| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
| | |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois |
| Opened | April 23, 1914 |
| Capacity | 14,000 ( 1914), 18,000 ( 1915), 20,000 ( 1923) 38,396 ( 1927), 40,000 ( 1928), 38,396 ( 1938) 38,000 ( 1939), 38,396 ( 1941), 38,690 ( 1949) 36,755 ( 1951), 36,644 ( 1965), 37,702 ( 1972) 37,741 ( 1973Events January events January 1 United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark enter the European Economic Community now known as the European Union January 3 Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) sells the New York Yankees for $10 million to a 12-person syndicate led), 37,272 ( 1982Events January January 6 William Bonin is convicted of being the "freeway killer". January 8 AT&T agrees to divest itself of twenty-two subdivisions January 11 Mark Thatcher, son of the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, disappears in the Sahara du), 38,040 ( 19861986 is a common year starting on Wednesday. Events January January 1 Spain and Portugal enter the European Community January 1 Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands and is separated from the Netherlands Antilles. January 9 After losing a pa) 38,143 ( 19871987 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January January 1 Nunavut's capital changes it name to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay. January 3 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 4 An Amtrak train), 39,600 ( 19891989 is a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 7 Akihito becomes Emperor of Japan following the death of Hirohito. The Heisei period begins January 8 the Kegworth Air Disaster A British Midland Boeing 737 cra), 38,710 ( 1990Events January January 3 Former leader of Panama Manuel Noriega surrenders to American forces. January 7 The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public due to safety concerns. January 9 Lt Gen Bazilio Olara Okello The man who led the coup aginst Dr Apo) 38,765 ( 19941994 is a common year starting on Saturday, and was designated the International year of the Family''. Events January events January 1 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect January 6 Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the right leg by an), 38,884 ( 19971997 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Reef''. Events January January 3 NBC's Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 Mister Rogers receives a star on t), 38,902 ( 1998) |
| Owned By | Chicago Cubs |
| Architect: | Zachary Taylor Davis |
| Dimensions: Left Left-Center Center Right-Center Right | 345 ft. ( April 1914), 310 ft. ( May 1914), 327 ft. ( June 1914), 343 ft. ( 1921), 325 ft. ( 1923), 348 ft. ( 1925), 364 ft. ( 1928), 355 ft. ( 1938) 364 ft. ( 1914), 368 ft. ( 1938) 440 ft. ( 1914), 447 ft. ( 1923), 436 ft. ( 1928), 400 ft. ( 1938) 364 ft. ( 1914), 368 ft. ( 1938) 356 ft. ( April 1914), 345 ft. ( June 1914), 321 ft. ( 1915), 298 ft. ( 1921), 399 ft. ( 1922), 318 ft. ( 1923), 321 ft. ( 1928), 353 ft. ( 1938) |
Wrigley Field (1060 W. Addison Street, Chicago, Illinois) is a sports stadium which was built in 1914 for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales . Original named Weeghman Park for the owner, Charlie Weeghman, the field became the home of the Chicago Cubs following the 1915 season when the Federal League was disbanded and Weeghman gained ownership of the Cubs. William K. Wrigley , the chewing gum magnate, was part of a group of investors, led by Weeghman, which purchased the team. Wrigley gained full ownership in 1919. The field was known as Cubs Park from 1920 to 1925 before it was named after Wrigley in 1926. It is one of two parks that has been named for him; a Wrigley Field in Los Angeles also bore his name.
Located in the residential neighborhood of Lakeview at the corner of Clark and Addison Streets, Wrigley Field is nicknamed The Friendly Confines. With a capacity of under 40,000, Wrigley is the third-smallest ballpark being used in 2004. It is the second oldest major league ballpark and the only remaining Federal League park. When Wrigley Field was built, it had a seating capacity of 14,000 and cost $250,000 to build.
Wrigley Field is known for the ivy planted against the outfield wall in 1937 by Bill Veeck and the manual scoreboard Veeck also erected. No batted ball has ever hit the scoreboard, though Sam Snead did manage to hit it with a golf ball teed off from home plate. Lights were scheduled to be added to Wrigley Field in 1942, but after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, William Wrigley donated the lights intended for Wrigley Field to the war effort. Lights would not be added to Wrigley Field until 1988, after Cubs management threatened to move the team and Major League Baseball announced that any playoff games would have to be held at Busch Stadium. The first major league night game, played against the Philadelphia Phillies, was held on August 8, 1988 and was rained out, after 5,687 consecutive day games. The first official night game was played the following night, August 9, against the New York Mets. In the 1940s, some AAGPBL night games were played in Wrigley Field using temporary lighting structures.
At no other current major league ballpark does the weather affect gameplay as much as at Wrigley Field. In April and May the wind often comes off Lake Michigan (less than a mile to the east), which means a northeast wind "blowing in" to knock down potential home runs and turn them into outs. In the summer, however, the wind often comes from the south and the southwest, which means the wind is "blowing out" and has the potential to turn normally harmless fly balls into home runs. Many Cub fans check their nearest flag before heading to the park on game days for an indication of what the game might be like; this is less of a factor for night games, however, because the wind does not blow as hard after the sun goes down. No matter the weather, many fans congregate during batting practice and games on Waveland Avenue, behind left field, and Sheffield Avenue, behind right field, for a chance to catch a home run ball. The Cubs still play the majority of their home games during the day, though they are scheduled to play as many as 30 of their 81 home games in 2005 at night.
The Chicago Bears American football team played at the stadium from 1921 to 1970. The team was known as the Chicago Staleys for the 1921 season.
The Red Line stop at Addison is less than one block from Wrigley Field. The stadium was originally built where it is due to its proximity to the train tracks. At the conclusion of games the scoreboard operators will raise to the top of the scoreboard either a white flag with a blue "W" to signify a Cubs victory, or a blue flag with a white "L" to signify a loss; this is done to allow passengers on the train heading home from the Loop to see the outcome of the game.