| Wrigley Field | |
|---|---|
| The Friendly Confines, Cubs Park | |
  Wrigley Field in 2004 | |
| Location | 1060 West Addison Street Chicago, Illinois 60613 |
| Broke ground | March 4, 1914 |
| Opened | April 23, 1914 |
| Owner | Chicago Cubs |
| Operator | Chicago Cubs |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction cost | $250,000 USD |
| Architect | Zachary Taylor Davis |
| Former names | Weeghman Park (1914-1920) Cubs Park (1920-1926) |
| Tenants | Chicago Whales (FL) (1914-1915) Chicago Cubs (MLB) (1916-present) Chicago Tigers (APFA) (1920) Chicago Bears (NFL) (1921-1970) Chicago Sting (NASL) (1977-1979) |
| Capacity | 14,000 (1914) • 18,000 (1915) • 20,000 (1923) 38,396 (1927) • 40,000 (1928) • 38,396 (1938) 38,000 (1939) • 38,396 (1941) • 38,690 (1949) 36,755 (1951) • 36,644 (1965) • 37,702 (1972) 37,741 (1973) • 37,272 (1982) • 38,040 (1986) 38,143 (1987) • 39,600 (1989) • 38,710 (1990) 38,765 (1994) • 38,884 (1997) • 38,902 (1998) 41,118 (2006) |
| Field dimensions | Left Field - 355 ft (108 m) Left-Center Field - 368 ft (112 m) Center Field - 400 ft (122 m) Right-Center Field - 368 ft (112 m) Right Field - 353 ft (107. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been Zachary Taylor Davis ( May 26 1872, Aurora Illinois – December 16 1946, Chicago, Illinois) was the architect The Chicago Whales were a Federal League Baseball club in Chicago from 1914 to 1915 The Federal League was the last major attempt to establish an independent major Professional baseball league in the United States The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Tigers of the American Professional Football Association (now the NFL played only in the first year of the league ( 1920) The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. The 1920 NFL season was the inaugural Regular season of the National Football League. The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. The Chicago Sting ( 1975 - 1994) was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago Illinois. North American Soccer League (NASL was a professional soccer League with teams in the United States of America (U 5 m) Backstop - 60 ft (18 m) |
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each A modern stadium (plural stadiums or stadia in English is a place or venue for (mostly outdoor Sports Concerts or other events consisting Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales. The Federal League was the last major attempt to establish an independent major Professional baseball league in the United States The Chicago Whales were a Federal League Baseball club in Chicago from 1914 to 1915 It was also the home of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League from 1921-1970. The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. It was also called Cubs Park from 1920 to 1926 before finally being renamed for then Cubs team owner and chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr.. The William Wrigley Jr Company ( was founded on April 1 1891 originally selling products such as Soap and Baking powder. William Wrigley Jr ( September 30, 1861 &ndash January 26, 1932) was a U
Located in the residential neighborhood of Lakeview, Wrigley Field sits on an irregular block bounded by Clark and Addison Streets and Waveland and Sheffield Avenues. Lake View — or Lakeview, as it is increasingly spelled — is a North Side Neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States Chicago's Clark Street is a north-south street in Chicago running from 7600 North to 2200 South in the city street numbering system. The area surrounding the ballpark contains bars, restaurants and other establishments and is typically referred to as Wrigleyville. Lake View — or Lakeview, as it is increasingly spelled — is a North Side Neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States The ballpark's mailing address is 1060 W. Addison Street. During Cubs games, fans will often stand outside the park on Waveland Avenue, waiting for home run balls hit over the wall and out of the park. However, as a tradition, Cubs fans inside and sometimes even outside the park will promptly throw any home run ball hit by an opposing player back onto the field of play, a ritual depicted in the 1977 stage play, Bleacher Bums, and in the 1993 film, Rookie of the Year. Bleacher Bums is a 1977 play written collaboratively by members of Chicago 's Organic Theater Company, from an idea by actor Joe Rookie of the Year is a 1993 baseball movie starring Thomas Ian Nicholas and Gary Busey.
Wrigley Field is nicknamed The Friendly Confines, a phrase popularized by "Mr. Cub", Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. Ernest "Ernie" Banks (born January 31, 1931 in Dallas Texas) is an American former Major League Baseball player Since 2006, its capacity has been 41,118, making Wrigley Field the fourth-smallest and most actively used ballpark in 2006. It is the second oldest active major league ballpark (after Fenway Park), and the only remaining Federal League park. When opened in 1914, Wrigley Field had a seating capacity of 14,000 and cost $250,000 to build. Seating capacity refers to the number
History
Before the Federal League
At the turn of the 20th century, the block bounded by Clark, Addison, Waveland, and Sheffield streets was home to the peaceful confines of the Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary, along with the Hildebrandt Coal Factory. At the time the Seminary was established in 1891, the area was located in a quiet, relatively undeveloped section of the Lake View District of Chicago's North Side. Lake View — or Lakeview, as it is increasingly spelled — is a North Side Neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States The extension of the Elevated system into the area in 1900 led to rapid development of the surrounding neighborhood. The 'L' (variously and sometimes, styled "L" El EL or L) is a Rapid transit system that serves the city of As the neighborhood started taking on an increasingly urban character, the Seminary sought to sell its land and find a quieter location.
In 1909, the minor-league American Association was seeking to become a third major league. This article refers to the former minor league that existed from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997 Key to its designs was the establishment of a franchise in the lucrative Chicago market to compete with the Cubs and White Sox. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. Charles Havenor, owner of the AA Milwaukee Brewers, and Joe and Mike Cantillion, owners of the AA Minneapolis Millers, saw an opportunity to make profit by snapping up choice property and selling it back to the AA. The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional Minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis Minnesota until 1960 Since the White Sox played on the South Side at South Side Park, and the Cubs were firmly ensconced on the West Side at West Side Park, Havenor and the Cantillions looked to the rapidly developing North Side as the best place to situate the team. South Side Park was the name used for three different Baseball parks that formerly stood in Chicago Illinois at different times and whose sites were all just a few blocks West Side Park was the name used for two different Baseball parks that formerly stood in Chicago Illinois. The Seminary's location represented the best open land on the North Side. The Seminary, eager to move, sold the property to Havenor and the Cantillions for $175,000 and relocated to the suburb of Maywood, Illinois, where it remained until 1967. Maywood is a village in Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States.
The American Association's plans to become a major league and enter the Chicago market fell through, however, and the lot remained idle over the next few years. Havenor eventually sold his interests to Edmund Archambault, a real estate investor.
Weeghman Park and the Federal League (1913-1915)
The Federal League began its existence as a minor league in 1913, locating franchises in six cities, including Chicago. The Federal League was the last major attempt to establish an independent major Professional baseball league in the United States The Chicago franchise, known as the Chifeds, played its home games at the baseball grounds at DePaul University. DePaul University is a private institution of Higher education and Research in Chicago, Illinois, U
John T. Powers, founder and president of the new Federal League, had ambitions of building the new organization into a premier minor league, on par with the American Association. By the middle of the 1913 season, however, the owners had forced Powers out of his job, sensing that the Federal League had the potential to become a viable major league. Replacing him as president was James A. Gilmore, a wealthy Chicago businessman who had made his fortune in coal. Gilmore had the organizational and political skills necessary to mount a serious challenge to the established major leagues.
Gilmore brought on board two partners to control the key Chicago franchise. One was William Walker, a fish wholesaler. The other was the flamboyant Charles A. Weeghman, known as "Lucky Charlie", who had made a quick fortune in local lunch counters (a predecessor to fast food). Charles ("Lucky Charlie" Weeghman was one of the founders of the short-lived Major league baseball organization called the Federal League (1914-1915 Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly Weeghman became the club president and the main force behind the team from that point onward, with Walker willing to remain in the background, and Gilmore tending to League issues. Weeghman made headlines by landing star shortstop Joe Tinker from the Cincinnati Reds in December 1913. Joseph Bert Tinker ( July 27, 1880 - July 27, 1948) was a Major League Baseball player and manager. The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA The Tinker acquisition was the shot in the arm that gave the franchise the momentum to think big for the upcoming 1914 season.
Weeghman chose to relocate the franchise from DePaul to the former Seminary grounds at Clark and Addison owned by Archambault and the Cantillions. Although the major leagues threw up a number of roadblocks, including an attempt to secure rights to part of the land on the block, in late December 1913 Weeghman secured a ninety-nine year lease on the property. The lease stipulated, among other things, that improvements on the property could not exceed $70,000. Within several months, however, Weeghman would spend several times that amount in erecting his new ballpark.
Weeghman hired Zachary Taylor Davis, architect of Comiskey Park (which became the home of the White Sox in June 1910), to design the new ballpark. Zachary Taylor Davis ( May 26 1872, Aurora Illinois – December 16 1946, Chicago, Illinois) was the architect Comiskey Park (35th Street & Shields Avenue Chicago, Illinois) was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990 The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. Weeghman wanted the park to rival the Polo Grounds in New York, but in the end the single-decked grandstand as designed bore little resemblance to it. The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different Stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City used by Baseball 's New York Giants The City of New York
Work on the property didn't begin until February 23, 1914, exactly two months before the Chifeds' scheduled home opener. Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year After the grounds had been cleared, groundbreaking ceremonies took place on March 4. Under the guidance of the Blome-Sinek company, the lead construction contractor, the park came together over the remainder of March and the first half of April. Despite a brief strike by construction workers in early April, the new park was ready for baseball by the date of the home opener on April 23, 1914. Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year
The new ballpark, known as Weeghman Park, was a modern steel and concrete baseball plant (as stadiums were often called then). It featured a single-decked grandstand sweeping from right field behind home plate to near the left field corner. Perched on top of the grandstand roof behind home plate was a small area for the press.
A modern-day visitor to the original Weeghman Park would have difficulty recognizing the outfield aside from the familiar buildings on the opposite side of Waveland and Sheffield Avenues (which haven't changed much at all). The dimensions of the original playing field along the foul lines were quite short. The distance from home plate to the right field brick fence along Sheffield Avenue was around 300 feet at the foul line. Left field was not much better, partly because several old Seminary buildings stood between the wooden left field fence and Waveland Avenue. The left field fence also featured a large scoreboard. Like most of the parks of the day, the field was essentially angular, as it was shaped by the surrounding grid street pattern. The right and left field walls converged in a corner in deep center field, nearly 450 feet from home plate. Because of the constricted size of much of the outfield near the corners, bleachers were limited to a small jury box in right-center field. All told, Weeghman Park had a seating capacity of 14,000, but this was frequently exceeded by the many standing room only crowds of the day.
After an unusual number of home runs were hit during the Chifeds' first home series against Kansas City in April, Weeghman decided the left field wall was too cozy a target, and had the entire fence moved back some 25 feet. To do this, the front porch had to be removed from the old Seminary building beyond the wall.
Before the start of the 1915 season, Weeghman made additional changes to the outfield. Gone were the jury-box bleachers in right-center field. The old Seminary buildings beyond left field were finally demolished in March. In their place, Weeghman had wooden bleachers erected from the left-field corner to center field, raising the park's capacity to roughly 18,000. The scoreboard was relocated to center field, where it has remained in one form or another since then.
On the field, the Chifeds were renamed the Chicago Whales for the club's sophomore season. The Chicago Whales were a Federal League Baseball club in Chicago from 1914 to 1915 Weeghman Park was fast becoming the best place to watch baseball in Chicago, as the Whales fought their way to the Federal League pennant in one of the closest races in major league history. Additionally, fans enjoyed Weeghman's high standards for cleanliness and promotion. He was an early champion of Ladies' Day (every Friday) and in 1916 would become the first baseball owner to allow fans to keep foul balls. And as a successful restaurateur, his food was top-notch. Long before the Wrigley family entered the scene, the park was already famous for its hospitality.
Despite the exciting pennant race and generally high quality of baseball played in the Federal League, the League was hemorrhaging money. In December 1915, the League capitulated to the other major leagues and disbanded. But all was not lost for Weeghman, however. He was allowed to purchase the Cubs franchise for $500,000, and promptly moved his new club out of the dilapidated West Side Park and into his Weeghman Park for the 1916 season. The purchase was in reality a merger between the Whales and the Cubs, as a number of former Whales stars, such as Max Flack and Claude Hendrix, found themselves playing in the same park as Cubs the following season.
Weeghman Park to Cubs Park to Wrigley Field (1916-1932)
The Cubs played their first game at Weeghman Park on April 20, 1916, besting the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in eleven innings. Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA This proved to be the highlight of an otherwise unremarkable season. After another year in the bottom half of the standings, the Cubs won the National League pennant in 1918 under manager Fred Mitchell. Frederick Francis Mitchell, born Frederick Francis Yapp ( June 5 1878 &ndash October 13 1970) was an American right-handed The victory was not without a little outside help, as wartime conditions during the height of American involvement in World War I caused major league baseball to end the regular season on September 1st. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All With the Cubs struggling for cash, Weeghman reluctantly rented the larger capacity Comiskey Park for the Cubs' home games in the World Series. Comiskey Park (35th Street & Shields Avenue Chicago, Illinois) was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990 The 1918 World Series featured the Boston Red Sox, who defeated the Chicago Cubs four games to two For the Cubs, the experience was a bust, as the club lost the series to Babe Ruth and the Boston Red Sox in six games to relatively anemic attendance. George Herman Ruth Jr (February 6 1895 &ndash August 16 1948 also popularly known as " Babe " " The Bambino " and " The Sultan of The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions. Such losses may have provided the final push forcing Charlie Weeghman out of management following the season.
Although Weeghman was clearly the most dominant figure in the revamped Cubs organization in 1916, a number of investors had taken up minority shares in the club. One of the new investors was chewing gum magnate William Wrigley. For songs called "Chewing Gum" see Chewing Gum (song Chewing gum is a type of Confectionery traditionally made of Chicle William Wrigley Jr ( September 30, 1861 &ndash January 26, 1932) was a U Over the next couple years, as Weeghman's financial fortunes off the field entered a sharp decline, Wrigley acquired an increasing number of shares in the club and took on a growing role in the team's affairs. In November 1918, Weeghman gave up his remaining interest to Wrigley, resigned as president, and left baseball for good. Wrigley would acquire complete control of the Cubs by 1921.
With Weeghman out of the picture, starting in 1919 the park was generally referred to as Cubs Park. Although the Cubs featured stars such as pitchers Grover Alexander and Hippo Vaughn, along with a young catcher named Gabby Hartnett, over the next few seasons Cubs Park was the setting for largely also-ran teams. Grover Cleveland "Old Pete" Alexander ( February 26, 1887 - November 4, 1950) was a Major League Baseball Pitcher James Leslie "Hippo" Vaughn ( April 9 1888 - May 29 1966) was an American left-handed Pitcher in Major Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett ( December 20, 1900 - December 20, 1972) was an National Major League Baseball
The fans had even more to be frustrated about off the field. Rumors of thrown games plagued the Cubs during the latter part of the 1920 season at the same time the more infamous Black Sox Scandal was unfolding across town with the White Sox. The Black Sox Scandal refers to a number of events that took place around and during the play of the 1919 World Series. In addition, 1920 marked the beginning of prohibition, meaning fans would have to find some other way to quench their thirst during the many hot summer afternoons at Cubs Park.
Although the Cubs teams of the early 1920s were little more than also-rans, the fans still flocked to Cubs Park. In 1922, 542,283 fans went through the turnstiles -- the second-highest attendance in the National League -- to watch a fourth-place club.
Major renovations (1922-23)
By 1922, William Wrigley had decided that after nine seasons, both the seating and the playing field of cozy Cubs Park were ready for a major expansion. Rather than rebuilding the grandstand from scratch, Wrigley hired original architect Zachary Taylor Davis to make the expansion around the existing structure. The grandstand would be sliced into three pieces, with the home plate section placed on rollers and moved roughly 60 feet west (away from right field), and the left field section about 100 feet northwest. Both gaps were to be filled in with more seating, resulting in a significantly longer grandstand and the noticeable "dog leg" shape of the stands on the first base side visible to this day. Additionally, the foul ground and the height of the fence in front of it would be reduced by additional rows of box seats added in front of the existing grandstand. The diamond and the foul lines would be rotated 3 degrees counterclockwise from their earlier orientation, allowing for those extra box seats.
The relocation of the grandstand, even with the additional box seats, would make right field far more spacious than before, even with the addition of new bleachers in right field from the corner to the center field scoreboard. The old wooden bleachers in left field were to be dismantled and replaced with newer steel-framed wooden seats like those being installed in right field. The renovations would boost the park's capacity from roughly 18,000 to 31,000. Its dimensions would be roughly 320 feet in left field, 318 in right, and 446 feet to straightaway center.
Work on the renovations began in December 1922 and were completed in time for the 1923 season opener. The changes were of such magnitude that many publications of the time referred to the "new" Cubs Park. Fans flocked to the park, and attendance shot up to 703,705 for the 1923 season, although this was once again only good for second-best in the National League. On the field, however, the Cubs remained also-rans. The team drifted aimlessly through the middle of the standings in 1923 and '24. By 1925, the Cubs found themselves commemorating their fiftieth season in the National League by finishing last for the first time (which in 1925 meant eighth place).
The recently-renovated Cubs Park, while a hit with the fans, was not without its critics. Their main objection was that the new left field bleachers were simply too easy a target for right-handed hitters. By late July and early August 1925, reporters were frequently griping about games lost to fly balls which would have been easy outs without the left field bleachers. During the Cubs' first road trip that month, the half of the left field bleachers closest to the foul line was dismantled, leaving a "jury box" of seats running from deep left-center to the center field scoreboard. The change cost the Cubs over a thousand seats, although that left-field area was sometimes filled with standing-room-only spectators behind ropes, as was the custom of the day. With the left field line now at a substantial 364 feet from home plate, home run production dropped.
Double decking the grandstand (1927-28)
By 1926, the Cubs were benefiting handily from the peak of the Roaring Twenties. Roaring Twenties is a phrase used to describe the 1920s principally in North America, that emphasizes the period's social artistic and cultural dynamism Nearly 900,000 fans went through the turnstiles at a park with a capacity of just over 30,000. After the close of the season, work began on adding a second deck to the grandstand. The original idea was to have the job completed by the opening of the 1927 season, but by April, only the third-base side of the upper deck had been completed, temporarily giving the park a startlingly asymmetrical appearance.
Cubs Park was formally renamed Wrigley Field prior to the start of the 1927 season.
Despite the half-finished state of the upper deck expansion, the 1927 Cubs drew over 1. 1 million fans, becoming the first National League team ever to do so. In addition to the increased capacity of the park, the Cubs helped their own cause by becoming an increasingly competitive team under manager Joe McCarthy. Joseph Vincent McCarthy ( April 21 1887 – January 13 1978) nicknamed "Marse Joe" was an American manager in
The upper deck was finally completed in time for the 1928 season, which saw the Cubs break the million mark in attendance yet again. The timing couldn't have been more fortuitous. In 1929, the Cubs put together one of the most potent lineups in major league history, and easily walked to the National League pennant with stars like Hack Wilson, Rogers Hornsby, Kiki Cuyler, Charlie Root and Pat Malone. Lewis Robert "Hack" Wilson ( April 26, 1900 – November 23, 1948) was an American Center fielder in Major Rogers Hornsby ( April 27, 1896 in Winters Texas - January 5, 1963 in Chicago Illinois) nicknamed "The Rajah" Hazen Shirley "Kiki" Cuyler ( August 30 1898 – February 11 1950) was a Major League Baseball right fielder from 1921 until Charles Henry Root ( March 17, 1899 - November 5, 1970) was an American right-handed Pitcher in Major League Baseball Perce Leigh Malone ( September 25, 1902 - May 13, 1943) was a Pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through Season attendance soared to nearly 1. 5 million fans. This would remain the major league record for seventeen years, a record aided in large part by declining major league attendance during the Great Depression and World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Cubs themselves would not top this mark for another forty years.
As the World Series approached, Wrigley sought to provide even more seating at the park. He contracted to have temporary wooden bleachers erected on both Waveland and Sheffield Avenues, raising the park's capacity to roughly 50,000. Both streets were closed to traffic. In the end, the bleachers were only needed for games one and two of the 1929 World Series, both of which the Cubs lost on their way to a five-game defeat at the hands of the underdog Philadelphia Athletics. In the 1929 World Series, the Philadelphia Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs in 5 games The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California.
By the early 1930s, distance markers were posted: left field line, 364 feet; left-center against the outer wall, 372; left center, corner of bleachers, 364; deep center field corner, 440; right center, 354; right field line, 321.
"Beautiful Wrigley Field" (1932-1981)
Construction of the bleachers (1937)
Wrigley Field is known for the Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) planted against the outfield wall in 1937 by Bill Veeck, whose father had been team president until his 1933 death; in Rich Hall's "Sniglets" books, the ivy is called "cubbage. Parthenocissus tricuspidata (also known as Japanese creeper, Boston ivy, Grape ivy, or Japanese ivy) is a Flowering plant William Louis Veeck Jr (ˈvɛk rhymes with "wreck" February 9 1914 &ndash January 2 1986) also known as " Sport Shirt See also Richard Hall Rich Hall (born 10 June 1954 in Alexandria Virginia)is an American comedian and writer A sniglet is a Neologism defined as "any word that doesn't appear in the dictionary but should" " If the ball is hit into and lost in the ivy, then it is ruled a ground-rule double, provided that the defensive outfielder raises his hands to signify that the ball has been lost in the ivy; if the player attempts to search for the ball, the play is considered live, and no ground-rule double is ruled. In Baseball, a ground rule double is any award of two bases from the Time of pitch to the batter the base runners are pushed by the previous runner Wrigley is also known for the manual scoreboard Veeck also erected. No batted ball has ever hit the scoreboard; indeed, very few home runs have even landed in the "upper deck" of the center field bleachers. Sam Snead did manage to hit the big board with a golf ball teed off from home plate. Career In 1937 his first year on the Tour he won five events including the Oakland Open at Claremont Country Club in California
In 1937, the Cubs announced plans to rebuild the bleachers in concrete instead of wood, to be fronted by brick that would soon be covered in ivy, and to build a new scoreboard. To make the outfield look more symmetrical and graceful, the plans called for extending the left field bleachers to a point closer to the corner. The gentle curves between the ends of the left and right field bleachers would become popularly known as the "wells". That summer, the Chicago Tribune ran a series of articles about major league ballparks, and the writer sharply criticized the Cubs for a remodeling that he suspected would result in too many "cheap" home runs. The Chicago Tribune is a major daily Newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and owned by the Tribune Company The writer later retracted when he saw that the final plan was somewhat more spacious than originally announced.
Be that as it may, construction went on behind a temporary fence during the summer, and the finished product was unveiled on September 4th, in time for the last month of the season. Bill Veeck's famous ivy was planted not long after, but it would be another year before it fully took hold. According to his own autobiography, Veeck as in Wreck, he planted Bittersweet, which would grow quickly, and also the more famous Boston ivy, which would eventually take over. Another part of the arboretum was to be a series of Chinese elms on the large "stairsteps" up to the scoreboard, as well as one apiece in the little triangle at the top of each "well". According to Veeck's biography, that plan did not fare so well as the winds kept blowing the leaves off. Management finally gave up "after about twenty tries," so the trees are long gone, leaving just the large bare steps and (until 2006) the little flat triangular supports at the tops of the "wells". According to Veeck, the trees themselves were inexpensive, but the special construction for them in the bleachers cost about $200,000.
Another mistake was constructing bleachers in straightaway center field: The batters could easily lose sight of the ball in the white shirts worn by spectators on sunny days, because the wall was not high enough to provide a full batter's background by itself. The batter's eye (short for batter's eye screen) is a solid-colored usually dark area beyond the center field wall of a baseball stadium that is the visual Various methods were tried to get around this. At one time a flat canopy was extended over the area, to try to put the spectators in shadow, but that was ineffective (the 2005-2006 reconstruction would to some extent revisit that concept). For a while in the mid-1960s, a screen was attached to the top of the wall and the ivy twined its way up. Batters and bleacher fans disliked it, and it was removed after a couple of seasons. Later, for a number of years, a green tarp covered those seats.
After generally being closed to spectators sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s, the last time those three problem sections were used for baseball was during the 1962 All-Star game. The seats continued to be used for other events such as football and soccer, during the years when the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Sting played their games here. The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Sting ( 1975 - 1994) was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago Illinois.
By the 1990s, the area was occupied by juniper plants, which nicely complemented the ivy. Also, the layout was tweaked a bit, to open up a few seats on either side of the straight center field area while still providing a rectangular background from the perspective of the batter.
After the 2005 season, the plants were temporarily removed during reconstruction (see below). Over the following winter, a lounge was constructed in the upper part of this area and new rows of juniper bushes were placed in the lower part.
By the end of 1937, the dimensions were set: 355 feet to the left field corner, a few feet behind where the corner wall tangents the foul pole; 368 to fairly deep left-center; 400 to the deepest part of center (at the right edge of the batters background area); 368 to right center; and 353 to the right field foul pole. There are other intriguing distances that have never been posted. In the original Encyclopedia of Baseball, by Hy Turkin and S. C. Thompson, 1951, measurements of 357 feet to the left field "well" and 363 to the right field "well" were revealed. That would put the closest point of the left end of the bleachers no more than about 350 feet from home plate, a fact many pitchers have cursed over the years. Left-center in general is shallow. Straightaway center is probably about 390. Deep center and the right field area in general are better balanced. But the shallowness of the left-center power alley, really too cozy for major league standards, and the resultant increase in home runs in the decades since 1937, suggest that the Chicago Tribune's original skeptical assessment was correct.
First attempt at lights (1941)
Lights were scheduled to be added to Wrigley Field in 1942, but after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, then-owner Philip K. Wrigley (son of the late William) donated the materials intended for lighting Wrigley Field to the war effort. The attack on Pearl Harbor (or Hawaii Operation, as it was called by the Imperial General Headquarters) was a surprise Military strike conducted by Philip Knight Wrigley ( December 5 1894 - April 12 1977) sometimes also called P Baseball boomed after the war, allowing P. K. Wrigley to procrastinate on the issue. He eventually decided never to install lights for a variety of publicly stated reasons, so Wrigley Field remained a bastion of day baseball until the Chicago Tribune Company era, which began in 1981; the first night game was not until 1988. The Tribune Company is a large American Multimedia Corporation based in Chicago Illinois.
"Building a New Tradition" (1981-Present)
Night baseball (1988)
The Cubs had been run almost like a hobby by the Wrigleys, but the Tribune Company was interested in the Cubs strictly as a business. The National League Championship Series was a Major League Baseball playoff series played from October 7 to October 15 to determine the champion The new owners started talking about lights and began stirring debate on the matter. One of P. K. 's stated reasons for not installing lights was that it would upset the neighborhood, and the initial negative reaction to the Tribune Company's intentions validated P. K. 's prediction.
Resistance to the installation of lights was not limited to those who lived nearby and opposed the lights on the practical grounds of bothersome brightness or the noise and crowds from night games. Many Cubs fans who lived outside Wrigleyville opposed the idea simply due to the fact that the Cubs' stance as the last team to resist night baseball was a point of pride, as it was seen as a vestige of baseball's heritage as a pastoral game, played in natural sunlight. Some Cubs fans also had fond associations with Gabby Hartnett's famous "Homer in the Gloaming," in which Hartnett hit a crucial home run in the bottom of the ninth of a game on the verge of being called for darkness, helping the Cubs to win the 1938 pennant.
The City of Chicago had passed an ordinance banning night events at Wrigley Field, due to its presence in the residential Lakeview neighborhood, so Tribune was unable to install lights unless the ordinance was repealed. They compromised by scheduling a significant number of 3:00 starts, which typically carried games into the evening but did not require lights for games that completed within three hours or so.
This debate continued for several years, and became more intense as the Cubs returned to competitiveness during the early 1980s. When the Cubs won the National League Eastern Division title in 1984, then-commissioner Bowie Kuhn announced that the Cubs would lose home field advantage should they advance to the World Series (home field advantage alternated between the champions of the National League and American League until 2003), since by this time nearly all World Series games were played at night in the Eastern and Central time zones. The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball 's six divisions Bowie Kent Kuhn (October 28 1926 &ndash March 15 2007 was an American Lawyer and sports administrator who served as the 5th commissioner of Major League Baseball Home advantage (also called home field advantage) is an athletic competition phenomenon The 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14. The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League ( AL) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in After winning their two scheduled home (day) games in the National League Championship Series, the Cubs lost all three games in San Diego, so Kuhn's threat became moot. The National League Championship Series was played between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs from October 2 to October But the next year, new commissioner Peter Ueberroth announced that because Wrigley Field had no lights, the Cubs would have to play all postseason games at another ballpark, likely Comiskey Park, Soldier Field, or possibly even St. Peter Victor Ueberroth (born September 2, 1937) is an American executive Comiskey Park (35th Street & Shields Avenue Chicago, Illinois) was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990 Soldier Field (formerly Municipal Grant Park Stadium) is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago Illinois, and is currently home to the NFL Louis' Busch Stadium, or Milwaukee County Stadium. Busch Memorial Stadium, or Busch Stadium was the home of the St Milwaukee County Stadium (or just County Stadium in context was a ballpark in Milwaukee Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000 The Cubs fell out of contention for the next several years, however, and the possibility of playing post-season "home" games in other cities did not arise.
The Cubs, under team president Dallas Green quickly changed the issue from lights or no lights to Wrigley Field or move out of town. George Dallas Green (born August 4, 1934) is a former Pitcher, manager, and executive in Major League Baseball. With typical bluntness, Green said, "if there are no lights in Wrigley Field, there will be no Wrigley Field. " Green seriously considered shuttering Wrigley and playing at Comiskey Park as tenants of the White Sox for a year, in hopes that the neighborhood would feel the loss of revenue and back down. The Cubs also explored moving to several suburban locations, including a site adjacent to Arlington Park in Arlington Heights and another in Schaumburg. History Arlington Park was founded by California businessman Harry D Arlington Heights is a village in Cook County, Illinois and a northwestern Suburb of Chicago. Schaumburg is a village in Cook County. As of the 2000 census the village had a total population of 75386 There was even talk of a drastic move which involved selling the stadium to local college DePaul University, who would likely tear down Wrigley Field to host its indoor sports or convert it to a full-time football stadium in hopes of returning football to the campus. DePaul University is a private institution of Higher education and Research in Chicago, Illinois, U The Cubs would then likely build a new ballpark near the Rosemont Horizon (now the Allstate Arena, where DePaul plays its home games currently) in suburban Rosemont. The Allstate Arena is a Sports Arena in Rosemont Illinois, which is home to the Chicago Wolves hockey club DePaul University See also the Rosemont Convention Center Rosemont is a village in Cook County Illinois, that is a suburb of Chicago and is in the midst of a huge metropolitan
The Cubs' new stance quickly changed the context of the debate, as no one wanted to be responsible for the Cubs leaving for the suburbs. Interestingly, Schaumburg officials were so convinced that the Cubs were actually coming that land was purchased by investors hoping to build a new Wrigley Field off the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway west of I-355. The Elgin-O'Hare Expressway is an Interstate-standard Freeway in northeast Illinois, United States. Interstate 355 (I-355 also known as the Veterans Memorial Tollway, is an Interstate highway and tollway in the western and southwest suburbs of Chicago When the Cubs and the city of Chicago came to an agreement to keep the team on the North Side, the site spawned a ballpark anyway, which was modeled closely after Wrigley Field. That stadium, Alexian Field, is now home to the (non-affiliated) minor league Schaumburg Flyers. Alexian Field is a Stadium in Schaumburg Illinois. It is primarily used for Baseball and Cricket, and is the home field of the Schaumburg The Schaumburg Flyers are a professional baseball team based in Schaumburg Illinois, in the United States.
In the fall of 1987, Chicago mayor Harold Washington proposed a compromise ordinance to the Chicago City Council providing for the Cubs to install lights but play a limited night schedule. Harold Washington ( April 15 1922 – November 25 1987) was an American Lawyer and Politician who became the Washington died a week after the compromise was proposed, but the city eventually approved a compromise in February 1988 under interim mayor Eugene Sawyer. Eugene Sawyer ( September 3 1934 &ndash January 19 2008) was an American businessman and politician who served as Mayor Major League Baseball responded by awarding the Cubs the 1990 All-Star Game. The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic" is an annual Baseball game between players from the National League
The first major league night game at Wrigley was attempted on August 8 against the Philadelphia Phillies, but was rained out after 3 1/2 innings. Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula. The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. During the rain delay, several Cubs players, imitating a scene in the recent film hit, Bull Durham, played "slip-and-slide" on the tarp. Bull Durham is a 1988 American movie about love and Baseball. One source says the group included Greg Maddux, Al Nipper, Les Lancaster and Jody Davis. Gregory Alan Maddux (born April 14, 1966 in San Angelo Texas) is a Pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Albert Samuel Nipper (born April 2, 1959) is a Major League Baseball coach and a former pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Lester Lancaster (born April 21, 1962 in Dallas, Texas) is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues Jody Richard Davis (born November 12, 1956 in Gainesville Georgia) is a former Catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Manager Don Zimmer was not amused, and they were fined $500 apiece. Donald William Zimmer (born January 17, 1931 in Cincinnati Ohio) is a former Infielder, manager, and a coach in Major League
The first official night game was achieved the following night, August 9 against the New York Mets (in front of a nationally televised audience watching Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola call the game on NBC), ending a streak of 5,687 consecutive home day games. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus "Mets" redirects here For the medical term see Metastasis. Vincent Edward "Vin" Scully (born November 29, 1927 in The Bronx, New York) is an American Sportscaster, For this person's son the baseball executive see Joe Garagiola Jr Major League Baseball on NBC is the De facto name for a weekly presentation of Major League Baseball games televised on the National Broadcasting However, this was not the first night game of any kind at Wrigley, as in the 1940s, some AAGPBL night games were played in Wrigley Field using temporary lighting structures; specifically, the All-Star Game held in July, 1943, was the first night baseball game there, according to the Lowry book and the movie A League of Their Own. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional Baseball league founded by Philip K
Starting with their first full season with lights, in 1989, as part of the compromise with the city, the Cubs were limited to 18 night games within their 81-game regular season schedule, plus any post-season games that might have to be played at night for TV scheduling reasons. The timing of the lights' installation proved fortuitous, as the Cubs did indeed reach the post-season in 1989. Their first two post-season night games were the first two games of the NLCS, on October 4 and 5. The National League Championship Series was played between the National League West champion San Francisco Giants and the National League East Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas They lost the first game against the San Francisco Giants 11-3, and won the second game 9-5. The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in, that currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cubs' post-season appearances since 1988 (as well as their one-game regular-season playoff with San Francisco in 1998) have featured mostly night games, the exceptions (as of 2007) being the fourth game of their 2003 Division Series matchup with the Atlanta Braves and 3rd game of the 2007 Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which were played on Saturday afternoon, October 4 and October 7th respectively. The National League Division Series ( NLDS) the first round of the 2003 National League playoffs began on Tuesday September 30, and ended
In recent years, the Cubs have successfully lobbied for additional regular-season night games (up to a potential 30 per year, as of 2007). However, per their agreement with the city, they still play most of their games during the day. Due to the limited night schedule, night games at Wrigley Field are considered an "event" and are almost always sold out well in advance. Some observers compare the atmosphere of a Wrigley Field night game to that of Rush and Division streets, the longtime epicenter of Chicago's nightclub scene.
Wrigley Field has continuously evolved over its 90-plus seasons. There is relatively little left of the original that is visible to the casual viewer. One of the more obvious originals were the brick portions of the outer bleacher wall, visible in the "back of Wrigley Field" photo. The Cubs' bleacher expansion resulted in removal of those bricks, which were later sold to the public individually at a "garage sale" at the start of the 2006 season.
Bleacher expansion and renovation (2005-06)
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2005-2006 bleacher expansion extending over sidewalk. | Remodeled bleacher entrance |
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After lengthy debate, the reconstruction and expansion of the bleachers (by some 1,900 seats) finally began after the close of the 2005 season, although it was strongly opposed by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Richard Michael Daley (born April 24 1942 is a United States Politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party and current mayor The first part of the process was to remove the outer brick wall, one of the last vestiges of the 1914 structure. Additionally, much of the 1937 construction behind the inner ivy-covered wall was removed (except for the steel supports and the center field upper tier) and the former sidewalk was excavated. The work progressed quickly throughout the winter, aided by the relatively mild midwestern January.
The original concept called for the bleachers to simply extend out over the sidewalks, supported by open steel columns in cantilevered design, connecting new steel to the existing steel that supported the old bleachers. That plan was altered somewhat when it was feared the area would become an impromptu homeless shelter. Thus the vertical part of the supporting structure for the new bleachers was encased in a wall constructed of new bricks, in a style reminiscent of the original wall, and the sidewalk (repaved in brick) became a few feet narrower. The only part hanging over the sidewalk is the flat walkway behind the bleachers. The upper part of the formerly vacant center field area is occupied by a large luxury suite, fronted by darkened, slanted windows so as not to interfere with the batters' sight lines, and the lower part by juniper plants that had been temporarily removed. Another notable change to the configuration was to replace the solid door in the right field corner with a chain-link fence gate, so passers-by can see part of the ballfield (an idea borrowed from AT&T Park). AT&T Park is an open-air ballpark, home to the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball.
Various Internet sites displayed photos tracking the progress of construction. The results support what management had stated, that the changes would not depart radically from the previous structure. [1] [2] [3].
On March 30, 2006, the Cubs announced the bleachers would be renamed the Bud Light bleachers. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Budweiser is an American-style lager and is one of the most popular beers in the United States. A sign to that effect was soon posted over the bleacher entryway [4] which contrasts significantly with its previous look[5]. The Cubs management also announced they would plant ivy on the rebuilt exterior walls, in a soil trough that was provided as part of the construction. Conventional Boston ivy was planted on the east-facing Sheffield wall, which gets a fair amount of sunlight during morning hours. The north-facing wall along Waveland, which receives little direct sunlight in the summer and none in the winter, was to have an "evergreen" variety, English ivy, which thrives in shade.
The bleacher expansion project was designed by HOK Architecture, of Kansas City Missouri with Osborn Engineering of Cleveland, Ohio serving as the engineer.
On January 4, 2008 the Cubs got permission to add 80 new seats to the ballpark. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. The Cubs also got permission to add new signs. Wrigley Field will now hold up to 40,198 people after adding the seats.
Giving Wrigley a new Field (2007-2008)
At the end of the Cubs' 2007 season, two different efforts were undertaken to upgrade the playing field at the old ballpark. A few years earlier, a Sports Illustrated poll found that the players considered Wrigley's playing field to be one of the poorest in the Major Leagues. Sports Illustrated is an American Sports Magazine owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. The renovations should go a long way toward fixing that situation.
First, as reported on the Cubs web page [6] and also reported and pictured in the November issue of Chicago Cubs Vine Line, the Cubs official fan magazine (p. 4), the outfield and portions of the infield were replaced by turf purchased from an Oswego, Illinois, firm. This was accomplished in the 13 days between the last home regular season game and the first (and last, as it turned out) post-season game for the year.
Then, following the post-season, as reported on the Cubs web page [7] and also reported and pictured in the December issue of Vine Line (p. 5), a more ambitious project began, to install a state-of-the-art drainage system. The entire playing surface at Wrigley was removed, which required digging down 14 to 28 inches. The underlying base material was replaced by a system of 6,000 feet of piping buried in a special clay. The drainage system capable of holding 60,000 gallons of water was installed, on top of which a new playing surface of Colorado-grown sod was unrolled. This renovation, replacing a system installed in 1935, makes Wrigley the last Major League field to move away from a crown-based water management system. The infield had been at a somewhat raised elevation relative to the shallow part of the outfield and the far edge of the foul ground around the infield, hence the gutters in front of the box seat railings.
Starting in 2008, the infield will sit lower than it did, by 14 inches, eliminating the slight downhill slope that runners had to contend with upon rounding third base, and also allowing the managers in the dugouts to see the opposite-field outfielder in full, not just his "top half". The system will allow for much shorter rain delays, while also controlling the flow of water toward the storm sewers. The ballpark sits on a block that has a noticeable downhill slope from the northwest corner to the southeast corner. The left field (northwest) corner of the playing field is several feet below street level. The natural drainage direction is toward the right field (southeast) corner, and the new system will direct all the water through an outlet under the right field corner.
As part of the excavation, the crew found and removed the foundations of the goal posts from the Bears' playing days. The crew also reported that they left a "time capsule" buried somewhere under the new turf. Lowering the infield by 14 inches also effectively raises the outfield barrier by 14 inches, from the standpoint of the batter. It remains to be seen whether that factor will have any effect on home run production.
A fan site with some amateur photos of various stages of progress: [8]
Will it remain Wrigley Field? (2007-2008)
Tribune owner Sam Zell announced that he would consider selling the naming rights for Wrigley Field[1] in order to help reduce the Tribune Company's $13 billion debt. Samuel "Sam" Zell (born September 1941) is a US-born Billionaire and Real estate Entrepreneur. The Tribune Company is a large American Multimedia Corporation based in Chicago Illinois. Based on recent sponsorship deals, it is estimated that naming rights for the park are worth at least $10 million per year. [2] Many Chicago baseball fans think that the park is too historic to have the name changed and some experts project that naming rights would command a lower cost in comparison to newer parks because of the anticipated fan backlash. [3]
"Wrigley Field, the Cubs and all the land around it is an asset of the company -- including the right to name the park. Based on the sales of naming rights around the country, this would probably qualify as being extraordinarily valuable. Could that be part of an equation? Of course. " -Sam Zell
Even if the name of the stadium is changed, the famous Wrigley Field Marquee will have to stay the same. [4] The marquee is protected by the Chicago city council, and declared a local landmark.
Corporate sponsorship
Wrigley Field shares its name with the Wrigley Company, as the park was named for its then-owner, William Wrigley Jr., the CEO of the Wrigley Company. The William Wrigley Jr Company ( was founded on April 1 1891 originally selling products such as Soap and Baking powder. William Wrigley Jr ( September 30, 1861 &ndash January 26, 1932) was a U As early as the 1920s, before the park became officially known as Wrigley Field, the scoreboard was topped by the elf-like "Doublemint Twins", posed as a pitcher and a batter. Doublemint is a flavor of Chewing gum made by the Wrigley Company. There were also ads painted on the bare right field wall early in the ballpark's history, prior to the 1923 remodeling which put bleachers there. After that, the Doublemint elves were the only visible in-park advertising. The elves were removed permanently in 1937 when the bleachers and scoreboard were rebuilt. It would be about 45 years before in-park advertising would reappear.
Owned by the Tribune Company since 1981, Wrigley Field has been a notable exception to the recent trend of selling corporate naming rights to sporting venues. The Tribune Company is a large American Multimedia Corporation based in Chicago Illinois. Naming rights are the right to name a piece of Property, either tangible property or an event usually granted in exchange for financial considerations The Tribune Company chose not to rename the ballpark, utilizing other ways to bring corporate sponsorship into the ballpark.
During the mid-1980s, Anheuser-Busch placed Budweiser and Bud Light advertisements beneath the center field scoreboard. Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc ( (ˈænhаɪzər bʊʃ is the largest Brewing company in the United States with a 48 Budweiser is an American-style lager and is one of the most popular beers in the United States. Budweiser is an American-style lager and is one of the most popular beers in the United States. Bud Light became the sponsor of the rebuilt bleachers in 2006.
In the early 2000s, following the trend of many ballparks, a green-screen board was installed behind home plate, in the line of sight of the center field TV camera, to allow electronic "rotating" advertisements visible only to the TV audience. By 2006, the board was set-up to allow advertisements to be physical rather than electronic (thus they can be seen in both live and replay shots).
In 2007, the first on-field advertising appeared since the park's early days. Sporting goods firm Under Armour placed its logo on the double-doors between the ivy on the outfield wall, in left-center and right-center fields. Under Armour is a brand of clothing headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, designed for use in Sports It was originally created to be worn underneath Advertisements were also placed in the dugouts, originally for Sears department stores, then Walter E. Sears Roebuck and Company, commonly known as Sears, is an American mid-range chain of International Department stores founded by Richard Smithe furniture and now State Farm insurance. State Farm Insurance is a group of Insurance and Financial services companies
Corporate sponsorship has not been limited to the park itself. Wrigley Field is famous for its view of the neighborhood buildings across Waveland and Sheffield Avenues. In addition to spectators standing or sitting on the apartment roofs, corporate sponsors have frequently taken advantage of those locations as well. In the earliest days of Weeghman Park, one building across Sheffield Avenue advertised a local hangout known as Bismarck Gardens (later called the Marigold Gardens after World War I). World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All That same building has since advertised for the Torco Oil Company and Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines Co ( is an American low-cost Airline based in Dallas Texas, with its largest focus city at Las Vegas ' McCarran
A building across from deep right-center field was topped by a neon sign for Baby Ruth candy beginning in the mid-1930s and running for some 40 years. Baby Ruth is a Candy bar that is made of Chocolate -covered Peanuts Caramel and Nougat, though the nougat found in it is more like That placement by the Chicago-based Curtiss Candy Company, coincidentally positioned in the line of sight of "Babe Ruth's called shot", proved fortuitous when games began to be televised in the 1940s -- the sign was also in the line of sight of the ground level camera behind and to the left of home plate. The Curtiss Candy Company was founded in 1916 by Otto Schnering outside of Chicago Illinois. Babe Ruth's called shot was the Home run hit by Babe Ruth in the fifth Inning of Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, held on 1 October However, the aging sign was removed in the early 1970s.
Another long-standing venue for a sign is the sloping roof of a building behind left-center field. Unsuitable for the bleachers that now decorate many of those buildings, that building's angling roof has been painted in the form of a large billboard since at least the 1940s. In recent years it has borne a bright-red Budweiser sign. Other buildings have carried signs sponsoring beers, such as Old Style (when it was a Cubs broadcasting sponsor) and Miller; and also WGN-TV, which has telecast Cubs games since the 1940s. WGN-TV, channel 9 is a Television station in Chicago Illinois.
For 2008, the Cubs worked out an agreement with the Chicago Board Options Exchange to allow the CBOE to auction some 70 box seat season tickets and award naming rights to them. The Chicago Board Options Exchange ( CBOE) located at 400 South LaSalle Street in Chicago, is largest U [5]
"White flag time at Wrigley!"
The term "White flag time at Wrigley!" means the Cubs have won. Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common
Beginning in the days of P. K. Wrigley and the 1937 bleacher/scoreboard reconstruction, and prior to modern media saturation, a flag with either a "W" or an "L" has flown from atop the scoreboard masthead, indicating the day's result(s) when baseball was played at Wrigley. In case of a doubleheader that results in a split, both the "win" and "loss" flags are flown.
Past Cubs media guides show that originally the flags were blue with a white "W" and white with a blue "L", the latter coincidentally suggesting "surrender". In 1978, consistent with the dominant colors of the flags, blue and white lights were mounted atop the scoreboard, denoting "win" and "loss" respectively for the benefit of nighttime passers-by.
The flags were replaced by 1990, the first year in which the Cubs media guide reports the switch to the now familiar colors of the flags: White with blue "W" and blue with white "L". In addition to needing to replace the worn-out flags, by then the retired numbers of Banks and Williams were flying on the foul poles, as white with blue numbers; so the "good" flag was switched to match that scheme.
This long-established tradition has evolved to fans carrying the white-with-blue-W flags to both home and away games, and displaying them after a Cub win. The flags have become more and more popular each season since 1998, and are now even sold at the ballpark. On April 24, 2008 the Cubs flew an extra white flag displaying "10,000" in blue, along with the customary "W" flag. Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The 10,000th win had been achieved on the road the previous night.
Unusual wind patterns
In April and May the wind often comes off Lake Michigan (less than a mile to the east), which means a northeast wind "blowing in" to knock down potential home runs and turn them into outs. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. In the summer, however, or on any warm and breezy day, the wind often comes from the south and the southwest, which means the wind is "blowing out" and has the potential to turn normally harmless fly balls into home runs. A third variety is the cross-wind, which typically runs from the left field corner to the right field corner and causes all sorts of interesting havoc. Depending on the direction of the wind, Wrigley can either be one of the friendliest parks in the major leagues for pitchers or among the worst.
Many Cubs fans check their nearest flag before heading to the park on game days for an indication of what the game might be like; this is less of a factor for night games, however, because the wind does not blow as hard after the sun goes down.
With the wind blowing in, pitchers can dominate, and no-hitters have been tossed from time to time, though none recently; the last two occurred near the beginning and the end of the 1972 season, by Burt Hooton and Milt Pappas respectively. Burt Carlton Hooton (born February 7 1950 in Greenville Texas) nicknamed "Happy" (by former manager Tommy Lasorda, because he rarely Milton Stephen (Milt Pappas (original name (Miltiades Stergios Papastergios (born May 11, 1939 in Detroit Michigan) is a former Professional baseball In the seventh inning of Ken Holtzman's first no-hitter, on August 19, 1969, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hammered one that looked like it was headed for Waveland, but the wind caught it just enough for left fielder Billy Williams to leap up and snare it in "the well". Kenneth Dale Holtzman (born November 3, 1945, in St Louis Missouri) is a Left-handed former Starting pitcher in Major League Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron (born February 5 1934 in Mobile Alabama) nicknamed "Hammer" "Hammerin' Hank” or "Bad Henry” is a retired Billy Leo Williams (born June 15, 1938) is a former Outfielder in Professional baseball.
With the wind blowing out, some true tape-measure home runs have been hit by well-muscled batters. Sammy Sosa and Dave "Kong" Kingman broke windows in the apartment buildings across Waveland Avenue several times. Samuel Peralta Sosa (born November 12, 1968 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a Right fielder who is currently David Arthur Kingman (born December 21, 1948, in Pendleton Oregon) nicknamed "Kong" and "Sky King" is a former Major League Glenallen Hill put one on a rooftop. Glenallen Hill (born March 22 1965 in) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 13 seasons Batters have occasionally slugged it into, or to the side of, the first row or two of the "upper deck" of the center field bleachers. Sosa hit the roof of the center field camera booth on the fly during the NLCS against the Florida Marlins, some 450 feet away. The National League Championship Series was a Major League Baseball playoff series played from October 7 to October 15 to determine the champion
But the longest blast was probably hit by Dave Kingman on a very windy day in 1976 while with the Mets. According to local legend, one day, Kingman launched a bomb that landed on the third porch roof on the east (center field) side of Kenmore Avenue, some 550 feet away.
No matter the weather, many fans congregate during batting practice and games on Waveland Avenue, behind left field, and Sheffield Avenue, behind right field, for a chance to catch a home run ball.
Football at Wrigley Field
The Chicago Bears of the National Football League played at Wrigley Field from 1921 to 1970 before relocating to Soldier Field. The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. Soldier Field (formerly Municipal Grant Park Stadium) is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago Illinois, and is currently home to the NFL The team had transferred from Decatur, and retained the name "Staleys" for the 1921 season. The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They renamed themselves the "Bears" in order to identify with the baseball team, a common practice in the NFL in those days. Wrigley Field once held the record for the most NFL games played in a single stadium, but this record was surpassed in the 2000s by Giants Stadium in New Jersey, thanks to its dual-occupancy. Giants Stadium, is the home Stadium for the New York Giants and New York Jets football teams of the NFL, and the Red Bull New The 50 seasons the Bears spent at Wrigley Field had been an NFL record until 2006 when Lambeau Field duplicated this feat by hosting the Packers for the 50th season, and broke it in 2007. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay Wisconsin, the home of the NFL 's Green Bay Packers. The 2007 season of the National Football League (NFL was the 88th season played by the major professional American football league in the United
Initially the Bears worked with the stands that were there. Eventually they acquired a large, portable bleacher section that spanned the right and center field areas and covered most of the existing bleacher seating and part of the right field corner seating. This "East Stand" raised Wrigley's football capacity to about 46,000, or a net gain of perhaps 9,000 seats over normal capacity. After the Bears left, this structure would live on for several years as the "North Stand" at Soldier Field, until it was replaced by permanent seating. Soldier Field (formerly Municipal Grant Park Stadium) is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago Illinois, and is currently home to the NFL
The football field ran north-to-south, i. e. from left field to the foul side of first base. The remodeling of the bleachers made for a very tight fit for the gridiron. In fact, the corner of the south end zone was literally in the visiting baseball team's dugout, which was filled with pads for safety, and required a special ground rule that sliced off that corner of the end zone. One corner of the north end line ran just inches short of the left field wall. There is a legend that Bronko Nagurski, the great Bears fullback, steamrolled through the line, head down, and ran all the way through that end zone, smacking his leather-helmeted head on the bricks. Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski ( November 3, 1908 &ndash January 7, 1990) was an Canadian American football player He went back to the bench and told Coach "Papa Bear" George Halas, "That last guy gave me quite a lick!" That kind of incident prompted the Bears to hang some padding in front of the wall. George Stanley Halas Sr ( February 2 1895 &ndash October 31 1983) nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr
The Bears are second only to the Green Bay Packers in total NFL championships, and all but one of those (their only Super Bowl championship) came during their tenure at Wrigley. The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay Wisconsin. professional American football, the Super Bowl is the Championship game of the National Football League (NFL After a half-century, they found themselves compelled to move, because the NFL wanted every one of its stadiums to seat at least 50,000. The Bears had one experimental game at Dyche Stadium on the Northwestern University campus, but otherwise continued at Wrigley until they transferred to the lakefront, finally ending their long and glorious run on the north side. Ryan Field is a Stadium in Evanston Illinois, United States. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the Northwestern
In another brand of football, the NASL professional soccer team called the Chicago Sting called Wrigley their home during the 1980s. North American Soccer League (NASL was a professional soccer League with teams in the United States of America (U The Chicago Sting ( 1975 - 1994) was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago Illinois. Their games occurred during the baseball season, so there were no special stands in evidence, just added wear-and-tear on the field.
Rooftop seats
- See also: Wrigley Roof
Old-time ballparks were often surrounded by buildings that afforded a "freebie" look at the game for enterprising souls. Wrigley Rooftops is a generic name for the rooftops of residential buildings which have Bleachers or seating on them to view baseball games or other major events at Wrigley In most venues, the clubs took steps to either extend the stands around, or to build spite fences to block the view. A spite fence is an overly-tall fence typically constructed between adjacent lots by a property owner who is annoyed with or wishes to annoy a neighbor or who wishes to completely obstruct Perhaps the most notorious of these was the one at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, which caused a rift between the residents and the team that never healed. Shibe Park, known for the last one-third of its existence as Connie Mack Stadium, was a Major League Baseball park in Philadelphia, Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The Cubs themselves had built a high fence along the outfield at West Side Park, to hide the field from flats whose back porches were right next to the outer fence of the ballpark. West Side Park was the name used for two different Baseball parks that formerly stood in Chicago Illinois.
But at Wrigley it was different somehow. The flat rooftops of the apartment buildings across Waveland and Sheffield, which actually pre-date the ballpark, were often populated with a reasonable number of fans having cookouts while enjoying the game for free. The Cubs tolerated it quietly, until the 1990s, when some owners of those apartments got carried away: they began building little bleacher sections, and charging people to watch the games. That was a whole different ball game, and the Cubs management became very vocal in expressing their displeasure, threatening legal action. In 2003 they went so far as to line the screens that top the outer walls with opaque strips, to block the best exterior sight lines. That was the closest thing to a spite fence that Wrigley had seen. Therefore the bleachers are sometimes called 'The Spiteless Fence' as well as 'The Ivy Wall'.
This led to meetings and to a peaceful settlement among the various parties. The building owners agreed to share a portion of their proceeds with the Cubs, and the Cubs obtained permission from the city to expand the ballpark's own bleachers out over the sidewalks and do some additional construction on the open area of the property to the west, bordered by Clark and Waveland, and to close the remnant of Seminary Avenue that also existed on the property.
Amidst this debate, a potentially more serious problem arose. On at least two separate occasions during the summer of 2004, small chunks of concrete fell from the upper deck, nearly injuring spectators. The city ordered an inspection of the 90-year-old park, and there was much concern about whether the structure was falling apart. It turned out that the pieces that fell were merely shielding around wires, not part of the main structure. To improve safety, netting was strung under the upper deck to catch any more pieces that might fall.
The rooftop seats are now effectively part of the ballpark's seating area, although they are not included in the seating capacity figure.
Some of the rooftops have become legendary in their own right. The Lakeview Baseball Club, which sits across Sheffield Avenue (right-field) from the stadium displays a sign that reads, "Eamus Catuli!" (roughly Latin for "Let's Go Cubs!"—catuli translating to "whelps", the nearest Latin equivalent), flanked by a counter demonstrating the Cubs' long legacy of futility. The counter is labeled "AC," for "Anno Catuli," or "In the Year of the Cubs. " The first two digits indicate the number of years since the Cubs' last division championship as of the end of the previous season (2007), the next two digits indicate the number of years since the Cubs' last trip to the World Series (1945), and the last two digits indicate the number of years since their last World Series win (1908). The Chicago Cubs ' 2007 season began with the Cubs trying to rebound after a season in which they finished last in their division for the first time since. Regular season Season standings Roster Player stats Batting Note G = Games played AB = At Bats H = Hits Avg For other events named "World Series" see World Series (disambiguation. The 1908 World Series matched the defending champion Chicago Cubs against the Detroit Tigers in a rematch of the 1907 Series. It is not currently known what the LBC will do if the Cubs reach 100 years without a World Series title.
Pop culture references
Wrigley Field had a brief cameo in the movie The Blues Brothers (1980), starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as Jake and Elwood Blues. The Blues Brothers is a 1980 musical comedy directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd John Adam Belushi ( January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982) was an American Comedian, Actor and Musician Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM (born July 1, 1952) is an Academy Award -nominated and Emmy Award -winning Canadian-American Elwood listed 1060 W. Addison as his fake home address on his Illinois driver's license and while the police are not fooled by this ruse, a neo-nazi group is and they are seen arriving at the stadium furious at being tricked. The term neo-Nazism refers to post- World War II Political movements Social movements and ideologies seeking to revive Nazism, The Natural (1984), starring Robert Redford, had a scene set at Wrigley but it was actually filmed at All-High Stadium in Buffalo, New York. The Natural is a 1952 novel about Baseball written by Bernard Malamud. Charles Robert Redford Jr (born August 18 1936) is an Academy Award -winning American Film director, Actor, All-High Stadium is a football Stadium in Buffalo New York. It was opened in 1926 and was refurbished for the fall of 2006 Buffalo (ˈbʌfəloʊ is the second largest city in New York State. All the other baseball action scenes in that movie were shot in Buffalo, at the since-demolished War Memorial Stadium. War Memorial Stadium (affectionately known as The Rockpile) is the name of a Stadium that formerly stood in Buffalo New York.
The ballpark was featured in a scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a 1986 Comedy film written and directed by John Hughes. Many scenes from Rookie of the Year were filmed at Wrigley Field. Rookie of the Year is a 1993 baseball movie starring Thomas Ian Nicholas and Gary Busey. Later, the film, The Break-Up, would use Wrigley Field as the setting for its opening scene. The Break-Up is a 2006 Comedy-drama film from Universal Pictures starring Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Joey An early 1990s film about Babe Ruth had the obligatory scene in Wrigley Field about the "called shot". George Herman Ruth Jr (February 6 1895 &ndash August 16 1948 also popularly known as " Babe " " The Bambino " and " The Sultan of A scoreboard similar to the one existing in 1932 was used, atop the ivy wall which in fact did not exist until later in the decade. The 1932 World Series was played between the New York Yankees ( American League) and the Chicago Cubs ( National League) with the Yankees
The ballpark was used for a lengthy establishing scene, the tryouts, in A League of Their Own (1992). A League of Their Own is a 1992 Comedy-drama Film that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional This film was a Hollywood account of the women's baseball league which the eccentric but visionary Cubs owner P. K. Wrigley had, in fact, championed during World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Garry Marshall (older brother of the film's director Penny Marshall) has a cameo as "Walter Harvey", P. Garry Kent Marshall Penny Marshall (born October 15, 1942) is an American Golden Globe-nominated actress producer and director K. 's fictional alter ego. The big sign behind the scoreboard was temporarily redone to read "Harvey Field", and filming was split between Wrigley and locally in Cantigny Park near Wheaton, IL. Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan.
Many television series have made featured scenes set in Wrigley Field, including ER,Crime Story, Prison Break, Perfect Strangers, and My Boys. Crime Story was an NBC TV drama created by Gustave Reininger and Chuck Adamson. Prison Break is an American action / Serial drama television series that premiered on the Fox Broadcasting Company on August 29 2005 Perfect Strangers is an American Sitcom that ran for eight seasons from 1986 through 1993 on ABC. My Boys is a United States television Sitcom that debuted on November 28, 2006, on TBS. Also, the animated comedy, Family Guy featured a scene at Wrigley Field, which parodied the Steve Bartman incident. Family Guy is an animated American television sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane that airs on Fox and regularly on other In an episode of The Simpsons entitled He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs, upon arriving in Chicago, Homer walks past a number of famous Chicago landmarks, including Wrigley Field, followed by a generic looking stadium bearing the name "Wherever the White Sox play" -- a jab at the less remarkable home of the Chicago White Sox. " He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs " also known as " He Loves to Fly " is the season premiere of The Simpsons ’ nineteenth season Homer Jay Simpson is a main fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and father of the eponymous family. The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2007, the band Nine Inch Nails created a promotional audio skit, which involved Wrigley Field being the target of disgruntled war veteran's terrorist attack. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion [9]
The late-1970s comedy stage play, Bleacher Bums, was set in the right field bleachers at Wrigley. Bleacher Bums is a 1977 play written collaboratively by members of Chicago 's Organic Theater Company, from an idea by actor Joe The video of the play was also set on a stage, with bleachers suggesting Wrigley's layout, rather than in the actual ballpark's bleachers. The tradition of throwing opposition home run balls back was explained by Dennis Franz's character: "If someone hands you some garbage, you have to throw it back at them!"
The stadium was also featured on the popular Travel Channel television show, Great Hotels, starring Samantha Brown. Dennis Franz (born October 28, 1944) is an Emmy - Screen Actors Guild - and Golden Globe Award -winning American Actor The Travel Channel is a Cable television network that features Great Hotels is an Emmy -award winning Television show on the Travel Channel. Samantha Elizabeth Brown (born March 31 1969 is an American TV host notable for her work as the host of Girl Meets Hawaii, Great Hotels, She attended a game during a visit to Chicago.
Travel and accessibility
The Red Line stop at Addison is less than one block from Wrigley Field. The Red Line (Howard-Dan Ryan Service is a heavy rail line in Chicago, run by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA as part of the Chicago 'L' system The stadium was originally built where it is due to its proximity to the train tracks. At the conclusion of games the scoreboard operators will raise to the top of the scoreboard either a white flag with a blue "W" to signify a Cubs victory, or a blue flag with a white "L" to signify a loss; this is done to allow passengers on the train heading home from the Loop to see the outcome of the game. Population According to the 2000 Census, 16388 people live in the Loop However, the flag colors used to be the exact opposite of the colors used today, with the rationale that white is the traditional color for surrender. Surrender is when Soldiers, nations or other combatants stop fighting and become Prisoners of war, either as In addition to rail service, the CTA provides several bus routes which service Wrigley. The Addison 152[10], Clark 22[11], and Halsted 8[12] routes all provide cheap and (semi)reliable access to the field. Biking to the field is also a popular alternative. As Halsted, Addison, and Clark streets all have designated biking lanes, getting to the field via bicycle is a great way to avoid hectic traffic before and after games. Bikers need not worry about their bike during the game, because Wrigley Field offers a complimentary bike check program. Cyclists may check their bikes up to 2 hours before games at the bike racks off of Waveland Ave, and may pick up their bikes up to one hour after games end. for more information[13].
Parking in the area remains scarce, but that does not seem to bother fans who want to come to this baseball Mecca, which drew over 3 million fans in 2004 and 2005, averaging to a near-sellout every day of the season, even with those many weekday afternoon games. The little parking that is available around the park can go for as much as $25 or $30 per space.
Commemorative stamps
In 2001, a series of commemorative postage stamps on the subject of baseball parks was issued by the U. S. Postal Service. Most of them were engravings taken from old colorized postcards, including the illustration of Wrigley Field. In the case of Wrigley, the famous scoreboard was sliced off, presumably to hide the original postcard's banner containing the park's name. It may also be observed that the original black-and-white aerial photo, presumably from the 1945 World Series, was taken from nearly the identical spot as the photo of the 1935 Series, allowing a comparison before and after the 1937 alterations to the bleachers. The stamp and its sources also provide a rare look at the center field bleachers filled with spectators, a practice which was later discontinued due to the risk to batters, who might lose the flight of a pitch amidst the white shirts.
Historic moments
1910s
- April 23, 1914: The Federal League Chifeds play the first game at the brand new Weeghman Park. Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at The Federal League was the last major attempt to establish an independent major Professional baseball league in the United States The Chicago Whales were a Federal League Baseball club in Chicago from 1914 to 1915 After parades and ceremonies, the Chifeds defeat the visiting Kansas City Packers, 9-1.
- October 3, 1915: The renamed Chicago Whales clinch what would turn out to be the final Federal League pennant in perhaps the closest pennant race in history. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's The Chicago Whales were a Federal League Baseball club in Chicago from 1914 to 1915 The Federal League was the last major attempt to establish an independent major Professional baseball league in the United States Going into the last day of the season, Chicago was four percentage points ahead of the Pittsburgh Rebels and five ahead of the St. Louis Terriers. for the lacrosse team see Pittsburgh Rebels (Lacrosse The Pittsburgh Rebels were a professional Baseball club in the short-lived Federal League The St Louis Terriers were a Baseball club that played in the short-lived Federal League in 1914 and 1915. St. Louis won its game against Kansas City, putting them just two points behind Chicago and two ahead of Pittsburgh. The Kansas City Packers were a Federal League Baseball club in Kansas City from 1914 to 1915 The Whales were scheduled to play a doubleheader against Pittsburgh at Weeghman Park. Doubleheader is the term used to describe two Baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day The Whales lost the first game, 5-4, in the eleventh inning after having led 4-1 with two outs in the ninth inning. A loss or tie in the second game would give Pittsburgh the FL pennant, while a win would give the Whales the pennant. As the sun drew low during the second game, the game remained scorless. Finally, in the sixth inning, the Whales scored three runs, two of them from a Max Flack double. Max John Flack ( February 5, 1890 in Belleville Illinois - July 31, 1975 in Belleville Illinois) was a professional baseball The game was called due to darkness after Pittsburgh failed to score in the top of the seventh inning. The Whales ended up winners of the pennant by . 001 over St. Louis, and Pittsburgh ended up third, one-half game back.
- April 20, 1916: The Cubs play their first game in Weeghman Park, as the franchise had merged with the Whales after the 1915 season. Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. The Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds, 7-6 in eleven innings.
- May 2, 1917: Jim "Hippo" Vaughn and the Cincinnati Reds's Fred Toney both pitch nine-inning no-hitters before Jim Thorpe drives in a run in the 10th inning for a Reds victory. Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. James Leslie "Hippo" Vaughn ( April 9 1888 - May 29 1966) was an American left-handed Pitcher in Major The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA Fred Toney ( December 11 1888 - March 11 1953) of Nashville Tennessee, was an American right-handed Pitcher In Baseball, a no-hitter (also known as a no-hit game, or colloquially a no-no) refers to a game in which one of the teams prevented the other from getting Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe ( Sac and Fox (Sauk: Wa-Tho-Huk) (28 May 1888 – 28 March 1953 was an American athlete
- August 29, 1918: With the season ending early due to war restrictions, the Chicago Cubs clinch the National League pennant with a 1-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Weeghman Park. Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708) World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA The Cubs would play their home games of that year's World Series in Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox. The 1918 World Series featured the Boston Red Sox, who defeated the Chicago Cubs four games to two Comiskey Park (35th Street & Shields Avenue Chicago, Illinois) was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990 The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. Weeghman Park would not see its first World Series game until 1929, when it had become known as Wrigley Field. For other events named "World Series" see World Series (disambiguation. In the 1929 World Series, the Philadelphia Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs in 5 games
1920s
- June 26, 1920: In a high-school "inter-state championship" game between New York City's Commerce High and Chicago's Lane Tech, just-turned-17 New York boy Lou Gehrig slugs a grand slam home run to lead his team to a comeback victory. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian is killed during the retreat from the Sassanid Empire. Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig ( June 19 1903 – June 2 1941) born Ludwig Heinrich Gehrig, was an American
- August 25, 1922: The Cubs defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 26-23 in what remains (through 2007) the highest-scoring game in major league history (49 runs total). Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. After spotting the Phils an early 2-1 lead, the Cubs score 10 in the second and 14 in the fourth, leading 25-6 at that point. The Phils outscore the Cubs 17-1 during the last five innings, but the Cubs hang on to win in the ninth (with the potential lead run at the plate), avoiding what would have been the most lopsided comeback in history (the Phillies will save that effort for a game here in 1976). The winds apparently shift the next day, as the Cubs lose to the Phils 3-0.
- September 18, 1929: The Cubs clinch the National League pennant, losing their game, but the second place team also loses and is eliminated on the same day. Events 96 - Nerva is proclaimed Roman Emperor after Domitian is assassinated
1930s
- September 20, 1932: The Cubs clinch the pennant, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- October 1, 1932: Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees hits his famous "called shot" in the 5th inning of Game 3 of the World Series. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. The 1932 World Series was played between the New York Yankees ( American League) and the Chicago Cubs ( National League) with the Yankees George Herman Ruth Jr (February 6 1895 &ndash August 16 1948 also popularly known as " Babe " " The Bambino " and " The Sultan of The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. Babe Ruth's called shot was the Home run hit by Babe Ruth in the fifth Inning of Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, held on 1 October
- December 17, 1933: The Chicago Bears win the first-ever NFL East-vs. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. -West Championship Game, over the New York Giants, 23-21. The 1933 National Football League Championship game was held on December 17, 1933 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York City suburb of East Rutherford New Jersey.
- December 12, 1937: The Bears win the NFL championship game over the Washington Redskins 28-21. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian The 1937 National Football League Championship game was the 5th annual championship game and was held December 12, 1937, at Wrigley Field in The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team based in the Washington D
- September 28, 1938: Gabby Hartnett hits the "Homer in the Gloamin'" to lift the Cubs past in the standings, and deal a fatal blow to, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who had led the National League for much of the summer. Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett ( December 20, 1900 - December 20, 1972) was an National Major League Baseball The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Cubs' actual pennant clinching comes in St. Louis 3 days later.
1940s
- December 21, 1941: Two weeks after Pearl Harbor, the Bears win the NFL Championship Game, over the New York Giants, 37-9. Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian The attack on Pearl Harbor (or Hawaii Operation, as it was called by the Imperial General Headquarters) was a surprise Military strike conducted by The 1941 National Football League Championship game was the 9th annual championship game and was held December 21, 1941 at Wrigley Field in
- December 26, 1943: The Bears win the NFL Championship Game, over the Washington Redskins, 41-21. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. The 1943 National Football League Championship game was the 11th annual championship game was held December 26, 1943, at Wrigley Field in The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team based in the Washington D
- October 6, 1945: The most commonly accepted date of the (possibly apocryphal) Curse of the Billy Goat incident. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus The Curse of the Billy Goat refers to a Superstition that is commonly cited in explaining why the Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball team has not won the
- July 8, 1947: MLB All-Star Game. Events 939 - The Major Occultation or Ghaybat el-Kubra of Muhammad al-Mahdi 1099 - First Crusade: 15000 Americans 2, Nationals 1.
- May 31, 1948: The Cubs set a paid attendance record when 46‚965 pass through the turnstiles for a doubleheader with the Pirates. Events 1279 BC - Rameses II (The Great (19th dynasty becomes pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. The Cubs take the opener‚ 4-3 behind reliever Bob Rush‚ then drop the nitecap‚ 4-2 to Elmer Riddle. Andy Pafko is the hitting star‚ pounding out five hits‚ including a homer in each game. [14]
1950s
- May 12, 1955: Sam Jones pitches a 4-0 no-hitter over the Pittsburgh Pirates, the hard way: he walks the bases full in the 9th inning, and then strikes out the side. Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. This article is about Sam Jones (1925-1971 The baseball player Sam Jones (1892-1966 was also known as " Sad Sam Jones "
- May 13, 1958: Stan "The Man" Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals achieves his 3000th career hit, in a pinch-hitting role. Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola. Stanley Frank Musial (born November 21, 1920) originally Stanisław Franciszek Musiał, (ˈmjuːziəl nicknamed "Stan the Man" and The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St This deprives Cardinals fans of the chance to see him reach this milestone at home, but Harry Caray's ecstatic voice describes the action for listeners of the Cardinals radio network - Caray's future status as a Cubs icon unsuspected by anyone. Harry Caray (b Harry Christopher Carabina, March 1, 1914, St Louis, Mo
- June 30, 1959: In one of the wackier moments in baseball history, an umpire's mistake results in two baseballs being in play at the same time. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper The visiting St. Louis Cardinals file a protest, but withdraw the protest after winning the game. The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St Thus the two-baseball play is allowed to stand.
1960s
- May 15, 1960: Don Cardwell, making his debut with the Cubs following a trade, pitches a 4-0 no-hitter over the St. Louis Cardinals. Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Donald Eugene Cardwell ( December 7 1935 – January 14 2008) was an American right-handed Pitcher in Major League The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St With 2 outs in the 9th and two strikes on him, the Cards' Joe Cunningham nearly breaks it up with a line drive to left field, but Moose Moryn makes a running, shoetop catch for the final out. Joseph Robert Cunningham Jr (born August 27 1931 in Paterson New Jersey) is a former Major League Baseball First baseman and left-handed Walt "Moose" Moryn (born April 12, 1926 in St Paul Minnesota - July 21, 1996) is a former Major League Baseball
- May 28, 1961: A literal case of a "fireman" garnering a "save" for the Cubs. Events 585 BC - A Solar eclipse occurs as predicted by Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling During a contest with the San Francisco Giants, a hot dog stand near the right field corner catches fire, and Wrigleyville's Fire Engine House #78 (built in 1915) is called in from its "bullpen" across Waveland to extinguish the blaze. The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in, that currently play in the National League West Division.
- July 23, 1962: Wrigley Field goes international, as Telstar transmits images from the Phillies-Cubs game (patched into the WGN-TV coverage) to overseas receiving stations. Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. Telstar was the first active Communications satellite (launched in 1962 and the first Satellite designed to transmit telephone and high-speed data communications
- July 30, 1962: Second 1962 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (two were played each year 1959-1962). Events 1419 - First Defenestration of Prague. 1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic" is an annual Baseball game between players from the National League Americans 9, Nationals 4. The last time the center field bleachers are open to fans, in the park's baseball configuration.
- December 29, 1963: The Bears win the NFL Championship over the New York Giants, 14-10, on a bright, clear and frigid Sunday afternoon (it was 9 °F. Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II The 1963 National Football League Championship Game was played on December 29 1963 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. at kickoff).
- December 12, 1965: Gale Sayers of the Bears runs for a record-tying six touchdowns, as the Bears rout the San Francisco 49ers 61-20. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian Gale Eugene Sayers (b May 30 1943, Wichita Kansas) also known as "The Kansas Comet", was a professional football player The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team
- June 29, 1969: The Cubs hold a "Day" for Billy Williams at Wrigley, in a doubleheader against the Cardinals before 41,060 fans, some dressed in red and some in blue. Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Billy Leo Williams (born June 15, 1938) is a former Outfielder in Professional baseball. In a happy scheduling coincidence, Williams will tie and pass Cardinals icon Stan Musial for the National League consecutive games record (895 and 896). Williams contributes 5 hits as the Cubs edge out the Cardinals in the opener, 3-1, and then thump the Redbirds in the late-afternoon-cap, 12-1.
- August 19, 1969: Ken Holtzman no-hits the powerful-hitting Atlanta Braves, 3-0, in what proves to be the high watermark of the ill-fated 1969 season, aided by a strong northerly wind. Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Kenneth Dale Holtzman (born November 3, 1945, in St Louis Missouri) is a Left-handed former Starting pitcher in Major League In the 7th inning, Henry Aaron socks one that appears to be headed for Waveland Avenue, but the wind smacks it down and into the glove of the leaping Billy Williams. Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron (born February 5 1934 in Mobile Alabama) nicknamed "Hammer" "Hammerin' Hank” or "Bad Henry” is a retired Aaron also makes the final out, a ground ball from Beckert to Banks.
1970s
- May 12, 1970: Ernie Banks hits his 500th career home run against Pat Jarvis of the Atlanta Braves. Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Ernest "Ernie" Banks (born January 31, 1931 in Dallas Texas) is an American former Major League Baseball player
- April 16, 1972: Burt Hooton throws a no-hitter, a 4-0 win over the Phillies. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom Burt Carlton Hooton (born February 7 1950 in Greenville Texas) nicknamed "Happy" (by former manager Tommy Lasorda, because he rarely The season had started late due to a players' strike, and this one came on the second day of the season.
- September 2, 1972: Milt Pappas pitches an 8-0 no-hitter over the San Diego Padres. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Milton Stephen (Milt Pappas (original name (Miltiades Stergios Papastergios (born May 11, 1939 in Detroit Michigan) is a former Professional baseball The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego California since their founding in 1969 He comes within one strike of a perfect game, but walks the batter. He then retires the final batter. After a relative rash of Wrigley and Cubs no-hitters, this one will be the last involving a Cubs team as of the 2006 season.
- April 17, 1976: With a strong prevailing southerly breeze, the Cubs take a 13-2 lead over the Phillies through 4 innings, only to finally lose 18-16 in 10 innings, as the Phils tie the NL record for the largest lead overcome. Events 69 - After the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes Roman Emperor. Tied at 15-15, the Phils score three in the 10th, partly on the strength of Mike Schmidt's 4th home run of the game, and the Cubs are only able to come back with one in their half of the 10th. Michael Jack Schmidt (born September 27, 1949 in Dayton Ohio) is a former professional Baseball player who played his entire Career This allows the Phils to tie the National League record for largest deficit overcome (11 runs), as some compensation for having barely failed to accomplish a 19-run comeback here in 1922.
- May 17, 1979: In another windblown game with the Phillies, echoing the high-scoring Cubs-Phillies games of 1922 and 1976, the Phils take a large lead only to have the Cubs catch them in the late innings. Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. However, Schmidt does the Cubs in again, hitting a homer (his second of the day) in the 10th (off Bruce Sutter) to give the Phillies a 23-22 win. Dave Kingman hits three homers that day in a losing cause. David Arthur Kingman (born December 21, 1948, in Pendleton Oregon) nicknamed "Kong" and "Sky King" is a former Major League In a curious mix of nostalgia and masochism, the following winter WGN-TV will replay the entire game videotape, as a "snow day" special. WGN-TV, channel 9 is a Television station in Chicago Illinois.
1980s
- August 18, 1982: The Cubs lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in a 21-inning contest, the longest game ever played at Wrigley Field. Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA The game had been suspended due to darkness at the end of the 17th inning the previous afternoon. Future Cubs manager Dusty Baker drove in the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the 21st. Johnnie B "Dusty" Baker Jr (born June 15 1949 in Riverside California) is a former Outfielder in Major League Baseball
- April 29, 1983: Following a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cubs manager Lee Elia unleashes a verbal tirade against Cub fans, suggesting they were unemployed losers (in 1983, home games were still played exclusively during the day). Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans. The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA Lee Constantine Elia (born July 16, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former professional baseball player and manager in At the time the Cubs were 5-14 on the season, and the team was the subject of frequent booing and heckling. Elia was fired in August, partly due to the bad blood resulting from his comments.
- June 10, 1983: Ferguson Jenkins pitches a four-hit complete game shutout against the reigning World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins CM (born December 13 1943 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada) is a right-handed former The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St Jenkins' 281st career win was witnessed by 37,024 fans -- the largest crowd at Wrigley in nearly two years. The game would turn out to be the last hurrah for the 39-year-old future Hall of Fame pitcher. A hall of fame (sometimes HOF) is a type of Museum established for any a field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field Toward the end of the season, Jenkins was demoted to a relief pitching role, and was released the following spring with 284 lifetime victories.
- August 24, 1983: Cubs pitcher Chuck Rainey comes within one out of pitching a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA The Reds' Eddie Milner singled with two outs in the ninth inning to break up Rainey's gem. Eddie Milner, born Edward James Milner ( May 21, 1955 in Columbus Ohio) is a former Major League Baseball Center fielder Rainey wound up with a one-hit victory over the Reds, 3-0.
- June 23, 1984: "The Sandberg Game" - The nationally-televised Saturday game against the Cardinals that puts Ryne Sandberg "on the map" and comes to symbolize the season for the Cubs, who will go on to win their first title of any kind since 1945. Events 1180 - First Battle of Uji, starting the Genpei War in Japan 1305 - The Flemish Ryne Dee Sandberg (born September 18 1959 in Spokane Washington) nicknamed "Ryno" is a former Second baseman in Major League Baseball who The Cubs overcome deficits of 7-1, 9-3, and 11-9 as Sandberg hits a pair of game-tying home runs in late inning action, both off ex-Cubs ace Bruce Sutter, a wild one eventually won by the Cubs 12-11 in 11 innings. Howard Bruce Sutter (ˈsuːtɚ born January 8 1953 in Lancaster Pennsylvania) is a former right-handed Relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who was ESPN replayed significant portions of the game prior to Sandberg's Hall of Fame induction in 2005, which show Sutter turning and shouting "Damn!" to himself when Sandberg hits the second one. However, Sutter will later credit that replaying with helping him achieve his own Hall of Fame election the following year.
- October 2, 1984: The Cubs clobber the San Diego Padres 13-0 in the first game of the National League Championship Series. Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego California since their founding in 1969 It is the Cubs' first postseason appearance since 1945. The Cubs combine for five home runs, including one by pitcher Rick Sutcliffe. Richard Lee Sutcliffe (born June 21, 1956 in Independence Missouri) is a former Major League Baseball starting Pitcher and current
- September 8, 1985: Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds collects his 4,190th and 4,191st career hits, in the first and fifth innings respectively, and has a chance at 4,192 in the top of the ninth; but with dark clouds closing in, fireballing reliever Lee Smith strikes Rose out. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA Lee Arthur Smith (born December 4 1957 is a retired American right-handed Relief pitcher who played for eight teams in Major League Baseball from 1980 The game will be called on account of darkness after another half inning - fittingly, a tie. At the time, Rose's fifth-inning hit was believed to have tied Ty Cobb's career record (WGN-TV flashed "Tied with Ty" on-screen), and 4,191 is still recognized by Major League Baseball [15] as Cobb's official hit total. Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb (December 18 1886 – July 17 1961 nicknamed " The Georgia Peach," was a baseball player and is regarded by historians Independent researchers now believe Cobb's hit total to be 4,189, which if true would mean that Rose actually broke the record in the first inning. Rose was only in the lineup due to a last-minute pitching change. Rose normally batted only against right-handers. With lefty Steve Trout on the mound, Rose was due to be on the bench, and likely to tie and break Cobb's record in an upcoming 10-game homestand. Steven Russell Trout (born July 30, 1957, in Detroit Michigan) was a Major league baseball pitcher during the 1980s But Trout's left arm had been injured in a fall while bicycling with his family the previous evening, and right-hander Reggie Patterson was announced as the starter. Rose, putting discipline ahead of sentiment, inserted himself in the lineup for the game and made some history.
- 1987: Wrigley Field itself is placed on the National Register of Historic Places[6]
- August 27, 1987: Entering the 8th inning with an 8-6 lead over the Atlanta Braves in the second game of a doubleheader, darkness sets in and the game is called off, resulting in a Cubs victory. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan A routine occurrence in the pre-light years, the installation of lights the following season makes such suspensions less likely in the future.
- August 8, 1988: The Cubs play their first game under newly-installed lights at Wrigley Field. Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula. Mother Nature apparently does not approve, however, as rain forces the postponement of the game in the fourth inning, with the Cubs leading the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-1.
- August 9, 1988: The Chicago Cubs host the New York Mets in their first official night game at Wrigley Field. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus The Cubs beat the Mets 6-4.
1990s
- July 10, 1990: The American League beats the National League 2-0 in a rain-soaked All-Star Game. Events 48 BC - Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia. The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League ( AL) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic" is an annual Baseball game between players from the National League
- May 6, 1998: Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs strikes out 20 Houston Astros to set the National League record and tie the major league record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game; the Cubs win 2-0 as Wood gives up only one hit. Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. Kerry Lee Wood (born June 16, 1977 in Irving, Texas) is an American Baseball player The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas.
- September 13, 1998: Sammy Sosa hits home runs 61 and 62 to pass Babe Ruth and Roger Maris, and temporarily tie Mark McGwire for the all-time, single-season home run record. Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Samuel Peralta Sosa (born November 12, 1968 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a Right fielder who is currently George Herman Ruth Jr (February 6 1895 &ndash August 16 1948 also popularly known as " Babe " " The Bambino " and " The Sultan of Roger Eugene Maris ( September 10 1934 &ndash December 14 1985) was an American Right fielder in Major League Baseball Mark David McGwire (born October 1 1963 in Pomona California) is a former professional baseball player who played the majority of his Major League career with the McGwire will eventually win the race 70 to 66.
- September 27, 1998: On the 60th anniversary of Gabby Hartnett's famous pennant-assuring home run, the Chicago Cubs clinch the National League wild-card berth in a one-game playoff on a Monday night, defeating the San Francisco Giants 5-3. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in, that currently play in the National League West Division.
2000s
- September 27, 2003: The Cubs clinch the National League Central division title, with a 7-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- October 14, 2003: In the top of the eighth inning of NLCS Game 6 with the Cubs leading 3-0 and five outs away from their first World Series in 58 years, a fan named Steve Bartman attempts to catch a foul ball, thwarting left fielder Moisés Alou's attempt to catch it. Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces The National League Championship Series was a Major League Baseball playoff series played from October 7 to October 15 to determine the champion Moisés Rojas Alou (usually ˈmɔɪ̪zɨs əˈluː in English, and /moiˈses alˈou/ in Spanish; born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta Georgia This incident is soon followed by walks, hits, a wild pitch and shortstop Alex S. Gonzalez's crucial error on a potential, inning-ending double play. Alexander Scott Gonzalez (born April 8, 1973 in Miami, Florida) is a former Major League Baseball Shortstop and The 8-run inning results in a Cubs loss. The Cubs would also lose Game 7 to the eventual World Series Champion Florida Marlins. For other events named "World Series" see World Series (disambiguation. The Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens Florida. See The Inning
- September 25, 2004: Security footage shows Sammy Sosa leaving Wrigley Field 15 minutes after the start of the last game of the 2004 season, which Sosa denied, claiming that he left much later. The National League Championship Series was a Major League Baseball playoff series played from October 7 to October 15 to determine the champion Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Samuel Peralta Sosa (born November 12, 1968 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a Right fielder who is currently Sosa would later be traded to the Baltimore Orioles, ending a 12-year stint with the ballclub. The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.
- July 26, 2005: Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux strikes out Omar Vizquel to become the thirteenth member of the 3000 strikeout club. Events 657 - Battle of Siffin. 811 - Battle of Pliska; Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus Gregory Alan Maddux (born April 14, 1966 in San Angelo Texas) is a Pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Omar Enrique Vizquel Gonzalez (born April 24, 1967 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball Shortstop playing In Major League Baseball, the 3000 strikeout club is an informal term applied to the group of Pitchers who have struck out 3000 or more batters in their
- September 4 & September 5, 2005: Jimmy Buffett becomes first musician to use Wrigley Field as a concert venue. Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. James William "Jimmy" Buffett (born December 25 1946) is a Singer, Songwriter, Author, Businessman, and recently
- June 13, 2006: The Cubs become the first team to use cell phones to call to the bullpen. Events 1525 - Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the Celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for Manager Phil Garner of the Houston Astros makes the first call to pitching coach Jim Hickey to 'test' the line. Philip Mason Garner (born April 30, 1949, in Jefferson City, Tennessee) is a former Infielder in Major League Baseball The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. Jim Hickey may refer to Jim Hickey (American football Jim Hickey (baseball coach Jim Hickey (weather presenter
- July 30-August 2, 2007: The Cubs set a home attendance record for a four-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies, which draws 163,727. Events 1419 - First Defenestration of Prague. 1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
- August 5, 2007: New York Mets pitcher Tom Glavine wins the 300th game of his career, defeating the Cubs 8-3. Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. "Mets" redirects here For the medical term see Metastasis. Thomas Michael Glavine (born March 25, 1966 in Concord Massachusetts) is an American Left-handed Starting pitcher
- October 6, 2007: The Cubs are eliminated from the NLDS when they go down 3-0 to the Arizona Diamondbacks
- March 31, 2008: The Cubs welcome opening day of the 2008 season against the Milwaukee Brewers by unveiling a life-size sculpture of Ernie Banks outside Wrigley Field. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix Arizona. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Ernest "Ernie" Banks (born January 31, 1931 in Dallas Texas) is an American former Major League Baseball player The statue originally includes a typo, "Lets Play Two," a phrase Banks was known for saying. An apostrophe was added two days later to correctly read "Let's Play Two. "
- May 16, 2008: In only its 25th game of the season, Wrigley Field season attendance passes the million mark, the fastest in team history. Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire.
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![[5]](http://images.bleedcubbieblue.com/images/admin/wrigley2005c.jpg){kind=link}
See also
Sources
- A Day at the Park, by William Hartel
- Ballparks of North America, by Michael Benson
- Cubs Journal, by John Snyder
- Green Cathedrals, by Philip J. Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Wrigley Rooftops is a generic name for the rooftops of residential buildings which have Bleachers or seating on them to view baseball games or other major events at Wrigley Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers (born October 31, 1941) is a longtime Chicago Cubs fan and local celebrity in the Chicago area Lowry
- Wrigley Field: The Unauthorized Biography, by Stuart Shea
- Top 10 Ballparks of 2008 by Devin Pratt
References
- ^ Potential Wrigley purchase by state holds up Cubs sale
- ^ This field by any other name ... - ChicagoSports.com
- ^ Sterrett, David. "Wrigley Unlikely to Pay for Name", Crain's Chicago Business, Crain's Communications Inc. , 2008-02-04. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons
- ^ The Official Site of The Chicago Cubs: News: Mailbag: Wrigley rights up for grabs?
- ^ CBOE Press Releases
- ^ Cook County Listings at the National Register of Historic Places; Ref. # 87002652
External links
- Wrigley Field facts, figures, photos and more
- Brief History of Wrigley Field
- A profile of Wrigley Field, including what to do if you visit
- The Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary, with more history and early pictures of the future site of Wrigley Field
- USGS photo of Wrigley Field
- Wrigley Field images and information
- Signs of a win at Wrigley Field
- Wrigley Field Rooftop Directory
- Wrigley Field Expansion
- Home movie footage from Pennant Raising Ceremony, June 21, 1930, and Game One of the 1929 World Series, October 8, 1929
- Wrigley Field is at coordinates
| Preceded by West Side Park (II) | Home of the Chicago Cubs 1916 – present | Succeeded by Current |
| Preceded by first stadium | Home of the Chicago Chi-Feds/Whales 1914 – 1915 | Succeeded by last stadium |
| Preceded by Staley Field | Home of the Chicago Bears 1921 – 1970 | Succeeded by Soldier Field |
| Preceded by first stadium | Home of the Chicago Tigers 1920 | Succeeded by last stadium |
| Preceded by Forbes Field RFK Stadium Anaheim Stadium | Host of the All-Star Game 1946 1962 (2nd Game) 1990 | Succeeded by Sportsman's Park Cleveland Stadium SkyDome |
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