Flash Wiggins

He's known all the baseball greats. Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson and many other stars have been caught in action by Emmett "Flash" Wiggins' camera.

Wiggins was a former volunteer photographer who was allowed on the field during games for the Chicago White Sox and the Cubs. He snapped pictures of every team that has come into Chicago to play the Sox or Cubs. He took pictures of every notable who played the game from 1927-1968.

Wiggins became the first non-press photographer on the field which later caused him to have trouble with the baseball press. He photographed everything involving baseball - the action, players and celebrities who enjoyed the sport for 38 years until his retirement in 1968.

"After 38 years, I figured I had shot everyone worthwhile. I have supplied pictures to players in both leagues. The ballplayers could come to me and tell me what to shoot and then I'd give them the shot they wanted,'' Wiggins said.

The cooperation with the baseball players brought Flash their friendship and special privileges. Wiggins was the only photographer allowed in the dugout after Stan Musial got his 3,000th base hit. When his wife would come home after a game was rained out, she would have to step over all kinds of bats, balls and gloves.

The book represents hours listening to Flash tell his stories about rubbing elbows with famous ballplayers, celebrities and even gangsters. The chapters are basically a continuous conversation with Flash and sometimes his wife, Emma.

The sessions were more like listening to a favorite uncle rather than a professional interview.

Flash often would ramble and jump from topic to topic. Whatever story he was telling was always entertaining.