Fenway photographer makes a splash with post-game pics

Billie Weiss has a knack for capturing Powerade showers.

June 16, 2016

2 minutes to read

After Hanley Ramirez belted a towering three-run homer over the Green Monster Wednesday night, the Red Sox first baseman was showered with cheers from the Fenway faithful. A couple of hours later, after the team completed a 6-4 victory over the Orioles, Ramirez, along with NESN’s Gary Striewski, got a different kind of shower — straight out of the Powerade bucket.

It was the latest in a series of post-game soakings following dramatic Red Sox wins this season. The celebrations centered around different players, but they all had one thing in common: Fenway photographer Billie Weiss.

Hanley Ramirez got a Powerade bath alongside NESN reporter Gary Striewski.

It was another NESN reporter — Guerin Austin — who got soaked with Powerade May 14, following a game-ending David Ortiz walk-off single. Once again, Weiss was poised to capture the moment.

David Ortiz and NESN's Guerin Austin got #34 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as he is given a Powerade bath alongside NESN reporter Guerin Austin after hitting a game winning walk-off single during the eleventh inning of a game against the Houston Astros on May 14, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Ortiz; Guerin Austin

David Ortiz and NESN’s Guerin Austin got a Powerade bath May 14.

We asked Weiss what goes into getting pictures like these. He said with the number of exciting finishes at Fenway so far this season, they’re becoming easier to anticipate.

“By this point in the season, we almost expect it to happen,” said Weiss. “It’s become a thing the team has been doing when someone has a big game. With this in mind, I typically stay focused on the player being interviewed after the game. Sometimes the Powerade shower happens, and sometimes it doesn’t. It happened (Wednesday) night, and Hanley’s reaction was priceless.”

As for the Ortiz-Austin shot, Weiss recalls, “This one was after the most exciting game of the season so far. David Ortiz had hit a clutch RBI triple in the ninth inning to tie the game, and then hit a double in the eleventh inning, this time a walk-off to win the game. I was actually shooting the celebration from the third base side, opposite the Red Sox dugout, but ran over to the Red Sox dugout with my wide angle just in time for the Powerade bath. It worked out well. The volume of the splash filled the frame, and the reaction of both David and Guerin make the picture.”

Other Sox stars who’ve gotten drenched this season include Jackie Bradley Jr. on May 11.

BOSTON, MA - MAY 11: Xander Bogaerts #2 dumps gatorade on Jackie Bradley Jr. #25 of the Boston Red Sox following a victory against the Oakland Athletics on May 11, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. It was his second home run of the night. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jackie Bradley Jr.; Brock Holt

Xander Bogaerts dumps Powerade on Jackie Bradley Jr. after a victory against the Oakland Athletics on May 11.

And Xander Bogaerts one day later, on May 12.

BOSTON, MA - MAY 12: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as a tub of Powerade is poured on him following a victory against the Houston Astros on May 12, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Xander Bogaerts

Xander Bogaerts has a tub of Powerade poured on him following a victory against the Houston Astros on May 12.

“The team has had a lot of fun with it,” said Weiss. “Sometimes they go for the full cooler, and sometimes it’s just a cup of water. That variation has helped so we’re not shooting the same picture over and over again. It’s become a fun little mini-series of pictures this season.”