Back in 2007, I photographed Rocco Caputo as he was selling beer at Wrigley Field. I did not know him, nor would I know that later in 2010, he would be part of the television show, "Undercover Boss". Today, I was lucky enough to go back to Wrigley field to watch the Chicago Cubs defeat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 and to run into Rocco once again!
My wife, daughter, my friend Andy and I were seated in the Dugout section of the park just one row back from the field. This was the closest I had ever been at a game! Thanks to my wife's employer for providing us great seats!
As he normally does, Rocco was out selling beer. I had never spoken to him before, but I immediately recognized him. In addition, someone in the row behind us recognized him as well as being one of the guys featured on Undercover Boss! I chimed in and told Rocco that I had photographed him years before he was on the show and that I recognized him immediately when I saw him on the show! He sold a beer to Andy and off he went.
Later in the game, I told Andy that I had to get another shot of Rocco to update my blog, so Andy ordered another beer from him so that I could get my shot. Andy wanted me to tell you all that it cost him $8 for me to get that shot!
It was great to finally talk to Rocco. I gave him my business card, but doubt he will be able to find my blog as it is not on the Balanced Exposure website. I may post a quick update in the About Us section with my blog address... hoping that Rocco sees it.
Rocco, if you see this post, please send me an email at training@balancedexposure.com to let me know you saw it!
For your convenience, I've republished the blog post below from Nov 7, 2010.
If you subscribe to NetFlix, search for Undercover Boss. You'll find the Cubs episode there.
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(From November 7, 2010)
Like many other Cub fans and television viewers, I tuned in to watch Sunday night's episode of Undercover Boss on CBS. Episode 7 of Season Two featured Todd Ricketts, one of the owners of the Chicago Cubs as he went undercover to see how employees of the Cubs organization did their everyday job.
One of the featured employees teaching Ricketts how to do his job was a food vendor named Rocco Caputo. The second I saw him on the TV screen, I knew immediately that I had taken his photograph back in July 2007. I was attending a Cubs vs. Astro game at Wrigley Field and as I normally do, I was taking photos of everything that happened at the game and that included food vendors! I don't know what triggered me to remember his face, but I immediately knew that my photograph was of Rocco. I did not post his photo on my blog at the time, but I still remembered his face. You can see that post by clicking here.
Rocco was assigned to teach Todd Ricketts the ropes of how to sell hot dogs. Despite his best efforts, Ricketts failed at selling hot dogs and actually threw away four of them just so he could go back and claim he sold all his hot dogs. But Rocco found four hot dogs that were thrown into a trash bin and confronted Ricketts about them. Ricketts denied it was his hot dogs, but you could tell Rocco did not believe him. Since he could not prove it belonged to Ricketts, he had to take him at his word.
Later, after Ricketts identified himself to Rocco as one of the owners of the team, he awarded Rocco the first "Wrigley Field - Employee of the Year Award" for his dedicated work. Now his name will forever be in the hallowed halls of Wrigley Field. I remember watching Rocco working in 2007 and at that time he was selling beer. I recall thinking to myself that selling beer had to be one of the hardest jobs for a food vendor because beer is pretty heavy to have to carry all day long. Maybe that's why I remembered Rocco's face after all these years!
Congratulations to Rocco for his award for 2010. I wonder if anyone will remember him when they ask him for food at Wrigley Field in 2011 after having watched this episode. I hope they do. I know I remembered him and that's even before this show aired.
Be sure to click on the image for a closer look.
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Here's where I was sitting for the July 11th game... second row behind home plate!
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