Ken Griffey Jr.’s wife, Melissa, jokingly asked if he could help with some chores at home over the weekend. His response? “No, I have to work the Masters.” They haven’t spoken much in a few days, he added playfully.
But it’s Masters week, and the Hall of Fame baseball legend couldn’t resist the rare chance to work as a photographer for Masters.com, capturing images of some of golf’s biggest stars like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Phil Mickelson at one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
“I’m not here to take anyone’s job, but I’m here to learn as much as I can about sports photography and the history of the Masters,” said Griffey. “To be able to sit here and soak it all in for four or five days has been unbelievable.”
At 55, Griffey, a 13-time All-Star, admits that his interest in sports photography is a more recent development. He first picked up a camera when his children started playing sports.
“When I’m in the stands just smiling, people come up and talk to me,” Griffey explained with a laugh. “But if I have a camera, they don’t know what I’m doing. It gave me a way to focus on the moment with my kids and not critique their play.”
Since then, Griffey has taken his photography to a new level, shooting major events like the World Series, All-Star games, NFL games, and even soccer matches. Last year, he had the chance to drive the pace car at the Indy 500. While this is his first time photographing golf, Griffey has played at Augusta National once before. (He modestly claims a 13 handicap, though some close to him suggest it’s closer to scratch.)
“I’m probably best at shooting baseball because I understand it so well,” said Griffey, who had a remarkable 22-year career in the majors, finishing with 2,781 hits, 630 home runs, and 10 Gold Gloves. “Football, too,” he added.
Griffey has his own photography equipment, including long telephoto lenses. When he first started out in photography, he reached out to his former Seattle Mariners teammate, Randy Johnson, for advice. Johnson had taken photojournalism classes and worked at sporting events after retiring, and he shared several tips with Griffey.
Though Griffey is still learning, he’s proud of his progress. “I’m getting better because I’m starting to understand what’s expected of me,” he said of his work with Masters.com. “Anyone can take 30,000 pictures, but it’s so much more than that. The lighting, the background—those details matter. A good picture can be ruined by a poor background.”
Looking ahead, Griffey expressed interest in shooting motocross next. But for now, he’s thrilled to be part of Masters week, documenting what could be some historic moments. “I like it all, because every sport presents its own challenges,” he said. “This has been a fantastic week, and I’m really grateful for the opportunity.”
