A Cracker Jack of a tradition: 100 years of prizes in every box

[Mike Sakal/Tribunel]

Cracker Jack vendor Ken Carpenter

Longtime ballpark vendor Ken Carpenter of Chandler sells his wares during the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Monday. Carpenter, 65, has been pushing Cracker Jack since the ballpark opened for the D-Backs in 1998. This year, Cracker Jack is celebrating its 100th anniversary of providing a “prize” in every box or bag. [Mike Sakal/Tribunel]

Mike Sakal

Mike Sakal’s column runs on Fridays. Contact him at (480) 898-6533 or msakal@evtrib.com, or write to Mike Sakal, East Valley Tribune, 1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282

[Mike Sakal/Tribunel]

Cracker Jack vendor Ken Carpenter

Longtime ballpark vendor Ken Carpenter of Chandler sells his wares during the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Monday. Carpenter, 65, has been pushing Cracker Jack since the ballpark opened for the D-Backs in 1998. This year, Cracker Jack is celebrating its 100th anniversary of providing a “prize” in every box or bag. [Mike Sakal/Tribunel]