Ray Lewis 2009

Ray Lewis drawing 2009

On December 20,2009 I went to my first Ravens game. During the pre-game warm ups, I went down to the front row of the end zone where the Ravens were. This was the first time that I had seen Ray, or any of the Ravens that I have drawn live. I really didn't think much of it until I was up in my seat during the player introductions. When Ray exploded out of the tunnel, and did his dance, the place went nuts! His presence just electrified the crowd, just as it has done for fourteen years now in Baltimore. Ray Lewis IS the Ravens! At seasons end, Ray was elected to his eleventh Pro Bowl.

Derrick Mason 2009

Derrick Mason drawing 2009

On December 20,2009 against the Chicago Bears, Derrick in the first quarter, became only the sixteenth player in NFL history to make 850 catches. That was my first Ravens game.

Terrell Suggs 2009

Terrell Suggs drawing 2009

Baltimore Ravens Outside Linebacker

Ray Lewis 2008

Ray Lewis drawing 2008

Middle Linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens. The teams leader on and off the field for many years, Ray is now regarded as one of the best linebackers of all time. Ray was the MVP of the 2000 Superbowl.

Ed Reed 2008

Ed Reed drawing 2008

Safety for the Baltimore Ravens. I heard one broadcaster say, "his ability to create chaos on the field is second to none. When he makes an interception, or recovers a fumble, his ability to switch his brain and body into an offensive minded ball carrier makes him the best that ever played his position."

Mark Clayton 2008

Mark Clayton drawing 2008

Baltimore Ravens Wide Receiver

Joe Flacco 2008

Joe Flacco drawing 2008

In 2008 the Baltimore Ravens under rookie quarterback Joe Flacco had an 11-5 record. Joe became the first rookie quarterback to win a road playoff game, and in fact won two before losing the AFC Championship Game to the Pittsburgh Steelers who went on to win the Superbowl.

John Harbaugh 2008

John Harbaugh drawing 2008

Head Coach for the Baltimore Ravens. Prior to the 2008 NFL season, the experts said the Ravens would win 3-5 games under rookie Head Coach John Harbaugh. This was due in part to having a rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, who played the previous year for Delaware University. The Ravens went on to have an 11-5 season, and advanced through the playoffs to the AFC Championship game. They lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers who went on the win the Superbowl.

Nick Markakis 2009

Autographed Nick Markakis drawing

Nick Markakis signing my drawing

Joshua and Nick with my drawing

Baltimore Orioles right Fielder: I did this drawing in 2009, but on Sept. 5,2010, Joshua and I went to Great Moments White Marsh for this signing.

Melvin Mora 2009

Autographed Melvin Mora Drawing

Melvin Autographing my drawing

Melvin was the long time third baseman for the baltimore Orioles. After the 2009 season, the Orioles traded Melvin to the Colorado Rockies. On April 22,2010 I went to Nationals Park to see the Washington Nationals play the Rockies. When Melvin finished batting practice he came over and signed the drawing.

Dave Trembley 2009

Dave Trembley drawing 2009

Baltimore Orioles Manager

Gregg Zaun 2009

Gregg Zaun drawing 2009

Baltimore Orioles catcher. Gregg is the nephew of former Baltimore Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey. Rick was the MVP of the 1983 World Series that the Orioles won. Gregg was traded during the 2009 season, when Matt Weiters was brought up from triple A ball.

Kevin Millar 2006

Kevin Millar drawing 2006

Daniel Cabrera 2008

Daniel Cabrera drawing 2008

Right handed power pitcher. Daniel threw in the upper nineties when he started with the Baltimore Orioles, but never reached his potential. In the 2009 season he was traded to the Washington Nationals, who eventually released him.

Josh Hamilton 2009

Josh Hamilton drawing 2009

During the summer of 2009, I read Josh's book Beyond Belief. In the book he used the Bible verse James 4:7 as a creed to help him overcome addiction. The verse reads, "Humble yourself before God, resist the Devil, and he will flee from you." Sounds like a good creed for all of us to follow! Thanks Josh! Good lick and God bless you!

Vladimir Guerrero 2008

Vladimir Guerrero 2008

Outfielder for the Anaheim Angels. Described by some as the best "Bad Ball" hitter in the game, I once saw Vladimir hit a single on a pitch at Camden Yards, that actually bounced on the ground before it crossed home plate.Vladimir hits barehanded, I saw this drawing as a challenge as hands and faces are the hardest things to draw.

Lou Montanez 2008

Lou Montanez drawing 2008

Joshua and I went to see the Bowie Baysox a few times during the 2008 season. Before the season was over, Lou was called up to the Baltimore Orioles big club, and hit a home run in his first major league at bat.

Billy Wagner 2008

Billy Wagner drawing 2008

Closer for the New York Mets. During the week every summer when my family is on Long Beach Island for vacation, the only baseball news I get is from the local papers. During the summer of 2008, all the news was about pitcher Billy Wagner being injured, and going on the DL.

Barry Bonds 2008

Barry Bonds drawing 2008

Although surrounded by suspicions of steroids towards the end of his career, he has still hit more home runs than anyone in history (762). On June 13,2004 my fathers birthday, Barry and the San Francisco Giants played an inner-league game at Camden Yards. Barry hit home run number 676 of his career, and his 500th as a Giant.

Maryland Terrapin Quarterback Chris Turner 2008

Chris Turner drawing 2008

Joshua and I went to see the University of Maryland Terps football game against the Florida State Seminoles during the 2008 season. It was probably the coldest event that I have ever been to. By the end of the game, the Terps were getting blown out, and Byrd Stadium was empty. Joshua and I stayed to the bitter end, and went down to the front row of the Terps side of the field for the fourth quarter.

Kelley Washington 2009

Kelley Washington drawing

2009 Baltimore Ravens Wide Receiver

Michael Phelps (2008)

Michael Phelps drawing

A Baltimore native, Michael's record eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing China, is considered one of the greatest Olympics performances ever. He is considered by most as the greatest Olympic athlete ever with 16 total medals (14 golds and 2 bronze).

Chirstiano Renaldo (2008)

Christiano Renaldo drawing

Considered by many as the greatest soccer player in the world, at the time of this drawing Christiano was playing for Manchester United. The Red Devils as they are called are from where my father was born in England.

Randy Johnson 2009

Randy Johnson drawing (2009)

Randy Johnson "The big unit", left handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. On June 4,2009 I went by myself in a pouring rain to Nationals Park to see Randy Johnson pitch. The previous night I had sat by myself for four hours in a pouring rain to see him pitch. When the game was finally over, Randy had won his 300th game as a starting pitcher. He was the 24th pitcher all time to do so, and only the 6th left hander. Experts think that he may be the last pitcher ever to achieve this.

Larry Fitzgerald 2009

Larry Fitzgerald drawing

Wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. During the NFL 2008 playoffs, Larry re-wrote the playoff record books for receivers. He had 546 yards on 30 receptions, with 7 touchdowns. In the NFC Championship Game, he tied the game record with 3 touchdown catches (all in the first half). He scored 2 touchdowns in the Superbowl, and 2 more in the Probowl, winning the MVP award for that game. He is just amazing to watch!

Ryan Zimmerman (2009)

Ryan Zimmerman drawing

In the 2008 season, the Washington Nationals opened their new stadium Nationals Park. Pop and Joshua and I were there for the Inaugural game, when in the bottom of the ninth inning Ryan hit a walk off home run! At the end of the 2009 season, Ryan was awarded with his first Gold Glove award for the National League third baseman.

Yankees (The Evil Empire)

Mario Rivera Drawing

Mickey Mantle Drawing

Babe Ruth Drawing

Closer Pitcher Mariano Rivera

Every one knows how I feel about the Yankees, but you can't deny the talent of some of the players over the decades. Mariano Rivera is one of those players, nicknamed the "sand-man" because he puts the other team to sleep when he enters the game. Mariano will be in the Hall of Fame one day, and will probably be considered the best closer that ever played the game.

Mickey Mantle

One of the of the New York Yankees "Sultans of Swat". My parents first date was in 1961. They went to Yankee Stadium to see Roger Maris, and Mickey Mantle in their epic home run battle.

Babe Ruth

There is no question that Babe was one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Although he never played for the Baltimore Orioles, he was born just a couple blocks from what is now Orioles Park at Camden Yards. His number was retired at Yankee Stadium on June 13,1948 just a couple months before his death. That day was also my fathers tenth birthday, and first birthday in the United States after emigrating from England. The photograph that this drawing was done from was taken by New York News photographer Nat Fein. In 1948 the photograph won a Pulitzer Prize, and has been called by the New York Times, "the most celebrated photograph in sports history."

Josh Bard and Joshua Bardsley (2009)

Josh Bard Drawing

Joshua Bardsley drawing

In 2009 my son, Joshua Bardsley, played little league for the Kent Island Youth Baseball and Softball Club. He Played middle infielder for the Zussman Hooks. The team went undefeated in the regular season, and steamed through the end of the year double elimination tournament without a loss, winning the championship. Joshua went the entire regular season without a strikeout, and had an on base percentage of .827. That same season, the Washington Nationals had a catcher named Josh Bard.

Matt Wieters (2008)

Matt Wieters drawing

Matt Wieters about to autograph my drawing at a Bowie Baysox game.

The Orioles number one pick in the 2007 draft out of Georgia Tech. Matt is a big switch hitting power hitting catcher with a cannon for an arm. Joshua and I went to see him play for the Bowie Baysox (Orioles AA) in his first professional season. In 2009 he was called up to the big club where he is the starting catcher.

Boog Powell (2008)

Boog Powell drawing

Boog Powell was the big power hitting first baseman for the Orioles the year I was born. I got him to autograph this drawing at Camden Yards, at Boogs barbecue stand where he still signs autographs at every game.

George Sherrill (2009)

George Sherill drawing

George Sherrill autographing my drawing at Orioles fanfest 2009

George Sherrill was the Orioles closer pitcher for most of the 2009 season. Towards the end of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired him to be their closer for the playoff stretch. George was nicknamed the "brim reaper" because of the way he wears his ball cap with no curl in the brim.

Luke Scott 2008

Luke Scott Drawing

Luke Scott signing my drawing at Orioles 2009 fanfest

Luke Scott is a christian, and points to heaven every time he crosses home plate. I tried to capture this in my drawing.

Ray Knight 1986 World Series MVP

Ray Knight drawing

Me with Ray Knight at National Park

If you read the Gary Carter post, you know I was a Mets fan when they won the World Series in 1986. Ray Knight was the third baseman, and MVP of the series. In 2009 he did the pre and post game show for the Washington National games. He autographed my drawing at National Park.

Alexander Ovechkin (2009)

Autographed Alexander Ovechkin Drawing

Alex autographing my drawing

Arguably the best hockey player on the planet, The Russian Rocket Alexander Ovechkin, is Joshua's favorite athlete ever. We got a chance to get his autograph at the Washington Capitals 2009 season ticket holders party. We were guests of the Hoover family.

Brian Roberts (2008)

Brian autographed at Orioles 2009 fanfest

My oldest son Joshua played second base for his first little league team. Brian Roberts of the Baltimore Orioles is his favorite all time player. Joshua and I went to the Orioles 2009 fanfest and Brian autographed my drawing book. Joshua also got him to autograph a jersey.

Gary Carter (1986)

Gary's autograph on a photo of me with his drawing (1986)

The player card Gary sent me

Gary Carter was one of my favorite baseball players during college. I spent my summers in New Jersey and followed the New York Mets during the season. When the Mets won the world series in 1986, I had the privilege of going to the World Champions reception in the Rose Garden at the White House. I slipped and envelope to Gary with photos of the drawing I had done of him. Months later I received an envelope from Shea Stadium that contained my photos autographed, with an autographed player card from Gary. I did mail him the drawing at Shea Stadium. In 2003, Gary was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.