Thread by @kodacohen

We call it the daily miracle. Late Friday night in Los Angeles, yet another request for divine intervention. Here's the story about how the #Pujols700 photos just barely made their way into print. 1/

Normally I arrive early at ballparks I'm not familiar with. Dodger Stadium has changed a bit so I'm there four hours in advance, checking photography positions with the Dodgers team photographer. 2/

He tells me that they do not allow laptop editing inside the photo well shooting positions, which gets my attention since it's a night game on deadline and that's how I normally edit in St. Louis. This could be a long night, but certainly #Pujols won't hit two. 3/

The alternative is the media workroom, located close by behind home plate through a tunnel. The only issue is that you can only walk there in-between innings. A few photographers are sending photos through their cameras via their iPhones but I'm a technical moron. 4/

My photo deadline if he hits 700 tonight is 10pm CDT. We have contingency plans if it happens later, but those deadlines are extremely tight. If it happens very late the photos will go online but not appear until Sunday's edition of the newspaper. 5/

At 9:56 pm, Pujols hits 699 in the third inning. As soon as the half-inning is over I race to the workroom (too fast for the security guard who told me to walk) and begin editing those photos. I'm in a rush to get them sent quickly but ok on time. 6/

The workroom has a large television showing the game. I'm still busy sending photos at the end of the third inning. The fourth begins. #Cardinals get some hits. I glance at the TV and see Tommy Edman at bat. It's panic time. 7/

In the lineup Edman bats before Pujols. I grab my camera and head out toward the field, BUT I can only enter the field between half-innings to return to my spot along the first-base line. There's two outs and I'm hoping Edman gets the third. If not, I'm in trouble. 8/

The newspaper rarely sends photographers on the road, except during playoff time. For this special occasion, Pujols' quest for 700, I was assigned an 8-game road trip. It's important to our readers. It's expensive for the paper.

Edman singles. I'm stuck behind home plate. 9/

Not only am I stuck behind home plate at a gate that won't open until the half-inning break, I might have to photograph through a net about three feet in front of where security allows me to stand. It's a tough position for photography.

Queue the first miracle. 10/

A pitching change is called. There's a break in the game. The gate is open. Running back to my spot, the security guard not happy with me but I ignore him.

Pujols comes up to bat. 11/

At 10:22pm CDT #Pujols700 happens. He runs down the first base line, arms outstretched with emotion I've never seen from him with the exception of World Series victories. This would not have looked very good photographed from behind him at home plate. 12/

The game is stopped briefly for the celebration. Eventually Goldschmidt strikes out swinging and I'm fast-walking to the workroom again. It's late, very late. But the editors back at @stltoday are ready. 13/

First photos are sent at 10:42pm. Weeks before, the editors had planned a full page poster to be the front page of the Sports section when 700 was hit. Ace reporter @dgoold had his story written, awaiting the 700 moment for final details and hitting the send button. 14/

A trio of editors start to rework the pages for new photos and the story and headlines. The poster front page for the Sports section is put together. The final photo is sent at 11:22pm. 15/

In the end, the printing of the newspaper was delayed 45 minutes. It's not something we strive for, but history is history. My wife said there was a slight late delivery Saturday morning, but the edition carried photos and stories less than nine hours old. 16/

Yesterday evening at the airport I met a 40+ year subscriber. We got to talking. I showed him some photos from the game. Told him about the e-edition, if he ever decided to replace his flip phone. Mostly he wanted to make sure that they would be in his paper when he got home. 17/

The daily miracle will continue for as long as readers agree to fund it. Thanks for supporting your local newspaper. 18/end

One more, and it's Twitter so whatever...

At the end of the night Pujols was asked by media what he'd say to Dodgers relief pitcher Phil Bickford? Said he'd thank him for hanging that slider.

I thank manager Dave Roberts for that pitching change.

19/really the end