The New Hidden Ball Trick

BASEBALL

Angels leftfielder Juan Rivera tried to avoid a delivery from A's pitcher Edgar Gonzalez during a game in Anaheim on Sept. 27, but the ball found an opening in his jersey and slipped inside. Rivera went 1 for 2 (and was hit by another pitch) as the Angels won the game 7-4. The 31-year-old from Venezuela, who played for the Yankees and the Expos before coming to Anaheim in 2005, finished the season with a .287 batting average, 25 home runs and 88 RBIs.

"THIS PHOTO WAS A HAPPY SURPRISE. I WAS CONCENTRATING ON THE FIELD WHILE A REMOTE-CONTROL CAMERA WATCHED THE BATTER. OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE I SAW RIVERA REACT TO GETTING HIT BY A PITCH. LATER I LOOKED AT THE IMAGE IN THE REMOTE. IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST THAT I DIDN'T SEE IT."

PHOTOGRAPHER

MARK J. TERRILL

AP