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Rest in Peace, George Kalinsky: A Life Immortalized Through His Lens

Writer's picture: Mark RosenmanMark Rosenman


George Kalinsky wasn’t just a photographer; he was a master storyteller who used a camera instead of a typewriter. For over five decades, he captured the heart of New York sports and culture, carving moments into the collective memory of a city that never sleeps. As the official photographer of the New York Mets, his iconic images—from jubilant celebrations at Shea Stadium to those quiet, reflective moments of players frozen in time—became as much a part of the team’s lore as the Miracle of ’69 or Mookie Wilson’s dribbler through Bill Buckner’s legs. Kalinsky’s work didn’t just document history; it elevated it to an art form. He passed away last night at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to resonate through his unforgettable images.



Beyond the Mets, Kalinsky’s lens was a witness to some of the most unforgettable moments in sports, politics, and pop culture. He immortalized the Knicks winning their first NBA Championship in 1970, the Rangers ending their 54-year Stanley Cup drought in 1994, and the Mets’ legendary 1986 World Series victory. But his portfolio wasn’t limited to the field or the ice—Kalinsky’s camera was there for Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s epic battles, John Lennon’s final live performance, Elvis Presley’s iconic Times Square billboard photo, and even papal masses and political conventions.


His accolades were just as dazzling as his photos. Kalinsky was named the International Photographer of the Year in 2001, inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, and honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Pratt Institute, where he once studied design. Whether snapping Wayne Gretzky’s final game or photographing the 2000 Subway Series, he had a way of capturing the magic in every moment.



Kalinsky’s connection to the Mets wasn’t just through his camera—it was through his heart. In 1995, he released The New York Mets: A Photographic History, a book that feels like flipping through an old family album—if your family included Tom Seaver, Keith Hernandez, and Mookie Wilson. The book takes fans on a stunning journey from the team’s first pitch in 1962 through the highs, lows, and everything in between up to the mid-’90s.




With over 250 jaw-dropping photos, Kalinsky immortalized the moments that make the Mets, well, the Mets. From Casey Stengel’s bemused wisdom to Dwight Gooden’s electrifying presence on the mound, and yes, even Bobby Bonilla’s first stint with the team (because we’re still paying for the second), the book captures it all. But Kalinsky didn’t stop at the diamond—he brought fans into the locker room, the dugout, and the heart of the team’s rich history.


And let’s not forget the fans themselves, who are as much a part of the Mets’ lore as the players. Kalinsky’s lens captured the orange-and-blue faithful through thick and thin—whether celebrating the magic of ’69 and ’86 or enduring the slogs of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Stadium shots, memorabilia, and even program covers make this book a time capsule of Mets history and a reminder of why we all keep coming back for more.




I had the distinct privilege of having George as a guest on my radio show, and in our conversation, I gained a glimpse into the mind of a man whose career spanned generations. George’s journey to becoming the official photographer of Madison Square Garden was nothing short of remarkable. He often told the story of how his career began with a chance encounter in Miami with none other than Howard Cosell and Muhammad Ali. As George recounted, “I was in Florida on vacation and interviewing for a job as a sports and political cartoonist. While walking down Fifth Street in downtown Miami, I saw Howard Cosell on a street corner. I asked him what he was doing, and he said, 'I’m here to interview the champ.' At that moment, Muhammad Ali walked over to Cosell, they shook hands, and went into the Fifth Street Gym. I wanted to follow them, so I ran into Angelo Dundee, who I knew from reading about him. I asked if I could take some photos, and Angelo told me I couldn’t unless I paid a dollar to enter. So I just said, ‘I’m the photographer of Madison Square Garden.’ He looked at me and said, ‘Okay, comedian, come on in.’ And that’s how it all started.”




That moment in Miami set the stage for decades of iconic images, including the build-up to the Fight of the Century between Ali and Joe Frazier, and all of Ali’s garden fights afterward. George’s bond with Ali, one built on chemistry and mutual respect, was special. “It’s the chemistry between the photographer and the subject,” George explained. “Ali and I had chemistry. He loved what I was doing, and I loved what he was doing. He was a showman, a great entertainer, and a great father. But most importantly, he said, ‘I’m a salesman,’ and everything he did was to sell tickets.”


George captured Ali at his best, but he also photographed him in his most intimate moments. The photographer recalled, “Ali liked to draw airplanes and things like that. But as long as he wrote his name on it, that was really valuable to me. We started to look at each other and didn’t even have to talk anymore. We just knew what the other was thinking.”


A signature of George’s photography was his ability to capture athletes in untraditional settings. When I asked about his famous shots of Roberto Duran training in the Catskills or the intimate moments he captured of Emile Griffith and Joe Frazier in the shower, he said, “The shower became important to me because I could create art with water. I’ve photographed many athletes there, and the drops of water created abstract pictures. It wasn’t about the athlete; it was about capturing the moment.”




But it wasn’t just boxers George bonded with. His long friendships with Knicks legends like Willis Reed, Bill Bradley, and Walt Clyde Frazier allowed him to capture some of the most iconic basketball images ever taken. George spoke with great fondness of the relationships he built with these players. “Luck is a big part of photography,” he said. “But it’s also about being in the right place at the right time. When the Knicks won the championship, Bradley told me, 'Concentrate on me, because I’m going to jump on Willis.' And sure enough, when the game ended, Bill Bradley jumped on Willis Reed. I captured that moment, and it was one of my favorite shots.”




George didn’t just capture athletes; he captured emotions, the raw and unfiltered moments that made those moments historic. He was there in 1986 to capture the Mets’ improbable World Series victory over the Red Sox, in 1994 for the Rangers’ Stanley Cup Finals, and in 2000 for the Subway Series. “I never felt the pressure,” George said with his signature calmness. “What I felt was excitement, a sense of, ‘I have to get the shot.’” And get the shot he did. From Jesse Orozco kneeling in victory in the 1986 World Series to the unforgettable moments of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals, George was always in the right place, capturing the essence of sports in ways few could.




In his career, George not only documented athletes and their achievements, but he also chronicled music legends at Madison Square Garden. He photographed every major music icon of the past half-century, from rock stars to pop legends, capturing their performances with the same skill and artistry he brought to the sports world.




George Kalinsky’s photography was more than just an art form—it was a lens through which we experienced history. His ability to capture the fleeting moments of greatness, whether on the field, the court, or the stage, immortalized not just the athletes but the emotions, the stories, and the very essence of those who lived through those moments. He gave us a visual legacy that will continue to remind us of the power of sports, culture, and the people who made them unforgettable. Though George is no longer with us, his work endures, reflecting a career marked by precision, passion, and a profound connection to the world he immortalized through his lens.


Here is the full interview with George from September 2021 :




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