KEN SMOLLER’S LAST COMISKEY NOMINATED FOR 2024 CHICAGO WRITERS BOOK WARD
CHICAGO, IL –The Chicago Writers Association (CWA) has nominated Last Comiskey, a riveting sports narrative by first time author Ken Smoller, for its prestigious 2024 Book Award (non-fiction). Smoller’s work, which dives deep into the rich history, unforgettable moments, and legacy of Comiskey Park, has captivated sports fans and literary enthusiasts alike, securing its place among this year’s most celebrated books.
Published by Eckhartz Press to widespread acclaim, Last Comiskey explores the stories and atmosphere surrounding Chicago’s iconic baseball stadium and celebrates the final surprising season of the “Baseball Palace of the World” – Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox from 1910 to 1990 before meeting the wrecking ball in 1991. Ozzie Guillén, one of the most important figures in the history of the team and who was on the field for the last season of the celebrated ballpark, contributed the book’s foreward.
Smoller, a lifelong baseball aficionado and Chicago native, captures the essence of the park’s influence on the city’s culture and community. Through a unique blend of personal anecdotes, player profiles, and in-depth historical research, Smoller sheds new light on what Comiskey Park meant to fans and players alike. The book celebrates not only the beloved stadium but also the spirit of Chicago’s South Side and its passionate sports fans.
“We’re thrilled that Last Comiskey has been nominated by the CWA,” said Smoller. “This book was a labor of love, created to honor the fans and their unforgettable memories at Comiskey. I hope it reminds readers of the irreplaceable connection between a city and its sports teams.”
The CWA Book Awards are given annually to honor outstanding books by Illinois authors or books with a significant connection to the state. Winners will be announced by the CWA in December, celebrating both the rich literary tradition of Chicago and the accomplishments of local writers.
Last Comiskey is available at www.lastcomiskeybook.com. For more information about the Chicago Writers Association Book Awards, visit ChicagoWritersAssociation.org.
About the Author
Ken Smoller (aka “Stadium Vagabond”) is a photographer and writer based in Brookline Massachusetts, with childhood roots in Chicagoland. In over three decades of extensive traveling, he has photographed more than 2,350 stadiums in 48 states and 24 countries.
Smoller’s mantra is that one of the best ways to understand the culture and fabric of a locale is through its sporting arenas and stadiums.
This quixotic, never-ending photographic scavenger hunt began while Ken was a Photo Editor in the early 1990s at the Michigan Daily, the newspaper for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In those days, he had the good fortune of covering the iconic “Fab Five” team’s shocking Final Four run and former Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard’s Heisman Trophy season. Ken’s favorite sports photograph, however, was when he captured his beloved White Sox celebrating on the field in Houston following their 2005 World Series victory.
Today, Ken runs the “Stadium Vagabond” blog (www.stadiumvagabond.com and on social media @stadiumvagabond) to share his photographs and stories from years of sporting adventures around the globe. When he is not at the ballpark, Ken works as a commercial real estate attorney and lives with his wife, Jaime, and two sons, Simon and Charlie. He received his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Smoller also spent his college summers back in Chicago as a vendor at new Comiskey Park during its first three seasons and, on Sox off-days, at Wrigley Field and Soldier Field. Despite living in the Boston area, his sporting loves remain the Chicago White Sox, Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks.