From baseball legend to accredited Augusta Masters photographer - “Baseball is reactive, golf is reflective”

Thirteen All-Star nods, an MVP, ten Gold Gloves, seven Silver Sluggers, a .284 career batting average, 2,781 hits, 630 home runs, and 1,836 RBIs – those are the staggering numbers behind Ken Griffey Jr., widely regarded as one of the top 20 baseball players of all time. In 2016, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot with a commanding 99.3% of the vote.

From MLB to Masters

Like many athletes who’ve transitioned from the diamond to the fairway, Griffey Jr. is obsessed with golf. But this week, instead of cruising the fairways of Augusta National or relaxing at Berckmans Place – the hospitality of all hospitality experiences – the baseball icon took on a different role at the Masters.

Griffey Jr. is officially credentialed as a photographer, working with Getty Images and no doubt crafting the ultimate personal album at one of the most storied and exclusive venues in professional sports. It turns out that photography may rank just below baseball and golf in his passions, as he’s previously attended MLB, NFL, and Inter Miami games — yes, those involving Leo Messi — as a member of the photo press.

This week in Augusta, the former Mariners, Reds, and White Sox outfielder has snapped photos of players like Bernhard Langer, Jordan Spieth, and Max Homa. Some of his work is already available to view on the Getty website. But Griffey isn’t the only sports legend mingling quietly at the Masters. Also spotted in Georgia is David Wright, the former New York Mets star, who offered an insightful take on the contrast between his two favorite sports:

“They’re similar and not at the same time. Baseball is reactive, golf is reflective,” Wright said. “That’s why I was better at baseball – you’re not standing over the ball for 30 seconds thinking about every little thing. That’s when problems creep in.”