words and photos by Dakota Fine
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It’s April, dear readers. The fourth month brings many things, Easter, Spring Break, rain showers, taxes, 4/20… but lets be honest, April means baseball.
In celebration of baseball’s return to the nation’s Capital, we decided to go out and capture the scenery that exemplifies the atmosphere of the ballpark in Washington, D.C. We profiled fans and ballpark employees, vendors and scalpers, home team fans and opposing, families and individuals, in search of faces that characterize this great city. And where better to do so than at the ballpark on a Sunday?
The Nationals had their first homestand of the season against the Cincinnati Reds, and on April 15th we went down to check out all the action — going on outside the gates of the ballpark. Though the Nationals lost that day in extra innings, incredibly, the hometown team currently sits atop their division, the National League East. After an overabundance of losing seasons for the Nationals, is it too soon to wonder whether this might be the year for the red, white and blue?
We’ll just have to wait and see how it all pans out for manager Davey Johnson and his team this year. But in the meantime, why not explore what it looks like to be a part of this most American of traditions? Especially when that story is one of a neighborhood in transition that much like the Nationals themselves is full of potential that has not quite yet been realized… behold D.C., take us out to the ball-game one more time.
Mark – Alexandria, VA
Delante and Olajuwon – Bicycle parking
Kathleen and Sarah – Neighborhood fans
Jessie – Vendor
Blaine – Sunglass vendor
The Malloy Family – NW D.C.
Saif – Egyptian immigrant, parents own a hotdog stand
Brenda – Vendor
D.C. friends
Patrick and Stephanie – Cousins, Reds fans
Saif’s father – Hotdog vendor
The Dworkin Family – L.A. Dodgers fans
James Ware Sr. – Native of Anacostia, has lived in D.C. his whole life.
