Chicago Cubs Yesterday & Today
Groundskeepers planting ivy, September 1937 have guests arriving to see the ivy before the season’s last home Another distinct element of the Wrigley outfield wall is the series. Veeck scrambled and brought in several hundred fast- bright yellow measurements indicating the outfield distances. growing bittersweet plants to grow along with the ivy. The Initially plywood markers attached to the wall, the dimensions grounds crew worked feverishly to plant the bittersweet on have been painted directly on the brick since 1981. The screen on wires strung along the wall. The next day, the ballpark had a top of the wall was added in 1970 to minimize the instances of new feel—the entire wall was draped in a leafy cloak. The ivy fan interference. A ball that gets lodged in the screen is ruled a eventually filled in, and today it is the most famous foliage in double, but if it bounces off the screen and into the bleachers, it’s Chicago. Hoping to add to the arboretum effect, Veeck also set a home run. up large planters with Chinese elm trees on the large stair-steps One thing you won’t see adorning the walls of the Friendly leading up to the new scoreboard, but the wind wreaked havoc Confines, however, is much billboard advertising. In today’s era on the trees, and that component of the Wrigley beautification of heavy corporate sponsorship—where every piece of the game project was abandoned. is seemingly for sale to the highest bidder, from the ballpark The ivy provides only minimal padding for outfielders leap- name to the seventh-inning stretch—Wrigley Field remains ing for fly balls against the wall, and it brings an added obstacle remarkably free of commercial advertising inside the bowl. The when balls disappear into the green abyss. According to the video scoreboard does feature corporate sponsors, but most of Wrigley Field ground rules, if a ball is hit into the ivy and is the large billboards are left to the buildings across the street. A lodged there, it is ruled a double as long as the outfielder indi- sign advertising Baby Ruth candy bars towered above a build- cates to the umpire that the ball has disappeared. If, however, the ing in center field for decades. Today, the roof of a Waveland outfielder attempts to retrieve the ball from the ivy, then the ball Avenue building beyond left field is painted with the bright is considered live. red-and-white Budweiser logo.
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Sammy Sosa, 2003
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Chicago Cubs Yesterday & Today
tread where their heroes tread on the field on their way out of snacks and souvenirs. A hundred years earlier, a ticket for a box the ballpark after the game. seat might set you back a little over a dollar; a bleacher seat could Generations later—while any fan who comes onto the field be had for just two bits. The cheapest seat at Wrigley today, in is sure to get expelled from the game and hauled away by the the corners of the upper deck, is $16 for most games or $8 for cops—the ballpark still attracts enormous numbers of spectators. selected “value” games. Prices rise quickly from there. Standard A crowd of 41,364 came out to the Friendly Confines to watch box seats in the infield run you close to $60, and a first-class view the Cubs take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the final home game from behind home plate or next to the dugout can cost as much of the 2007 regular season. Best of all, those in attendance got to as $250 for a “prime” game. To sit in the storied Wrigley Field witness the Cubs blow away the opposition with an 8-0 victory outfield bleachers, it’s $32 for a general admission ticket. The and inch closer to clinching the division crown. luxurious private suites bring in big revenue for the club, and 50 To attend that afternoon game in 2007, a family of four of your best friends can cheer on the Cubbies from the Grand could easily shell out several hundred dollars for good seats, plus Slam Suite for around $10,000.
Crowd at City Series, West Side Grounds, 1912
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Popcorn vendors, Wrigley Field
Beer vendor, Wrigley Field, 2002
Cigarette girl, Wrigley Field
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