BASEBALL IS HIS CALLING CARD Sports photographer Gregg Forwerck takes the pictures that shape the sports card industry BY KURT DUSTERBERG
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREGG FORWERCK
I
f you grew up a baseball fan, there’s a good chance you collected some baseball cards as a kid. Whether you remember the era of swapping for your favorite major leaguers with your buddies on
summer afternoons, or you meticulously filed rookie cards in sleeves and binders, the hobby holds a special place for countless fans. For more than 30 years, Gregg Forwerck has been the man behind those cards. Since 1989, he has been snapping the pictures that have graced Topps cards and other brands, reimagining the hobby with some creative flair along the way. And it’s not just baseball. Forwerck has documented the prospects, the stars and the journeymen from pro football and hockey too, enjoying a front-row seat for some unforgettable moments. In 1989, Forwerck tracked Deion Sanders when he returned a punt for a touchdown for the first time in his NFL career. When Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan walked off the field after his final win in 1993, he captured the end of an era. And when Americans were captivated by Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa’s pursuit of the single-season home run record in 1998, he was along for the chase. Forwerck, who lives near Charlotte, spends a lot of his time in the Triangle. He has served as the Carolina Hurricanes team photographer since their arrival in 1997 and also works for North Carolina State University as a football photographer. But it’s the three decades of sports cards that will be his legacy. With close to 100,000 images making their way onto sports cards, Forwerck’s portfolio is unrivaled. Not bad for a kid from Toledo, Ohio who started collecting baseball cards as an 8-year-old. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Greg Forwerck photographs players for the Cactus League in Arizona; Forwerck takes a photo with Barry Bonds; Forwerck works with Ken Griffey Jr.; Josh Hamilton takes time for a photo with Forwerck.
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