Reminisce Extra – July 2018

SPOTLI T

14 REMINISCE.COM * JULY 2018

IT'S WHO YOU KNOW

M

y dad, Alton R. Kaste, was

a general news photographer

for theChicago Tribunefor

30 years. During that time,

he had contacts with many

fellow photographers from area newspapers,

including theSun-TimesandDaily News,and

with United Press International

photo staffers and others—

especially those who covered

Chicago sports teams.

On a number of occasions, once at

Wrigley Field (home of the National

League Chicago Cubs) and again at

the old Comiskey Park (home of the

American League Chicago White

Sox), my twin brother, Brad, and

I were photographed with several

of the pro ballplayers.

On a Thursday afternoon in the

summer of 1956 , most likely July

26 , the White Sox were playing the dreaded

New York Yankees at Comiskey Park. One of

Dad’s photographer buddies cajoled star player

Mickey Mantle into stopping for a quick photo

with Brad and me before the game.

If memory serves me correctly—we were

only 10 then—Mickey was somewhat hesitant

when asked to pose with us but

finally gave in. No telling why

he was looking off to his right

when the photographer snapped

the shutter, but that’s clearly a

wad of chewing tobacco in his

left cheek.

I don’t remember the final score,

but the Yankees probably won,

as they regularly feasted on the

lesser pro ball teams of that era. •

REAL-LIFE DOUBLEHEADER twins

Howard, left, and Brad met baseball

legend Mickey Mantle at Comiskey Park.

Close

Encounter

Later that year,

in Game 5 of the

1956 World Series,

New York Yankee

switch-hitter and

outfielder Mickey

Mantle caught Gil

Hodges’ drive to

deep center field,

saving Don Larsen’s

perfect game

against the

Brooklyn Dodgers.

Touching base with your best contacts pays off.

BY HOWARD F. KASTE • MORTON GROVE, IL

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