A friend of mine started working at Wrigley and Sox Park and got me into it, in 1966. He and his two brothers. I usually drove and they gave me a quarter for gas, probably enough for a gallon. At that time, beer was 40 cents at Wrigley. Now it’s $7.50.
Roger Sosner, 67, doesn’t drink beer, but he’s been selling it in the stands at at Sox and Cubs games for more than 40 years, making friends with the regulars whether they buy from him or not. A longtime collector and dealer in vinyl and admitted pack rat, he’s easy to spot: he’s the one with the old rocker hair under his baseball cap. —Deanna Isaacs
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I stopped vending in ’76. Figured I was done with it. I had a clothing business with one of the guys who got me into vending. After it didn’t work out, I came back. That was 1983. I lost seniority by not keeping up my union dues over those years.
How much weight am I carrying? Maybe 40 pounds. We can take double loads, which I don’t take very frequently. I do stretches and exercises the morning of the games to get myself loose. I’ve had back surgery twice. My first back surgery, I told the doctor I wanted to get back to work as soon as possible. At that time I worked at the United Center for the Bulls and the Blackhawks, where you have the backpack. I worked up in the 300 level, the equivalent of the balcony, and I’d walk up those steep stairs with the backpack. He said to me, you can go back to work about two weeks after the surgery.
I only sell at shows. I should sell on eBay. But I like the personal contact, and this way people know what they’re getting. It’s the same thing with records and beer sales: I have personal contact with my customers, and that’s what I enjoy.