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Kathy
Kathy
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4 out of 5
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Cubs May Not Win, but Wrigley Is a Winner!

  • July 28, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by NiceGinna from Evanston, Illinois
Cubs May Not Win, but Wrigley Is a Winner!

It's been 100 years since the Chicago Cubs have won the World Series. You would think that no one would even go to see them, but you would be wrong! Or do we go to see Wrigley Field? Built in 1914, it's one of the few remaining old-fashioned fields and the only one where the scoreboard is still MANUALLY operated. Can you imagine? And then there's the ivy on the walls instead of gross signs advertising things you don't need. And the roof-top stands across the way. And the 40,000 fans who crowd into the place every game day, who sing along with the National Anthem to start and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at the 7th-inning stretch, and who stay afterwards, if we win, to sing "Go, Cubs, Go... Hey, Chicago, wadda say, the Cubs are gonna win today!" And if we didn't win, we still had a great time in our wonderful ballpark. You should see it.
Editor Pick

Wrigley Field

  • July 22, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by RoBoNC from Indianapolis, Indiana
Wrigley Field

Being married to someone who is a Cubs fan can sometimes scare you. Although Chicago has two baseball teams, the other being the White Sox, it is probably better to just refer to them as the other team. Every time I say White Sox, it almost looks as if my wife is about to turn into Linda Blair from the Exorcist. Cubs fans in general are like this. Although they haven’t won a World Series title since 1908, they are some of the most passionate fans in all of baseball. The Cubs have come close such as in 2008, but nothing compared to the pain felt when their cross-town rival won the World Series in 2005. Cubs fans are quick to remind you of 1908 and with every new season bring new hope.

The Cubs ballpark is Wrigley Field, named after William Wrigley, the chewing gum magnate who once owned the team. Built in 1914, Wrigley Field is the second oldest ballpark in baseball behind Boston’s Fenway Park. It is also one of the few ballparks that haven’t given in to corporate America. Ballparks are changing their names to acquire more revenue as the White Sox did by changing Comiskey Park to US Cellular Field. The fact that the Cubs haven’t sold out even when its owner, the Chicago Tribune, was trying to get rid of it to generate some more revenue is impressive.

Wrigley Field is located in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. Most Chicagoans can even tell you the exact address of Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison, by heart. In the movie The Blues Brothers, Elwood even listed his address on his Illinois driver’s license as 1060 W. Addison. Recognizing Wrigley Field is easy even if you have never been to Chicago. Countless movies and television shows have used the famous marquee from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to Perfect Strangers.

Other noticeable aspects of Wrigley Field are the ivy covered outfield wall. As the season progresses, the ivy grows so fast that the wall is completely covered. It is not uncommon for a baseball to get lost in the ivy thereby forcing the umpire to declare a ground rule double. There are also many high-rise buildings surrounding Wrigley Field. On the rooftops, there are bleachers to accommodate more seating. These seats are privately owned and are not regulated by the Chicago Cubs.

A good tip is to buy tickets well in advance. When the Cubs play the White Sox or their other big rival, the St. Louis Cardinals, tickets are gone within minutes of them going on sale. Another good tip is to avoid driving to Wrigley Field. Parking is sparse and the cost of parking is expensive. A better option is take the "El" train as the Red Line stop at Addison is about a block away from Wrigley Field. After the game, grab a beer at one of the many bars surrounding Wrigley.

My first game here was with my wife when they played the Baltimore Orioles, who I have been a fan for since I was a kid. With my wife decked out in her Chicago Cubs shirt and me in my Orioles jersey that left only my son. Sure enough, he was sporting his Cubs overalls. Although we were a house divided that day, I took pride in the fact that my team won 7-5.

From journal Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Editor Pick

Chicago Cubs

  • October 20, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by stvchin from Tustin, California
Chicago Cubs

This is stop #2 of my quest to see a game in all 30 MLB ballparks. I arrived via the CTA Brown Line (the El train) among the masses of Cub fans.

The Chicago Cubs are considered one of the storied baseball franchises, along with the Yankees and Red Sox. One thing I really have to say is that the Cubbie fans, even though it'll be at least 100 years since their last World Series Win in 1918, the fans are very loyal and enthusiastic. From young kids, to college students, to the seniors who have undoubtedly been Cub fans for generations, all headed towards the entry gates into Wrigley. You can definitely feel the excitement in the air.

In a city like Chicago where public transportation is readily available via bus and train, there really aren't any parking lots for Wrigley Field. There are a few private parking lots, but that's about it.

There are all sorts of activities right outside Wrigley Field before the game. Vendors selling Chicago Cubs attire and paraphernalia, people taking pictures, fans shouting for extra tickets, people frequenting the bars and restaurants surrounding Wrigley Field.

I already purchased my ticket earlier, and once inside the ballpark, things calmed down. I was able to find my seat quickly. Unfortunately it was behind a support column. I had Section 218, Row 8, Seat 1. Seat 1 is behind a foot wide steel support beam. I had forgotten that Wrigley is an older ballpark with support columns. No wonder my ticket was so cheap. Once the game started, I was able to move a few seats over to an empty seat and had an excellent view!

Being an older ballpark, Wrigley Field doesn't have digital billboards or banners, no jumbotron for replays and advertisements. There was a manually operated scoreboard, where workers peered behind the openings that the hit and run placards were hung. The only thing automated was the ball, strike, and out counter. In this day and age, while manual scoreboards appear hokey and outdated, this was definitely the charm of Wrigley Field.

The entire ballpark is an experience in itself. While some of the concession stands are run by large food service companies, there were a few independently run food stands, which adds to the charm and appeal. There are also the walking vendors, who peddle beer, hot dogs, pretzels, ice cream, soft drinks, and all sorts of other goods in the stands.

Across the outfield, the property owners of the apartment buildings across the street erected bleachers and some billboard advertising. I chuckled at that, but it's still part of the charm behind this beloved ol' ballpark.

The Cubs won against the Pittsburgh Pirates today. One of the fun things to do after the game is to goto the bars and restaurants across from Wrigley and celebrate with the rest of the fans. Whether you're a baseball fan or not, a Cubbie game at historical Wrigley Field is a must do in Chicago!

From journal Windy City Cubbie Trip

Editor Pick

Wrigley Field

  • January 8, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by pj1465 from Chicago, Illinois
I like to call Wrigley Field Chicago's largest beer garden. Indeed, it is a popular spot to spend a summer afternoon despite the Cubs' less than stellar performances in the last, oh, 99 years. In fact, the Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908.

Not that it matters. Droves of fans visit Wrigley and claim almost every seat in the stadium each year. Although many games sell out early, tickets are often released on game day or can be bought outside the stadium. Surrounding Wrigley are a variety of restaurants and sports bars to enjoy before or after a game. If you want to avoid crowds, I suggest you leave the area, however.

You can reach Wrigley fairly easily by taking the CTA red line to the Addison stop. Street parking is hard to find and the lots are expensive. If you don't mind walking or taking a bus, you could park a mile west of Clark street on Addison with little problem.

While there are a few seats with an obstructed view, most of the seats offer a great view of the field. Some people love to sit in the bleachers, but be warned... the Bleacher Bum crowd can be loud and unruly.

The stadium itself is beautiful, with its ivy covered outfield walls and old fashioned scoreboard. After the passing of legendary announcer Harry Carey, a guest celebrity usually carries on his tradition of singing "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch.

Souvenirs are aplenty at the ball park, but you'll find more reasonable prices at the souvenir shops near the stadium.

While a variety of food and drink options are available, I recommend the traditional hot dog washed down with an Old Style beer. Oh, and bring your own peanuts. They're cheaper outside the stadium.

From journal Great Finds: Chicago

Chicago Cubs Wrigley

  • August 24, 2006
  • Rated 2 of 5 by keval010 from Bartlett, Illinois
The game was very boring. Until the 6th inning, the Cubs were doing good, but then...of course, two grand slams out of nowhere from the NY Mets. Such BS. Never watch the Cubs...go to the CHISOX game :-)

From journal Family Day in Chicago

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