Wrigley Field Turns 100 Years Old
The President of the United States was Woodrow Wilson, World War One was beginning, boxing legend Joe Louis was born, and Wrigley Field opened in Chicago. The year was 1914.
Wrigley Field is now the second oldest Major League Baseball stadium, behind only Fenway Park, which is two years older. Although the Chicago Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908, Wrigley Field has been home to Chicagoans for a century.
The Cubs have made it to six World Series while playing at Wrigley, unfortunately losing all six. Despite not winning a National League Pennant since 1945, and disappointments that only Cubs fans could endure, Wrigley Field continues to stand at 1060 West Addison Street with no future plans of demolition. Chicago's south side baseball team, the White Sox, have had more recent success, including a World Series title in 2005, but even their popularity can't surpass the Cubs.
To many fans surprise, hometown hero Sammy Sosa was not invited to celebrate the 100 year anniversary. Sosa is the Cubs' franchise leader in home runs and he hit 293 of his 609 career home runs at Wrigley Field.
Wrigley Field is also famously remembered by many Yankees fans for the 1932 World Series. In game three, Babe Ruth hit one of the most iconic home runs in baseball history, "the called shot."
Wrigley has given Chicago so much than just Cubs baseball. The Chicago Bears played at Wrigley Field from 1921-1970 and would win eight NFL Championships. Another football team, the Chicago Cardinals played there in the '30s. Even Bulls great Michael Jordan played for the White Sox in 1994 at Wrigley Field. Professional ice hockey has also taken place at Wrigley Field. The 2009 NHL Winter Classic pitted the Chicago Black Hawks and the Detroit Red Wings in front of thousands of diehard fans in the falling snow.
One very unique aspect that has stood the test of time at Wrigley is the ivy. On the outfield wall, ivy has covered the entire wall since 1937 and it gives the ball park a nice look. Renovations and adjustments have taken place over the years. Lights were put in place in 1988 and Wrigley currently seats over 40,000 people. Although Wrigley Field has been open to Chicago for 100 years, the Cubs have only been playing there for 98 years, as they moved to the stadium in 1916.
The owners of Wrigley also have an interesting history when it comes to the stadiums scoreboard. Wrigley has kept the "old-school" hand-turned scoreboard as opposed to electronic, because it is small and keeps the historic value. The Cubs have also said a larger electronic scoreboard would restrict viewership from the city, with Chicago fans able to watch games from their apartment rooftops, and wouldn't quite have the same feeling.
Thanks for 100 years of memories, Wrigley Field.