Opie, son of Pastor Marcus Otterstad, is a sports artist for the Houston Astros. A graduate of St. Olaf (in studio art and psychology), he is the official artist for the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame. You’ve likely seen his work, but if you’ve been to Lutherhill, you’ve certainly seen his work there, in a mosaic above the kitchen, in the dining hall. Opie still volunteers at camp (Chrysalis) every year, the first week. As a PK, he has spent every summer at camp since he was a kid. He describes camp as “utopia.”

  

Chris Lake (on his birthday) and I went to Minute Maid Park to meet with Opie, hear about his work and watch the game (6-3 win against the Angels). Chris, also a camp counselor, tells me Opie once did a Bob Marley mural on the wall of one of the cabins. 

Opie has spent his life combining a love for baseball and a love for art. Many of his pieces have a 3D affect, incorporating bats, plates and more. 

   
 
It turns out Minute Maid Park in Houston holds the largest collection of his works. 

   
    
    

Astounding that some of the phenomenal players of the negro leagues were unknown. This piece is to the unknown player. 

    
If you look very closely, you can make out the faint face of a former player on top of the Bud Light billboard. Can you name him?

  

Friends waiting for him to finish practicing so they can play ball. Notice the bat, glove, hat, clock. This has a Rockwellesque quality to it: 

  
   
As we walked through the public and private areas of the park, Opie was stopped frequently and greeted by owners, players, spectators and janitors. 

A view from the outfield:

  
   
 
The announcers getting ready for the game, wave at us (well, actually, at Opie).

 

Keuchel is popular here. 14-0 at home. Folks walking around with beards. Here is one of the best pitchers matched up against Trout, one of the best batters:

 

Fans in their Keuchel beards and shirts:

   

  

No matter how good you are, even the pros have to practice.