The "Take Me Out To The Ballpark" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at my latest edition of Reminisce Magazine which has a byline that declares The Magazine That Brings Back The Good Times.  Carol bought me a year long subscription to the magazine when she saw it on my Christmas list this past year.  This issue, the April/May issue, is jam-packed with so many neat stories that I'll have to look over the magazine a few times before I catch all the stories.  Well, one story that caught my attention right away was the double-page spread declaring "Wrigley Hits 100."  

Wrigley Field in Chicago.

 Yeah, I know most will think it has to do with the gum manufac- turer, but most would be wrong.  The story talks about the venerable ballyard which is located at 1060 W. Addison Street in an area of Chicago called "Wrigleyville."  Many a great ballplayer played for the Chicago Cubs which included one of my all-time favorites, Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub, who was probably one of the greatest shortstops in professional baseball.  

Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub.

 At least to me he was.  One of my baseball idols.  And another great, Ryne Sandburg, just happens to be the manager of my beloved Phila- delphia Phillies.  Ryne was the second-baseman for my APBA baseball team when I founded the Red Rose APBA League years ago (check sports category to read about APBA).  I always wanted to take in a game at this historic stadium, but the chances of that happening are starting to get pretty slim.  

Wrigley Field years ago before it had lights.

 Sitting in the bleachers, above the ivy-covered walls would be a dream come true.  Only last year, while watching the Phillies play the Cubbies, two balls dropped from the ivy at the same time after a batter hit a line drive off the wall.  I imagine there are many more balls lodged in that ivy that have never been found.  It was on April 23, 1914 that professional ball was played for the first time in the ballpark.  At the time Chicago had a team in the Federal League which played at the ballpark.  But, in 1915 the league folded and gum manufacturer William Wrigley Jr., who had recently purchased the Chicago Cubs, moved his team from West Side Grounds into the ball park.  

Outfield walls are all covered with ivy.

 In 1926 he renamed the park "Wrigley Field." Wrigley Field has been the home of the Cubs since 1916 and has yet to see the Cubbies win a World Series.  The Cubs did win the 1908 World Series, but that win came while they were still playing at the West Side Grounds.  Wrigley Field is one of the most iconic stadiums in the world with their famous ivy-covered outfield walls, hand-operated scoreboard in centerfield and chain-link fence that circles the outfield wall about two feet below the top of the fence.  It's purpose is to catch fans who may reach over the fence to catch a fly ball and fall from the stands.  

The art deco marquee at the entrance to the ballpark.

 Stretching around the outfield bleachers are neighbor- hood buildings that have placed seating on their flat roofs for people to sit and watch the games.  At the main entrance to the stadium stands the large art deco style marquee, painted red with white letters.  I can remember a few "House Hunters" episodes that show the marquee when customers are searching for a home in Chicago.  It wasn't until 1988 that lights were added to the stadium for night games.  I always enjoyed the field when they had no lights, since I knew that I could watch my Phillies play the Cubs during the daytime and not have to fight my wife for TV time in the evening. 

This photo shows the field and lights installed in 1988.

 It was in 1982 that singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" became a Chicago ritual when Hall of Fame announcer Harry Caray arrived to do his play-by-play announcing.  So, in 2014 the Chicago Cubs will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Wrigley Field.  Ten different decades will be represented during ten homestands of the team.  Today's game will feature the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Cubs in a throw-back game where each team will wear the uniforms of the teams that played that first year.  The Cubs will wear the uniforms that the Chicago Federals wore while the Diamondbacks will wear the uniforms of the Kansas City Packers.  My one hope is that if my Phils can't win the World Series this year, then I want the Cubbies to win to reward their loyal fans who have suffered without a World Series team since 1908.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Sorry I'm a day late with this story.  I had it buried close to the bottom of the few stories I had written weeks ago and forgot all about it.