2024 Lifetime Achievement Awards 

PBPA Hosts Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Clemente Museum

On December 7, 2024, the Professional Baseball Photographers’ Association (PBPA) hosted its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Awards, presented by Sony, at the historic Clemente Museum in Pittsburgh, PA. This landmark event honored an esteemed group of photographers whose work has profoundly shaped baseball’s visual history through their artistry and storytelling.

The inaugural class of honorees included some of the most influential figures in baseball photography, each of whom made a lasting impact on the way the game has been documented and remembered:

• Charles Conlon (1868–1945) – A pioneer of early 20th-century baseball photography, Conlon’s images, many taken for The Sporting News, captured the raw and gritty essence of the game’s golden era. His most famous photograph—Ty Cobb sliding into third base in 1909—remains one of the most celebrated sports images in history. His portraits of Hall of Famers like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Walter Johnson have become essential pieces of baseball history.

• Nat Fein (1914–2000) – A Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, Fein is best known for his haunting and emotional portrait of Babe Ruth, The Babe Bows Out, taken at Yankee Stadium in 1948. Working for the New York Herald Tribune, he had a unique ability to infuse deep human emotion into his photographs, capturing not just the game but the players’ personal journeys.

• Hy Peskin (1915–2005) – A trailblazer in the use of 35mm cameras, Peskin transformed sports photography by capturing dynamic action shots that were previously unattainable. His work in Sports Illustrated and Life featured legends like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Joe DiMaggio. He is also credited with some of the most famous images of Ted Williams and Jackie Robinson, helping redefine the art of sports photography.

• Charles "Teenie" Harris (1908–1998) – A legendary African American photographer from Pittsburgh, Harris extensively documented the Negro Leagues, capturing the spirit of teams like the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Homestead Grays. As a photographer for the Pittsburgh Courier, his work provides an invaluable record of Black baseball history, featuring icons like Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige. His images not only preserved key baseball moments but also highlighted the broader cultural significance of the sport in Black communities.

• Louis Requena (1919–2013) – Best known for his long association with Topps baseball cards, Requena’s portraits of players from the 1960s and 1970s defined the look of the era for fans and collectors. His images of stars like Hank Aaron, Tom Seaver, and Willie Stargell captured the essence of baseball’s golden age, bringing both personality and action to life in his work.

• Barney Stein (1905–1993) – As the official photographer of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1937 to 1957, Stein’s camera chronicled the team’s most unforgettable moments, from Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier to Brooklyn’s first and only World Series championship in 1955. His work at Ebbets Field helped preserve the legacy of the Dodgers before their move to Los Angeles, capturing the deep connection between the team and its Brooklyn fanbase.

• Ernest C. Withers (1922–2007) – A renowned photojournalist, Withers documented the integration of baseball, capturing the experiences of Negro League players and the impact of Jackie Robinson’s rise. His photographs of teams like the Memphis Red Sox and the Birmingham Black Barons showcase the struggles and triumphs of Black baseball players during a transformative era in American history.

• Ozzie Sweet (1918–2013) – Famous for his staged, cinematic portraits, Sweet’s images often graced magazine covers, including Sports Illustrated. His carefully crafted compositions of baseball legends such as Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams gave players a larger-than-life quality, blending artistry with athleticism to create some of the most iconic baseball images of the mid-20th century.

PBPA President Alex Trautwig opened the evening with remarks on the importance of baseball photography in preserving the sport’s history and engaging fans across generations.

The event featured special guest speakers, including Duane Rieder, Executive Director and Curator of the Roberto Clemente Museum, who spoke about the power of photography in capturing the legacy of players like Clemente. Another moving speech came from Lionel Harris, the son of award winner Charles "Teenie" Harris, who reflected on his father’s profound impact in documenting Pittsburgh’s Black baseball history and the Negro Leagues.

Held in the inspiring setting of the Clemente Museum, the ceremony was a resounding success, celebrating those who have dedicated their careers to capturing the essence of baseball. The PBPA’s inaugural awards set the foundation for future celebrations of the vital role that photography plays in America’s pastime.

Prior to the evening awards ceremony, the PBPA also hosted a panel discussion - “Seeing in Black and Yellow: Pittsburgh’s Team Photographers” - featuring Karl Roser of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Harrison Barden of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Photos by Grace Beal