Wrigley Field
(1914-1915), (1921-1970)
| Wrigley Field The Friendly Confines | |
 | |
| Facility Statistics | |
| Location | 1060 West Addison Street Chicago, Illinois 60613 |
| Broke Ground | March 4, 1914 |
| Opened | April 23, 1914 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Owner | Chicago Cubs |
| Construction Cost | $250,000 USD |
| Architect | Zachary Taylor Davis |
| Tenants | |
| Chicago Cubs | 1916-present |
| Chicago Whales | 1914-1915 |
| Chicago Bears | 1921-1970 |
| Seating Capacity | |
| 1914 | 14,000 |
| 1915 | 18,000 |
| 1923 | 20,000 |
| 1927 | 38,396 |
| 1928 | 40,000 |
| 1938 | 38,396 |
| 1939 | 38,000 |
| 1941 | 38,396 |
| 1949 | 38,690 |
| 1951 | 36,755 |
| 1965 | 36,644 |
| 1972 | 37,702 |
| 1973 | 37,741 |
| 1982 | 37,272 |
| 1986 | 38,040 |
| 1987 | 38,143 |
| 1989 | 39,600 |
| 1990 | 38,710 |
| 1994 | 38,765 |
| 1997 | 38,884 |
| 1998 | 38,902 |
| Dimensions | |
| Left Field | 345 ft / 105 m (April 1914), 310 ft / 94.5 m (May 1914), 327 ft / 100 m (June 1914), 343 ft / 104.5 m (1921), 325 ft / 99 m (1923), 348 ft / 106 m (1925), 364 ft / 111 m (1928), 355 ft / 108 m (1938) |
| Left-Center | 364 ft / 111 m (1914), 368 ft / 112 m (1938) |
| Center Field | 440 ft / 134 m (1914), 447 ft / 136 m (1923), 436 ft / 133 m (1928), 400 ft / 122 m (1938) |
| Right-Center | 364 ft / 111 m (1914), 368 ft / 112 m (1938) |
| Right Field | 356 ft / 108.5 m (April 1914), 345 ft / 105 m (June 1914), 321 ft / 98 m (1915), 298 ft / 91 m (1921), 318 ft / 97 m (1923), 321 ft / 98 m (1928), 353 ft / 107.5 m (1938) |
| Backstop | |
Wrigley Field (1060 W. Addison Street, Chicago, Illinois) is a sports stadium which was built in 1914 for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales. Original named Weeghman Park for the owner, Charlie Weeghman, the field became the home of the Chicago Cubs following the 1915 season when the Federal League was disbanded and Weeghman gained ownership of the Cubs. William K. Wrigley, the chewing gum magnate, was part of a group of investors, led by Weeghman, which purchased the team. Wrigley gained full ownership in 1919. The field was known as Cubs Park from 1920 to 1925 before it was named after Wrigley in 1926. It is one of two parks that has been named for him; a Wrigley Field in Los Angeles also bore his name.
Located in the residential neighborhood of Lakeview at the corner of Clark and Addison Streets, Wrigley Field is nicknamed The Friendly Confines. With a capacity of under 40,000, Wrigley is the third-smallest ballpark being used in 2004. It is the second oldest major league ballpark and the only remaining Federal League park. When Wrigley Field was built, it had a seating capacity of 14,000 and cost $250,000 to build.
Wrigley Field is known for the ivy planted against the outfield wall in 1937 by Bill Veeck and the manual scoreboard Veeck also erected. No batted ball has ever hit the scoreboard, though Sam Snead did manage to hit it with a golf ball teed off from home plate. Lights were scheduled to be added to Wrigley Field in 1942, but after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, William Wrigley donated the lights intended for Wrigley Field to the war effort. Lights would not be added to Wrigley Field until 1988, after Cubs management threatened to move the team and Major League Baseball announced that any playoff games would have to be held at Busch Stadium. The first major league night game, played against the Philadelphia Phillies, was held on August 8, 1988 and was rained out, after 5,687 consecutive day games. The first official night game was played the following night, August 9, against the New York Mets. In the 1940s, some AAGPBL night games were played in Wrigley Field using temporary lighting structures.
At no other current major league ballpark does the weather affect gameplay as much as at Wrigley Field. 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. In the summer, however, 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. Many Cub 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. 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. The Cubs still play the majority of their home games during the day, though they are scheduled to play as many as 30 of their 81 home games in 2005 at night.
The Chicago Bears American football team played at the stadium from 1921 to 1970. The team was known as the Chicago Staleys for the 1921 season.
The Red Line stop at Addison is less than one block from Wrigley Field. 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.
Historic moments
- May 2, 1917 Jim "Hippo" Vaughn and the Cincinnati Reds's Fred Toney both pitched nine-inning no-hitters before Jim Thorpe drove in a run in the 10th inning for a Reds victory.
- August 25, 1922 The Chicago Cubs defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 26-23 in what remains the highest-scoring game in major league history (49 runs total).
- October 1, 1932 Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees hits his famous "called shot" in Game 3 of the World Series; the Yankees win the game 7-5 and the series 4 games to none. (Note, however, that there is dispute as to whether Ruth actually did call his shot; evidence is inconclusive at best. Many who were present assert that Ruth was merely pointing at the Cubs dugout to tell them that he only had two strikes on him.)
- September 28, 1938 Gabby Hartnett hits the "Homer in the Gloamin'" to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates and win the National League pennant.
- May 12, 1970 Ernie Banks hits his 500th career home run against Pat Jarvis of the Atlanta Braves.
- September 8, 1985 Pete Rose hits his 4,191st career hit to tie Ty Cobb's record. (Note, however, that according to some baseball historians, this hit actually broke Cobb's record. Sources differ as to Cobb's career hits total, which has been cited as 4,189, 4,190, and 4,191.)
- 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.