Baseball Pilgrimages
Baseball Pilgrimages

Wrigley Field Info
Ballpark Tours
Seating & Pricing

Phone: 773-404-2827

Signature feature:
Ivy covered outfield wall

2023 Cubs Schedule
(home games only)

Field Facts
Outfield Dimensions
LF: 355'   CF: 400'   RF: 353'

Playing Surface
Kentucky bluegrass

Home Dugout
3rd Base

Stadium Staff
PA Announcer:
Andrew Belleson

Organist:
Gary Pressy

Head Groundskeeper:
Roger Baird

Concessionaire:
Levy Restaurants



NL East Ballparks
Citi Field
Citizens Bank Park
Marlins Park
Nationals Park
SunTrust Park

NL Central Ballparks
Busch Stadium
Great American Ball Park
Miller Park
PNC Park
Wrigley Field

NL West Ballparks
AT&T Park
Chase Field
Coors Field
Dodger Stadium
Petco Park


AL East Ballparks
Camden Yards
Fenway Park
Rogers Centre
Tropicana Field
Yankee Stadium

AL Central Ballparks
Comerica Park
Guaranteed Rate Field
Kauffman Stadium
Progressive Field
Target Field

AL West Ballparks
Angel Stadium
Globe Life Park
Minute Maid Park
Oakland Coliseum
Safeco Field


Cubs Shop
Wrigley Field Replica
Chicago Cubs replica ballpark

One of the many great items in our Cubs Store.


Baseball Pilgrimages
Where the pursuit of baseball never ends.
[Site Map]

American League National League Spring Training Triple-A Double-A Single-A Independent Ballpark Store
 Chicago Cubs

Wrigley Field


1060 W Addison Street
Chicago, IL  60613
Opened:
  1914
Capacity:
 41,160
Elevation:
   600'
Baseball Pilgrimages on Facebook Baseball Pilgrimages on Google+ Pro ballpark directory

Send this page to a friend Questions or comments
Wrigley Field exterior and marquee
There are dozens and dozens of articles, reviews, and books written about the Friendly Confines of Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Ninety five years after it opened, I finally had the opportunity to step inside the Majors' second oldest ballpark (Wrigley is two years junior to Fenway Park) and form my own opinion.

Of the things that are written, it is the history of the building and the love of the fans that are most talked about. Everyone knows that the Cubs have great fans, but it is a testament to the organization and the surrounding community that the team has been selling out home games for decades no matter their record in the standings.

Wrigley Field is in the heart of Wrigleyville, an area made up of restaurants, bars, pizza stands, and some stores. The neighborhood is a perfect fit for the stadium. The community loves the team and on game days you feel as if you are part of a huge block party or even Mardi Gras. And just for added fun, head to Cubby Bear across from the stadium to see fans in full Cubs’ gear bumping and grinding on the dance floor.

The very long bus ride from the Blue Line 'L' Station to the park was filled with chatty and fun fans. That ambience carries over into Wrigley Field, where the narrow concourse teems with mouths agape in awe at just being there (or maybe that was just me) and people laughing, getting food or souvenirs, and generally having a great time. Then you make your way to a set of stairs, knowing that in seconds you will ascend to the box level seats and see the field for the first time.

For me, I was giddy weeks before when the decision to make the trip was made. I was anxious as the date approached. And I was beaming with excitement when we were able to get tickets four rows behind the visitor’s dugout -- the opponents just happened to be my favorite team, the Florida Marlins. But I internally recognized as I approached the stairs that I was about to see a game at Wrigley and be a part of the history. My anticipation did me no wrong. As my view of concrete quickly turned into blue sky and green grass I had that transported moment, when adult becomes child, and I was just so happy. With its intimate feel and seats at all levels not far from the field, it was a living postcard.

Unlike most contemporary ballparks, Wrigley is right up front with their product. You have a stadium. You have a field. You have two teams and you play baseball. And that is part of the allure. The building is a shrine to baseball and its fans, to decades of greats who wore the Cubs jersey and the players and memorable moments that took place within its walls. The modern distractions of kids zones, dancing girls, mascot races, and fireworks are absent so they don’t mess with the experience and they would probably just rob it of all its charm if they were present. I recognized immediately that I would have a harder time watching the game than usual because I kept looking around, soaking it all in. The stadium and fans were my distraction and I was OK with that.

When we first made our way to our seats I had expected old, wooden seats, but they were replaced with more comfortable and modern ones years ago. Even an hour before game time the well-known bleachers were already filled with boisterous fans, and the rooftop seats on buildings along Sheffield and Waveland Avenues were already crowded. People just love being in and around this park. And as I said, history is one of the main reasons why.

The hand-operated scoreboard at Wrigley Field The Cubs have a lot of yesterdays that make up today. Both foul poles are adorned with “Hey Hey,” the signature shout of their longtime radio announcer Jack Brickhouse. On top of the poles flags with the names and retired numbers of past Cubs greats are flown. Harry Caray’s image is hung nicely over the press box where for years he led fans in signing Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Babe Ruth's famous called shot happened here, as did the Steve Bartman incident and the advent of throwing opposing team's home runs back onto the field. Wrigley itself is famous for ivy hugging the outfield wall (which is more or less lush depending on the time of season) and the large hand-operated scoreboard in center field, which has been in use since 1937. I knew all of this going in, but the first-hand experience of it was what I was after.

I loved seeing the smiles on kids' faces, the families, the frat boy outings and the general fan young and old. In fact, when we met the people sitting in front of us we were told of one signature fan, Dorothy Farrell, who is as part of Wrigley now as anyone else. Dorothy has been sitting in the front row, by herself, for the past 23 years. When I asked her how she got her single ticket she said it was through a friend who died and I wondered about her husband. Did he not like to go to games? “He died ten years ago, “ she confided, “but the one ticket was all I wanted because I couldn’t wait to go to the games to get away from him.” I laughed because this is how Dorothy is known. She is a forthright person and a passionate fan. A Cubs employee brought her a scorecard before the game, which she kept track of from the first out through the last. Players, both Cubs and Marlins, said hi. Even Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria took a second to acknowledge her. Dorothy is the part of Wrigley I didn’t know about and the part I was looking to find. She even told me to shut up and sit down when the Marlins’ Cody Ross hit a solo home run. Thanks, Dorothy.

I can tell you that there are things that I wish were a bit different, even as much as I loved the whole day at the park. Food vendors are nice, but the Cubs literally go overboard with the assembly line of people hawking food. We’d have beer guy, followed by soda guy, peanut girl, cotton candy dude, hot dog man, then repeat. There was no stopping the train. It became very annoying to try and watch the game around these vendors, and we were in the fourth row. Back on the concourse the choices for food were far less than that of most of the newer parks. And if you are a woman at Wrigley, ugh; the wait for every ladies room rivaled depression era unemployment lines. I felt sorry for that gender as I ambled past them and right into the men’s room with no wait to use the trough.

Of every 7th Inning Stretch I have ever been a part of, it was here at Wrigley I had always wanted to be. The Cubs traditionally have a celebrity lead the crowd in signing Take Me Out to the Ball Game now that Harry Caray is gone. It just so happened that we were treated to Chicago’s very own Peter Cetera (from the mega-hit band that shares its name with the Windy City). And when the Cubs recorded their final out and were declared winners 6-1, we also got to see and hear the other Cubs anthem, Go Cubs Go, which is sung by the crowd after every win. The song was written in 1983 by dying fan Steve Goodman and adopted as a stadium staple in 2007 (Goodman also wrote my longtime favorite, A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request). While the crowd sings the Cubs hoist a white flag with a blue W to signify their win.

The exterior of the stadium is just as notable as the interior and is one of the most photographed in baseball. The large “Wrigley Field Home of Chicago Cubs” marquee flashes “Cubs Win!!!” when appropriate. Team pennants are positioned on top of the stadium. Statues of Ernie Banks (“Let’s Play Two”) and Harry Caray are photo ops, and fans have even purchased personalized bricks to commemorate their fandom. And this is the first time I have been at a ballpark where some of the players just walk out of the stadium and get into a cab. Some were more successful at alluding fans and autograph seekers than others.

The question I was asked most about my trip to Wrigley Field was how I rank the ballpark. It certainly has its flaws and shows its age, and some players even hate the close quarters of the locker rooms and the fact that most games are still played during the day (the first night game didn't take place until 1988). But I think anything negative about Wrigley really is a positive. It continues to draw sell out crowds, fans from all over the country (like myself who came from New Mexico), and embraces the community as much as the community embraces the team. For all of that, I score Wrigley Field as a HOME RUN. There was no dollar spent on tickets, food, hotel, and pint after pint of beer that I regret because I got to go to Wrigley. I can’t wait to go back someday with my kid.

Wrigley Field and outfield skyline

Wrigley Field Facts, Figures & Footnotes


  • Construction cost: $250,000
  • Architect: Zachary Taylor Davis
  • Construction began on March 4, 1914 on land once occupied by a seminary.
  • Originally called North Side Park and had a capacity of 14,000, it was built for the Chicago team in the Federal League, known as both the Federals and Whales, that was owned by Charlie Weeghman, who renamed the ballpark for himself shortly after it opened. Following Weeghman Park it was known as Cubs Park.
  • Since 1926 has been named for William Wrigley Jr., the founder of the chewing gum company and owner of the Cubs from 1921 until his death in 1932. The Wrigley family owned the Cubs until 1981.
  • Hosted its first game on April 23, 1914 when the Chicago Federals defeated the Kansas City Packers 9-1.
  • The first Cubs game played here was on April 20, 1916. The Cubs won that game in 11 innings, beating the Cincinnati Reds 7-6.
  • Was the first ballpark to have a permanent concession stand.
  • The hand-operated center field scoreboard measures 27' high by 75' wide.
  • Ivy was first planted on the outfield walls in 1937 by Bill Veeck, who used an initial combination of 200 Boston ivy plants and 350 Japanese bittersweet plants.
  • Lights were to be installed for the 1942 season, but owner Philip Wrigley donated them instead to the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed. By the time lights were finally installed and used in 1988, Wrigley Field had hosted 5,687 consecutive day games. The first night game was scheduled for August 8, 1988 but was postponed by rain with the Cubs leading the Phillies 3-1 in the fourth inning. Thus, the first official night game occurred the following evening, when the Cubs beat the Mets 6-4.
  • The Cubs are presently allowed to play 30 regular season night home games a year.
  • Hosted the 1947, 1962 and 1990 All-Star Games.
  • Has 63 private suites on its mezzanine level. The suites vary in size and can hold 15 to 55 fans.
  • Was designated a Chicago Landmark by the City Council on February 11, 2004. Most changes to the ballpark now must be approved by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks.
  • Located a short distance from the CTA's Red Line Addison stop. The CTA is short for Chicago Transit Authority, the name of the municipal corporation which operates the city's famous 'L' system.
  • Was the home field of the Chicago Bears from 1921 to 1970. Until 2003, Wrigley Field had hosted more regular season NFL games (365) than any other stadium, a distinction now held by Giants Stadium.
  • Hosted the NHL's second annual Winter Classic, which was played on January 1, 2009. A crowd of 40,818 watched the Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4.
  • Used by the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League (NASL) for their home matches in 1978-82 and 1984.


    More Wrigley Field Resources
    Ballparks.com
    Chicago Cubs
    Landmark Designation Report
    Chicago Info
    Airport Codes: ORD (O'Hare), MDW (Midway)
    City Population: 2,695,598 (2010 census)
    County: Cook
    Daily Newspapers: Tribune & Sun-Times

  • Comments or suggestions Feature Story:  Batting Practice Cubs Store
    Visiting Wrigley?
    Chicago Cubs Tickets
    Great selection at TicketNetwork
    Ballpark Rank:
    3 of 15 (National League)
    4 of 30 (overall)
    Chicago Cubs baseball wristband
    Cubs Bracelets