Wrigley Field: Then and Now

 

Photo of the Wrigley Field sign in 2024. (Photo by Associated Press)

When I think of historical places in the city of Chicago, Wrigley Field is one place that comes to mind. Wrigley Field is a ballpark located on the North Side of Chicago at 1060 Addison Street, Chicago, Il. It was opened in 1914 formerly known as Weeghman Park for a man named Charles Weeghman. In 1921, well-known chewing gum industrialist William Wrigley Jr. bought the ballpark, and for a while, it was called Cubs Park from 1920 to 1926. Then a year later it was renamed Wrigley Field. 

The ballpark is located on the cross streets of Clark and Addison in the Lakeview neighborhood. Famous baseball player and former Cubs player Ernie Banks nicknamed the park "The Friendly Confines" back in the day. It is the second oldest park in the National League, the first being Fenway Park located in Boston, MA. Which is home to the Boston Red Sox. Fenway Park is just two years older than Wrigley Field, however, in my opinion, it fits with Chicago being nicknamed "The Second City". 

The photos above are shown 70 years apart. The first photo shows a Cubs opener on April 18th, 1949 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the second photo shows the Cubs opener on April 8th, 2019 against the same team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

An interesting fact that many might not know about is that Chicago Bears games used to be held at Wrigley Field from 1921 to 1970. 

Wrigley Field hosting a Bears Game in 1966 (Photo from Stadiums of Pro Football)

Before they were known as the Arizona Cardinals, they were known as the Chicago Cardinals from 1931 to 1938. Even though this park had been around for 100 plus years in 2020 it was finally designated as a National Historic Landmark. In January 2013 the new owners, The Ricketts Family, of the Chicago Cubs and the stadium oversaw a huge renovation project called "The 1060 Project". Now some may like the new renovations and some may have other thoughts about it.  

This stadium has gone through many changes, but the ivy along its walls still remains, the team has beaten a 100-year-old "curse" and has even held a couple of concerts. This among many buildings in this city will always hold the Chicago spirit of a "never quit" attitude.