Many in Chicago, including Cubs fans, regard Old Comiskey Park as the true baseball palace of the city. Some even argue that it was the best ballpark ever built, surpassing Fenway Park, Tiger Stadium, Wrigley Field, and Yankee Stadium. In true Chicago fashion, we often don’t appreciate what we have until it’s gone, and now we long for the days of Old Comiskey.

“Last Comiskey” is a new book that celebrates the final, surprising season of Comiskey Park in 1990. Written by first-time author Ken Smoller and published by Eckhartz Press, this book serves as a nostalgic tribute to Comiskey Park, the home of the Chicago White Sox from 1910 until its demolition in 1991. The book’s foreword, or “First Pitch,” is penned by Ozzie Guillén, a key figure in the history of the team who played during the ballpark’s final season.

“When the history of the game is written, Comiskey Park is really important,” said Guillén. “We may have taken that history for granted while we were playing there. At the end of the day, you think back about how many great memories took place at Comiskey Park.”

“During the historic final season of Comiskey Park, my goal was to capture the ballpark from every angle to preserve my childhood memories,” stated Smoller. “This book provides a great opportunity to share these photographs with White Sox and baseball fans, many of whom never got the chance to see the ‘Baseball Palace of the World’ before it was gone. With talk of a new ballpark in the South Loop, it is important to remember what was lost when Speedway Wrecking demolished the historic structure in 1991.”

This book complements the 2023 documentary “Last Comiskey” by Matt Flesch. Tom Shaer, a longtime Chicago sportscaster and Emmy Award winner, served as Senior Editorial Consultant on the book. The project began as a diversion for first-time filmmaker Flesch during the Covid-19 pandemic. As the producer, writer, and director of the film, Flesch created a documentary that captures all the key moments from Comiskey’s final season, including the surprising pennant chase by the young underdog White Sox. This team featured future stars like rookies Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura, emerging ace Jack McDowell, and a very young and raw Sammy Sosa in his third MLB season. The young team was anchored by veteran leaders Carlton Fisk and Guillén, and highlighted by a record-breaking season by closer Bobby Thigpen, who set the all-time single-season save record with 57. The film features interviews with many of the 1990 players, as well as media members, vendors, security guards, executives, legendary organist Nancy Faust, and lifelong fans.

The goal of ”Last Comiskey” is to serve as a permanent companion that will provide a physical and tangible reminder of the last days of Comiskey Park. The book blends Smoller’s photographs with the content from the “Last Comiskey” documentary, supplemented by new material to provide greater context. “Last Comiskey” is a love letter to an underrated ballpark and an underappreciated legacy baseball franchise. Thanks to Ken Smoller’s fantastic photography, taken when he was a mere teenager, the book offers a soothing voyage to a less complicated, more colorful era of the national pastime. You don’t need to be a White Sox fan to deeply enjoy and appreciate this tribute to a cherished piece of baseball history.

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