CUBS STADIUM

Wrigley Field is the second oldest ballpark in the Majors behind Fenway Park (1912). Originally named Weeghman Park, construction began on the 14,000 seat ballpark on March 14,1914.Wrigley Field cost $250,000. The ballpark had only one deck of grandstands in a V-shape, with wooden bleachers in the outfield. Construction on the $250,000 ballpark was completed by April 23, 1914. Weeghman Field was home to the Chicago Whales for two years, until the Federal League went bankrupt. The Chicago Cubs, played at West Side Grounds until Charles Weeghman bought the club and moved them to his ballpark in 1916. Wrigley Field has played host to Major League Baseball for the 91st season in 2004 and to the cubs for the 89th year. The first Cubs game at Weeghman Field was on April 20, 1916. In 1920, Weeghman Field was renamed Cubs Park, and Weeghman sold the club to William Wrigley Jr. Beginning in 1922 and 1923, Cubs Park underwent several renovations. The grandstands were moved back 60 feet, and wooden bleachers were added, thus increasing the capacity to 20,000. Major renovations began in 1926, when Cubs Park was renamed Wrigley Field. The grandstand was double decked, the playing field was lowered, and the bleachers in left field were removed. The capacity increased to 38,396. More renovations were completed at Wrigley Field in 1937. Bleachers were added in the outfield, and the famous 27 by 75 foot hand operated scoreboard was placed behind the bleachers in centerfield. The most distinct feature was the planting of ivy at the base of the outfield wall. Before World War II, the grandstand in left field was circled so all the seats faced home plate instead of centerfield. After 5,687 consecutive day games played by the Cubs at Wrigley, the lights were finally lit on August 8, 1988, for a game with the Philadelphia Phillies. That game was rained out after 3½ innings, and the first official night game took place the following evening against the New York Mets. The Cubs won, 6-4. Lights had actually been placed in the ballpark for installation in 1941, but Wrigley instead donated them to a shipyard for the war effort the day after Pearl Harbor. In the late 1980s, however, Cubs management insisted that the team was in danger of leaving Wrigley if lights weren’t installed, and Major League Baseball threatened to make the Cubs play postseason games at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The first permanent concession stand in baseball was built here in 1914. The custom of allowing fans to keep foul balls hit into the stands started here, as did the custom of throwing back home runs hit by opposing players. "Take Me Out To the Ballgame" has been sung (off-key) thousands of times by venerable announcer Harry Caray (1914-1998), and countless fans have watched the game from the porches and rooftops of the houses on Waveland Avenue (behind the left-field fence) and Sheffield Avenue (beyond right field). Wrigley Field has basically remained advertisement free, with only advertisements on nearby buildings and a few in the ballpark. The area outside Wrigley Field, called Wrigleyville, is filled with fans on game day. Ballhawks as they are called, wait on Waveland Avenue to catch homeruns during the game.