Framework

Capturing the world through photography, video and multimedia

Kirk Gibson rounds third base as coach Joe Amalfitano celebrates Gibson's home run off Dennis Eckersley of the Oakland A's in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jon SooHoo / Los Angeles Dodgers

Kirk Gibson leaves the batter's box as he watches his home run off Oakland's Dennis Eckersley head for the right field bleachers in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jon SooHoo / Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodger Stadium with downtown L.A. as a backdrop during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, April 30, 2010.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO / Los Angeles Dodgers

Participants in the Los Angeles Dodgers Annual Father's Day Catch take to the field on Sunday June 21, 2009.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO / Los Angeles Dodgers

A view of Dodger Stadium from behind the pitcher's mound on fireworks night, Sept. 10, 2004.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO

Stadium seats are piled up after removal as part of stadium renovation on Oct. 26, 2005.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO

Adrian Beltre heads for home and a rousing welcome as the Dodgers defeat the San Diego Padres on July 22, 2004, at Dodger Stadium.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO

Steve Finley hits a 9th-inning walk-off grand slam to beat the San Francisco Giants 7-3 and win the 2004 National League West.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO / Los Angeles Dodgers

Manny Ramirez and Russell Martin celebrate after both scoring in the first inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers swept the Cubs three games to none.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO / Los Angeles Dodgers

Manager Joe Torre talks to his team befpre a team workout Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 in preparation for the upcoming NL Division series at Dodger Stadium.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO / Los Angeles Dodgers

Matt Kemp is sprayed with champagne in the clubhouse by Jonathan Broxton after winning the 2009 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO / Los Angeles Dodgers

Manny Ramirez sits in the clubhouse before NLCS Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium, Oct. 15, 2009.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO / Los Angeles Dodgers

The starting lineup Game for Game 7 of the 1988 NLCS vs. the New York Mets (from right to left) Tommy Lasorda, Steve Sax, Franklin Stubbs, Kirk Gibson. Mike Marshall, John Shelby, Mike Scioscia, Jeff Hamilton, Alfredo Griffin.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jon SooHoo / Los Angeles Dodgers

One of the last portraits made of Sandy Koufax in uniform at Vero Beach, Fla.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jon SooHoo / Los Angeles Dodgers

Mike Piazza leaves Dodger Stadium on the day he was traded to the Florida Marlins in 1998.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jon SooHoo / Los Angeles Dodgers

Former Dodger catcher Roy Campanella throws out the first pitch to Mike Scioscia with Don Newcombe looking on during the 1988 National League Championship Series.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jon Soo Hoo / Los Angeles Dodgers

Newly elected Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa waits in the dugout to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Los Angeles Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, May 20, 2005, at Dodger Stadium.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jon SooHoo / Los Angeles Dodgers

Pitchers work out in the strings area of Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla. in Feb. 19, 2000.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO / Los Angeles Dodgers

Tommy Lasorda at home plate in Taiwan during the Dodgers 1993 Friendship Tour.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO / Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers announcer Vin Scully on a team charter flight to San Francisco for a game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JON SOOHOO / Los Angeles Dodgers

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Dodgers to honor team photographer Jon SooHoo

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Dodgers to honor team photographer Jon SooHoo

As he watched Kirk Gibson hobble up to the plate during the 1988 World Series, seconds before one of the most iconic home runs in baseball history, Dodgers team photographer Jon SooHoo was focused on one thing: “What’s going through my mind at that point is to get that roll of film led into the sprockets properly in the camera to make sure there’s not any skipping,” SooHoo said.

For SooHoo, Gibson’s home run was one of the greatest moments of his 25-year career with the Dodgers, an occasion made even better by knowing he got the shot.

But there will be another special moment at Dodger Stadium on Friday when he’ll have to let his family and colleagues get the shot. SooHoo, the longest tenured photographer in team history, will throw out the first pitch before the Dodgers’ game against the San Francisco Giants in honor of his years of service to the team.

Since 1985, SooHoo has been the face behind the camera lens for the Dodgers, shooting everything from Steve Finley’s division-clinching home run in 2004 to everyday group photos of fans. Still, SooHoo’s contributions to sports photography do not end with the Dodgers. He’s covered the Lakers, Clippers, Kings, USC, UCLA, Rams, Raiders and Angels over the last three decades. He shoots as a contract photographer for the Auto Club Speedway and has covered a variety of prestigious sporting events such as World Series, the Super Bowl and BCS games.

It can often be grueling work, but it has been a rewarding endeavor for SooHoo. “The misconception is that the team photographer shoots only between the lines, only game action,” SooHoo said.” That couldn’t be further from the truth. I have to be here whenever they need me. If there’s a player appearance somewhere, our owner speaking somewhere or Tommy Lasorda doing something, no matter what day, what time, I have to be there. I’ve become a part of the organization’s heart and soul, I think, because there are so many things I have to do to record the history of it.”

While SooHoo has captured some of baseball’s greatest moments on film (and digitally), some of his favorite memories from the past quarter century happened away from the field. He always enjoyed covering the Dodgers at their former spring training facility in Vero Beach, Fla., playing basketball on the outdoor courts with players and coaches.

“We used to have some rugged games out there,” he said. “There was a game when Tommy [Lasorda] came out and had his henchmen [Joe] Furguson and [Mark] Cresse take us out, literally….Cresse took me out on the lawn, leaving me with a charlie horse. We had some great battles out there.”

But don’t expect SooHoo’s competitive edge to go away Friday when he throws out the first pitch to Dodgers Manager Joe Torre. Anyone standing behind home plate may want to get out of the way when SooHoo takes the mound. “I’m bringing the heat. All I got is heat,” SooHoo said. “I don’t know where it’s going, so if anyone is standing behind Joe Torre, you’d better watch out.”

Photo of Jon SooHoo at work by Michael Zito.

Photo of  Steve Finley celebrating his ninth-inning walk-off grand slam to beat the San Francisco Giants by Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

2 Comments

  1. September 4, 2010, 1:18 am

    LINK

    amazing! I bleed Dodger blue and am a huge fan of Jon Soo Hoo's work. I love going to games and watching the giant screen between innings to see Jon's images. It would be an absolute dream come true for me to be able to shadow him for a day and capture Dodger moments on camera!

    By: Lindsay

  2. October 12, 2010, 12:53 pm

    LINK

    *sigh* – I remember this day – one of the most vivid memories i have of my childhood.

    By: Freddy

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