Paul Baillargeon
-
- Title:
- Official Team Photographer
Bio
Paul Baillargeon has been a fixture at Gateway and is returning for his 20th year, the longest tenure in Frontier League history of any franchise. He began taking photographs the first year Gateway became a team in the Frontier League in 2001 at Sauget Field.
Paul was inducted into the IBCA / Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, for media contributions, in May 2018 and also the Mon-Clair Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011. Paul was donated his time with local charities, including being honored as the "Volunteer of the Year" for the Epilepsy Foundation Greater Southern Illinois in 2014.
Paul has captured some of the most important and dramatic pictures in Grizzlies history, including their first Frontier Championship in Evansville in 2003, two no-hit ballgames pitched by Adam Jahnsen and Tim Brown at GMC & GCS Ballpark, dramatic walk-off victories and the biggest library of photos of Izzy the Grizzlie.
Paul has an extensive background in photojournalism and sports photography for almost 30 years covering the Greater St. Louis and Metro East sports scene. Paul also worked for Action Imaging for nearly 15 years. His photography has been a feature with the Belleville News Democrat, St. Louis Post Dispatch, The Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis and The Southern. He also has freelanced for many newspapers across the country, including Associated Press.
Paul has been the official All-Star photographer three times and has attended eight Frontier League All-Star games.
Paul is a Millstadt native and has a son, Jason, and daughter, Shannon. In June 2018, Paul became a first-time grandfather with Remy and twins Celine and Peter born in 2020. In his spare time, he likes to attend sporting events, cook, travel, and volunteer for local charities.
"I am excited to be at Gateway during the 2021 season and want to have an extended playoff run in September," Paul said.
Paul was awarded the Frontier League's Commissioner Excellence award, becoming the first-ever Gateway Grizzlies staff member and only photographer in the league to receive the honor.