Bob Rinker, photographer for the Aberdeen IronBirds, was named the recipient of the Legends of Baseball George Goodall Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to baseball through both playing and photography over many decades. As a young boy, Rinker began playing baseball and taking photographs, passions he has continued into his 60s. He plays in the organized baseball tournaments held by Legends of Baseball in Cooperstown every September after the IronBirds season ends. Rinker feels honored to have received the award, which recognizes those who demonstrate respect for the game and their fellow players, and sees it as an acceptance of his contributions to baseball.

1. Commitment.SomethingeverygreatplayerinCooperstownhasdemonstratedtothe sportof baseball.
IronBirdsphotographerBobRinker’scommitmenttobaseballhasearnedhimrecognitionin
Cooperstownbythe Legendsof Baseball.
Rinkerwasnamedthe recipientof the Legendsof Baseball George Goodall Lifetime AchievementAward
thispast year.Rinkermetthe requirementsof demonstratingrespectforteammates,opponents,
officials,andthe game itself while possessing knowledge of baseball.The final requirementof the award
isthe “willingnesstogive ithisall”.
“I had no ideaIwas nominated,”saidRinker. “Whentheycalledmyname myjaw hitthe table.”
The photographerforthe IronBirds, Rinker’scommitmenttobaseball andphotographybothbegan
whenhe wasa youngboy.
“My firstlittle league team wasthe nine to10 [yearolds] PiratesinEdgewoodin1972,” saidRinker.“I
startedphotographybackin the seventhgrade.”
Rinkerplayedbaseball throughhishighschool andcollegeyears.Aftercollege,Rinkerhadsome gap
yearsbefore returningtobaseball inhisearlythirties.
“I thinkI was31, 32 whenI got back intocompetitivebaseball andI’ve beenplayingeversince.It’skept
me young,”saidRinker.“For me to be able to hang withthe 30 yearolds,that’sprettynice.”
While continuingbaseball,Rinkerworkedinaphotoshop and beganto workas freelance photographer
whenlocal newspapersbecameshortstaffedonphotographers.Manyof hisassignmentswere tocover
the gamesof AberdeenIronBirds.SoonRinker’sbaseball andphotographyworldswouldcollide.
“Afterthe 2002 season,the IronBirdsneededanew photographer.Theycalledme andaskedme to
bringin myportfolio.Iwentinandwas hiredonthe spot,” saidRinker.
Rinker’scommitmenttothe game was recognizedbyBill Wood, aformerphotographerforAberdeen.
Wood convincedRinkertocome playin at Legendsof Baseball inCooperstown,NY. Legendsof Baseball
holdsorganizedtournamentsforadultstoplayincompetitive baseballtournaments.
“I’ll give ita try and see whatthis ‘Legendsof Baseball’isall about,”saidRinker.
Now,everySeptemberafterthe IronBirds’sseasonends,RinkerheadstoCooperstowntoplaybaseball.
It has become more thanjustplaying the game;ratherit isa commitmenttohisfellow teammatesand
the game.
“It meansa lot more thanjust throwing,hitting,andcatchingthe ball,”saidRinker.“Ithas allowedme
to meetsomany differentpeople.It’safamily.Thesepeople come fromacrossthe UnitedStates,hardly
any of themlive close together.”
Rinker’steamconsistsof playersfromMichigan,Idaho,New York,andDelaware.

2. “If itwasn’tfor baseball theywouldnothave metandtheyare justdear friends,”saidRinker.“We talk
to each otherat least once a week.”
Rinker’scommitmentandrespecttothe game of baseball anditsplayersledtohisrecognition.The
Legendsof Baseball George Goodall Lifetime AchievementAward isnamedafterGeorge Goodall.
Goodall wasknownforhis life-longlove forthe game of baseball.Goodallplayedinthe 1930’s withthe
likesof Satchel Paige.Goodall playedintois90’s.
Rinkercalledthe recognition“unbelievable”.
“They[Legends of Baseball] compare thisawardtobeingintheirhall of fame,”saidRinker. “It’san
acceptance of what I’ve done andwhat I’ve broughttothe Legendsof Baseball andwhatI’ve broughtto
the game of baseball andwhatI’ve takenfromthe game of baseball.Twodaysafterthe ceremony,Iwas
walkingdownthe streetinCooperstown[NY];otherplayersrecognizedme outof uniformand
congratulatedme.Itknockedme fora loop”.
Rinker’scommitmenttobaseball goesbeyondthe diamondandfurtherthanhiscamera.He has
authenticOriole uniformswhichhe proudlywearswhenhe playsinthe Legendsof Baseballgames.He
alsohas authenticwool jerseysfromthe ‘30’she enjoyswearingonthe oldfieldsinCooperstown.
Rinkersaysthe oldjerseysaddto the experience.
“I’m standinginthe same batterbox MickeyMantle did,”saidRinker.“I wasplayingthirdbase inthe
same place BrooksRobinsonwasplaying.”
The way Rinkerspeaksabouttakingpicturesata baseball game issimilar tohow a playerwouldtalk
aboutfieldingaball.He said that youknow and learnthe game.
“You can anticipate the play,”saidRinker.“You’re able topositionyourselftogetthe bestpicture.”
His love andcommitmentforbaseball still makesRinkersmile whenwe walksonthe field.
“My wife will attesttothis,Iam a tenyearold kidwhenIrun out intothe field,”saidRinker.
Workingas the photographerforthe AberdeenIronBirdshasbeennothingshortof amazingforRinker.
“The love of photography,the love of baseball,if youmeshthem, thisiswonderful,”saidRinker. “It
doessomethingtoyou,itgetsinyou, andit’sa fantasticthing.Ilove baseball.”