My History at Comiskey Park

I have a long history with the game of baseball. It started in the early 1950’s when my father and mother took my brother Bob and me to our first game at Comiskey Park. It was the Chicago White Sox against the Washington Senators. It was a night game, dazzling lights, yelling fans and amazing atmosphere. Oh yes, and there was the game, the crack of the bat, the speed of the ball, the running and sliding. I don’t remember who won but it took me a long time to get over the excitement.

As a teenager, I took a job as a fill-in vendor hired on if the crowd was going to be big enough to hire extras. I mostly sold peanuts,15 cents a bag. My share was 20 per cent or 3 cents. There was an older full-time vendor there by the name of Irving. I remember one Sunday double header, I sold 600 bags and made 18 dollars. I went home o on the El with my pockets full of nickels and dimes and quarters. I thought I was rich.

In the 80’s, I had become a photographer and still honing my craft. I had a job as stringer for the Chicago Journal covering the South Side White Sox. I got a picture in the paper about twice a month. Irving was still there, a bit older but still walking the confines of the ballpark. I made a portrait of him.

The last part of my story was to record the demolition of the stately stadium.
I was there for the first blow of the wrecking ball until the last remaining score board came down.