Sunday, September 05, 1999
Photographer of Reds dies
William Schildman Jr., 78, shot last pitch at Crosley
BY JOHN KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
William F. Schildman Jr., 78, whose photograph of the last pitch at Crosley Field hangs in thousands of Tristate homes and offices, died Thursday at his Finneytown home.
In the 29 years since the Cincinnati Reds moved to Riverfront Stadium, now Cinergy Field, baseball fans continued to purchase the print bearing Mr. Schildman's gold signature.
He told The Cincinnati Enquirer in 1995: “We keep marveling at the demand. I keep thinking everyone in Cincinnati has one by now.”
The 1970 photo, showing Reds reliever Wayne Granger throwing to San Francisco Giants outfielder Bobby Bonds, also appeared in the movie Rain Man, on the wall of Dustin Hoffman's bedroom. The feature film was shot here in 1988.
The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., also has a copy of the print, says his daughter, Linda Schildman, of Finneytown.
Mr. Schildman was a favorite photographer of “Big Red Machine” stars Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Clay Carroll and Pete Rose.
“Dad would give the players free photos and never asked for anything. He just handed them over the (ballpark) railing,” said his son, William F. Schildman III, of Greenhills.
His photo of Mr. Bench appeared on Wheaties boxes when the catcher was inducted in into the Hall of Fame in 1988. Mr. Bench also used Mr. Schildman's photos in his autobiography, and had him make a 20-by-30-foot mural of pictures for his home, Linda Schildman said.
In the last 20 years, Mr. Schildman also shot more than a dozen cover photos for Cincinnati Bell telephone books, usually cityscapes or Cincinnati Zoo animals.
The Northside native and Hughes High School graduate opened a Chevi ot photography studio after serving in World War II in North Africa and Italy with the 941st Engineering Topographic Aviation Battalion.
He met his future wife, Betty Wullenweber, at his studio in 1946.
They were preparing to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in October.
When he wasn't shooting the Reds in the 1960s and '70s, he designed more than 200 homes in the Finneytown and Compton Park areas of Springfield Township, and Greenhills.
When construction slowed in the late 1970s, he returned to photography full time. His loved to travel the West, particularly in the Southwest, with his wife.
Other survivors include his brother, Robert, of Hillsboro, and nieces and nephews.
Visitation is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Chas. A. Miller Sons Funeral Home, 4138 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Services are at noon. Burial is in Spring Grove Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Cincinnati, 4310 Cooper Road, Cincinnati 45242.
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