Norman Einstein's

ISSUE 05 (10/09)

"All-Stars In the Stands"

by Stephanie Lim

[Stephanie is a photographer and journalist based in Chicago. When not documenting urban decay or modern rituals, she is busily plotting her next global trek. Check out more of Stephanie's work at her site Limpire.]

Adam Carter dogged up and down the steep aisles at Wrigley Field. I struggled to keep up.

I spent a day tailing Carter as he went from giving a talk as chariman of the Cause & Affect Foundation to pouring beer at Wrigley during a night game, the Chicago Cubs hosting the Milwaukee Brewers. Carter, a 16-year veteran vendor, has poured at Comiskey Park and Soldier Field as well.

Carter introduced me to fellow vendor Lloyd Rutzky. Rutzky has vended at Chicago's ball parks since 1965. A White Sox fan, Rutzky is "always running," according to Carter, and prides himself on knowing exactly how many cases of beer each vendor sells every night.

Vending can be competitive, competitive as the game on the field. Each vendor typically stakes out a territory. At Wrigley, only certain vendors -- like Rutzky -- are allowed in the 100-section seats closest to the field where the tips are better.

While some vendors don't show up until the second or third inning when the seats are full, Carter and many others are already hustling by the time the starting lineups are announced.

"If I have to go to work for three hours," Carter says, "I am going to give it my all. I don't want to go home at the end of the night knowing I made $70 less than someone else."

Remember that next time you're at the game cursing the heel draggers on the field. Just take a look around you at the other uniformed team busting their asses in the stands. The beer vendors are working just as hard as anyone in the park.

thecommissary