The New York Yankees paid tribute to the late Associated Press photojournalist Kathy Willens with a moment of silence before their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. Willens, who passed away at the age of 74 from ovarian cancer, had retired in 2021 after a distinguished career spanning nearly 45 years.
As one of the AP's pioneering female staff photographers, Willens left behind a legacy of over 90,000 images capturing a wide range of subjects, from world leaders and historic events to sports moments and human interest stories.
Her work was so esteemed that the Yankees had previously honored her with a special pregame ceremony upon her retirement. Yankees manager Aaron Boone presented Willens with a framed print of her iconic photograph of David Cone following his perfect game in 1999, signed by the pitcher himself.
Willens began her professional journey as a freelance photographer for suburban Detroit newspapers in 1974 before joining The Miami News as a photo lab technician and later as a staff photographer. She joined the AP in 1976 and covered significant events such as the 1980 Mariel boatlift and the aftermath of riots that year.
Throughout her career, Willens documented six Olympics, 11 Super Bowls, NBA finals, World Series, and various other championships. She relocated to AP's New York office in 1993 and also reported from Somalia during its civil war before returning to New York to cover news and sports.
Willens received numerous accolades for her work, including an Associated Press Managing Editors Award for Reportorial Excellence and multiple victories in prestigious photo competitions held by the Baseball Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Her contributions to journalism and photography have left an indelible mark on the industry, and her passing is mourned by colleagues, friends, and admirers worldwide.
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