie Robinson fans here.. & to say Anne is a ‘sports junkie is a ridiculous understatement - Both football & baseball !

Times have changed re Media reportage & Noteworthy or Famous Persons.. & it’s a talent to get those Legends to be generous in both ‘time & the telling - As well, not all photographers are journalists .. but having the knack or ‘patter to have them at ease is ‘an art in itself

Am a huge fan of great ‘Sporting Editorials - as well as delightful Photo Essays & am certain some of my family is aware .. if not ‘substack. The ‘process can fascinate me as much as the ‘anecdote or ‘the shot ! - the ‘how & why’ of Media - the Culture & Technology .. a la Marshall McLuhan - ‘the inner game - of ‘the Game .. or ‘the story ‘within the Story .. sometimes is ‘the charm !

FYI - as a ‘shooter & filmmaker - Roone Arledge was a huge Influence & I had a huge advantage as an athlete - studying film breakdowns, slow mo, SteadiCam.. We had coaches ‘grading us - post game & practice etc.. & being ‘slowest guy on every team meant I had to aquire or enhance other ‘solutions.. & along the way ‘became a student of the game.. a serious Student !

.. One of the greatest ‘base thieves died just the other day - Ricky Henderson btw .. & Jackie was a consummate ‘thief as well .. Here’s a tidbit for you re the ‘art of Stealing Bases - Jimmy ‘diamond Walker stealing home.. Overdue to revisit & polish this - along with all the rest - as i’ve done already re Chapters Two & Four & posted them for critique

https://diamondwalker.wordpress.com/_23-chap-twenty-three/

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Darin's avatar

Good read, btw.

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Darin's avatar

I was really amazed by his ability to recall every detail of these shots, 40 years after the fact.

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Thomas D’Arcy O’Donnell's avatar

‘memory is strange .. the more you recall.. the more you can then recall !

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Donn Dobkin's avatar

Congratulations on being able to spend time with him, I'm sure it remains an amazing experience for you. And thank you for sharing all this with us. I can imagine being there. This was an early Christmas gift!

And happy holidays to you as well.

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Darin's avatar

Thank you, Donn. Ralph was a very charismatic fellow. It was really fun to hear his stories.

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søren k. harbel's avatar

Fabulous story, well told. A lesson for all. Great photographs. Thank you for sharing!

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Darin's avatar

Thank you, søren.

Perhaps I’ll post those stories another day.

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Simon Brooks's avatar

Thanks for sharing this bit of history

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Darin's avatar

You’re welcome, Simon.

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