If you go back in time to March 1914, you would be able to witness the beginning construction of what will grow to be a legend of baseball, Wrigley Field, the Cubs Rooftop and the home of the Chicago Cubs. With a cost of $250,000 back then, Wrigley Field still rates as the oldest field today in baseball’s history.
The initial build was sponsored by 10 individual investors that over time sold their shares to William Wrigley Jr. from the Wrigley Chewing Gum company. It officially became Wrigley Field in 1926 changing its name from the original title of Cubs Park.
Wrigley Field also known as Cubs Rooftop, started to revamp how baseball was presented to it’s fans. Believe it or not, it was the first field with permanent concessions and also allowing fans to keep any ball that was hit foul. 1937 ushered in the construction of the bleachers and a manually operated score board that is still being used today.
To date, the scoreboard itself still has never been hit by a baseball. Although during a promotion, the golfer Sam Snead did tee off a golf ball inside the stadium that he sent into the scoreboard.
Another land-mark in Wrigley Field history was in 1988 when played its first night game. After over 5 thousand day games only, Wrigley field now had newly installed lights. Unfortunately the historic game was to be played against Philadelphia, but mother nature had different plans and the game was rained out. The first full night game was the following evening against the New York Mets. The Cubs where able to mark the historic night with a 6-4 victory over the Mets.
Other historical events at Wrigley Field would include:
- 1970 – The 500th home-run of Ernie Banks
- 1932 – The “Call Shot” of Babe Ruth in game 3 World Series
- 1985 – Pete Rose ties the record of Ty Cobb’s 4,191 hits
- 1998, 1999, 2001 – Sammy Sosa hits 60 home runs
When you walk into Wrigley Field its really is walking into the history of baseball. The newer ball fields of today can give be very impressive with all their modern technology services. But walking into Wrigley Field is walking into what baseball was. Being under the Cubs Rooftop, you can field the history of baseball. What baseball was back then and what it was meant to be.
If you haven’t been to Wrigley Field, even if you’re not a fan, put it on your “to do list” and take your family. It will be a feeling and a memory that you will not forget.