USA TODAY SPORTS WEEKLY APRIL 23—29, 2014 7

Wrigley Field at 100

By Dennis Wierzbicki, USA TODAY Sports Field of dreams: The home of the Cubs, which hasn’t hosted a game since 1945, is best known for its ivy-covered outfield walls, hand-turned scoreboard and daytime . Friendly Confines still a baseball mecca failings seem to be easier to absorb that love affair, according to Will, Grounds home. The teams in 1906 Fans’ love affair with iconic when you’re sitting in such a gor- has played a key role in the team’s through 1910 had the best five- geous, stately venue. poor on-field performance. season in Like Shea, Pulitzer-Prize-winning Calling A Nice Little Place on the history Cubs’ home like no other writer George Will is one of a num- North Side a “business book, about a (.693). Before moving into Wrigley ber of noteworthy authors who business model that failed,” Will in 1916, the team won a stunning By Joe Mock originally fought at every turn — its have penned books on Wrigley to notes the loyalty of the fans and 465 more games than it lost (1,219- BaseballParks.com rich history is the talk of baseball. coincide with the 100th anniversary their enthusiasm for coming to 754) starting in 1903. But why does it seem as if the of its opening, which occurred Wrigley for the experience of the It hasn’t gone so well since. The point of is to glorious aspects of this famous April 23, 1914. Will told USA TODAY venue meant they weren’t all that During the final seasons at crum- display baseball games. ... And just as venue outnumber the accomplish- Sports that he is a Cubs fan for life demanding about wins and losses. bling West Side Grounds, the Cubs a frame can serve, or be inappropriate ments of its tenants? Even more because “I have a nagging fear that If “attendance might’ve varied and organized baseball fought to for, a particular painting, ballparks perplexing: Why do Cub fans con- if I ever stopped following them, more directly and more dramat- keep the upstart can display ball games well or poorly. tinue to fill its grandstand and they’d start winning.” ically with the success on the field, from basing a franchise on the city’s ... Wrigley Field is lovelier than the bleachers as the memory of the Indeed, the play of the Cubs over it would’ve provided a much more growing, untapped North Side. baseball often played on the field. team’s last appearance in the World the years can be characterized as powerful incentive to improve Ed Hartig, who for 20 years has — George Will, A Nice Little Place Series in 1945 has long since faded? ugly more often than not. After what was going on on the field,” acted as the Cubs’ unofficial team on the North Side: Wrigley Field at As Stuart Shea, author of Wrigley sporadic stints of success, the Cubs Will said. historian, said the One Hundred Field: The Long Life and Contentious have suffered through unparalleled even had “an ingenious plan” to Times of the Friendly Confines, puts futility. From 1948 through 2013, Outlasting upstart franchise have an agent acquire a slice of the — As the sport cele- it, Wrigley is “a place where good the team went 4,871-5,564 (.467). The most dominant squads in the property that had been selected for brates the 100th birthday of one of memories are created and bad Despite this, the love affair be- franchise’s history played in the the Federal League venue in an its great cathedrals — the construc- memories are ameliorated.” tween the fan base and the team’s first decade of the 20th century, attempt to thwart the plan to con- tion of which the As Shea points out, the team’s venue is unrivaled in sports — and when the Cubs called West Side struct a park at the corner of 8 APRIL 23—29, 2014 USA TODAY SPORTS WEEKLY

the team’s star was Hack Wilson, The 1960s were a particularly winner of four home titles and brutal decade at Wrigley, as the holder of the MLB record for RBI in a team had a pair of 103-loss seasons season (191, in 1930). and a for-the-ages collapse at the In time for the 1927 season, the end of the 1969 season. And the team renamed the park in honor of fans noticed. owner William Wrigley and greatly “Attendance fell far behind the expanded seating. The result: the rest of the league,” said Pathy, add- first NL team to top 1 million in ing, “Wrigley Field was not consid- attendance. ered a great place to watch baseball Wrigley’s son P.K. became the in the 1960s.” owner of the team in 1932, and he The team won two division titles made no secret that the experience in the 1980s, and night baseball of coming to Wrigley Field was finally arrived. On the magical date more important to him than of 8/8/88, lights illuminated Wrig- whether the team won. ley Field for the first time, only to have the game rained out in the Early 20th century success fourth . While the team won the NL A wild-card berth came to the pennant in its third season at Wrig- Friendly Confines in 1998, and three ley, it is a run of four NL crowns in division titles in the following dec- 10 seasons (1929 through 1938) that ade, but everyone remembers 2003. represents the high-water mark for The date was Oct. 14, 2003, the team during its Wrigley years. Game 6 of the NL Championship The 1932 club faced the mighty Series. The Cubs held a three-run in the World lead on the Florida Marlins with five File photo by Chicago History Museum via AP Series, and what the matchup outs to go to bring the first World Days gone by: Fans line up outside Weeghman Park, home of the Chicago Whales, in 1914. The Whales were re- lacked in drama (New York won in Series to Wrigley since 1945. placed as the ballpark’s home team by the Cubs in 1916, and Weeghman Park was renamed Wrigley Field in 1927. a sweep) it made up for in folklore. That’s when fan Steve Bartman In Game 3, Wrigley’s overflow deflected a pop foul from Cubs left Cubs to party like it’s 1914 crowd and the Cubs players in the fielder Moises Alou — and the game dugout howled with every pitch to quickly unraveled for the home The Chicago Cubs are throwing a . After a gesture (at the team. The Cubs ended up losing in 100th birthday party for Wrigley Field bleachers? At the home dugout? At inglorious fashion 8-3 and lost the on April 23, a century after the Chi- the ?), “The Bambino” blast- next night to the Marlins in Game 7. cago Federals opened the against the Kansas City Packers. ed one of the longest homers — and Many turned their disappoint- The Cubs will wear Federals throw- most debated as a “called shot” — in ment into hatred toward the fan in back uniforms, and the the ballpark’s history. the green turtleneck wearing head- Diamondbacks will wear the Federal The Cubs’ next shining star was phones involved in the Alou play. League uniforms of the Kansas City . He the “Bartman did nothing wrong,” team. “The sights and sounds at the “Homer in the Gloamin’,” a blast Will recalls. “(He) was surrounded ballpark that day will reflect the into Wrigley’s lightless dusk that by fans trying to do the same thing.” ballpark experience from a century won a crucial game against the The reaction of the fans “was really ago, including music, graphics and Pirates in 1938 and quite ugly.” even elements of the game broad- propelled his team to the pennant. cast,” the team said in a statement. Foundation for a winner? Among other plans: Sam Pathy, author of the compre- uThe first 30,000 fans will get a hensive Wrigley Field Year by Year: A The current owners have as- replica 1914 Chicago Federals jersey Century at the Friendly Confines, sembled impressive talent in the and the first 10,000 fans will receive a birthday cupcake. called that game “the best singular front office, and that suggests on- uCubs legends are expected to Cub event in the park’s first field success is a priority. take their former positions on the 50 years.” Hartig, however, disagrees with field for the pregame ceremonies The 1945 season saw many of the Will that Wrigley Field is to blame (listed in alphabetical order): (), Glenn Beckert game’s stars serving their country for the poor showing in the stand- (), during World War II. It also saw the ings over the years. (), (pitch- Cubs play in the Fall Classic ... with “You can trace the Cubs’ failings er), Bobby Dernier (), no trips since. As was the case with to ... very poor (front office) deci- Randy Hundley (catcher), Fergie Jenkins (pitcher), Gary Matthews (left the previous six World Series in sions that put them 10 years behind 1955 AP photo fielder), (pitcher), Lee which the Cubs participated, the (other teams),” Hartig said. “And Mr. Cub: Ernie Banks won back-to-back MVP awards (1958-59) for the Smith (pitcher), (left team won — the there aren’t 16 teams anymore. Cubs but never got to play in a postseason game. fielder) and (pitcher). in seven games. There are 30, and it’s a lot harder to Past owners will be recognized. The win a World Series today than Cubs also will honor the Bears, who Rapid decline and heartbreak and Addison. the team into the palace built for played at Wrigley for 50 years. before expansion.” When the agent failed to buy the the Whales, thus starting the long- uPhotos and video tributes will Wrigley Field saw its share of star Cubs fans just hope they don’t land in time, construction began on est running relationship between play on the right-field video board, players in the 1950s and 1960s — have to wait another century for and greeters and grounds crews will the park that for two years served an NL team and its ballpark, topped wear clothing modeled from 100 usually in the visitors’ uniforms. Wrigley’s first World Series cham- as the home of the Chicago Whales. only by the Red Sox’s use of years ago. One exception was arguably the pionship. The team won the Federal League since 1912. uClassic food items will be on sale, most popular Cub of all time, Ernie championship in 1915, just in time The stadium went by Weeghman including a Reuben sandwich and Banks, who won two Mock authored the “In the Ballpark” to see the league fold. Park until 1920, when the team breaded pork chop sandwich. Classic titles and two MVPs but appeared countdown in Sports Weekly last cocktails include a 1910s Weeghman Whales owner Charlie Weegh- started pushing the name Cubs Park Park Old Fashioned served in souve- in no postseason games during his year, ranking Wrigley Field No. 1. man quickly put together a group of — a name now attached to the nir glasses. Hall of Fame career. Mr. Cub hit his He operates BaseballParks.com, an investors who bought controlling team’s new facility uHarry Caray’s wife, Dutchie, will 500th home run, at Wrigley, on affiliate of USA TODAY Sports Digi- interest of the Cubs. They moved in Mesa, Ariz. During the late 1920s, lead the seventh-inning stretch. May 12, 1970. tal Properties. USA TODAY SPORTS WEEKLY APRIL 23—29, 2014 9 13 moments

Go figure: The to remember first night game at Wrigley Field Given the Chicago Cubs’ luck, it was held Aug. 8, 1988, though it seems fitting to list the top 13 events was rained out in Wrigley Field’s 100-year history after four in- nings. in chronological order: File photo by John Swart, AP

Oct. 3, 1915 “46,572 paying customers … were The Chicago Whales won the luckier than the 20,000 or so fans Federal League title on the last day who milled around outside Wrigley of the season. It was “the only Chi- Field, unable to get in,” wrote cago baseball championship at George Will. “It was probably the Wrigley Field,” observed author largest concentration of African Sam Pathy. “Ironically, the euphoric Americans in the history of the day marked the last game in Federal North Side up to that point.” League history.” Oct. 1, 1969 April 20, 1916 In the 162nd game of the season, The Chicago Cubs played for the the Cubs fell to the first time at the ballpark, beating 6-5. It was their 18th loss in 30 days, 1 the Reds 7-6 in 11in- as their 9 ⁄2-game lead over the nings. Whales owner Charles Mets on Aug. 19 turned into an Weeghman had purchased the eight-game deficit. History views it Cubs and moved them into his File photo by Richard A. Chapman, AP as one of the most significant col- ballpark. Best pitching performance ever? lapses in pro sports. Kerry Wood gave up one hit and May 2, 1917 struck out 20 Astros on May 6, 1998. Aug. 8, 1988 The only time in major league The “8/8/88 game” was to be the history two (the Cubs’ Sept. 28, 1938 first night game at Wrigley. It was Hippo Vaughn and Cincinnati’s Jim postponed because of rain in the Toney) hurled no-hitters through “The Homer in the Gloamin’,” as fourth inning, but the lights had nine . The Reds scored on an Cubs player- Gabby Hart- arrived. unearned run off Vaughn in the nett hit a game-winning blast as the 10th, and Toney retired the side in game was about to be called be- May 6, 1998 the bottom of the inning. cause of darkness. The name is a In what Hartig calls one of the top reference to a 1911love song called two games in Wrigley’s history, Aug. 25, 1922 Roamin’ in the Gloamin.’ The win 20-year-old Kerry Wood allows The Cubs (26) and Phillies (23) set against the com- only a while striking out 20 the still-standing major league pleted a monumental comeback in Astros in a 2-0 victory. record for total runs in a game. the standings for the Cubs, who Pathy points out that ’ finished a sweep the next day and “Game Score” system “ranked this Sept. 28, 1930 clinched the National League pen- as the greatest pitching perfor- The Cubs’ Hack Wilson knocked nant days later. “The story has a mance in big-league history.” in his 191st run of the season, set- little bit of everything,” Cubs histo- ting a major league record that still rian Ed Hartig told USA TODAY Oct. 14, 2003 stands. At the time, it was thought Sports. “It’s got late-innings sus- With the Cubs leading 3-0 and to be his 190th, but research after pense, late in the season, a great five outs from their first World Wilson’s death uncovered an RBI comeback and a legendary ball- Series in 58 years, Moises Alou fails wrongly attributed to a teammate. player.” to catch a ball hit just into the The closest anyone has come to the stands down the left-field line. record is , who had 185 Oct. 10, 1945 Among the spectators attempting the following year. The Tigers knocked off the Cubs to snag the souvenir is loyal Cubs in Game 7 of the World Series 9-3. fan Steve Bartman. The team seem- Oct. 1, 1932 Wrigley hasn’t seen a Fall Classic ingly comes apart for the rest of the Babe Ruth’s “called shot” in since. The Cubs lost three of the four game, allowing the Florida Marlins Game 3 of the World Series. Many games played at Wrigley. to score eight unanswered runs. No doubt “The Bambino” actually was pennant for the Cubs that year. The pointing at Wrigley’s bleachers May 18, 1947 Cubs have reached the postseason seconds before launching a home became the first twice since, getting swept in the NL run there, but there’s no dispute the African-American player in a major File photo by John Zich, USA TODAY Sports Division Series in 2007 and ’08. blast helped propel the New York league game in Chicago, as the Five outs away: The Cubs were closing in on their first World Series since Yankees to a sweep of the Cubs. Dodgers beat the Cubs 4-2. The 1945 when Moises Alou and Steve Bartman got tangled up in the 2003 NLCS. By Joe Mock, Baseballparks.com