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Top 10 Interesting Facts About Wrigley Field Stadium

Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, built-in 1914 and home to the Chicago Cubs. The stadium was first named Weeghman Park when it opened in 1914 and then changed to Cubs Park from 1920 to 1926. It was then called Wrigley’s field in 1927.

Additionally, the park was made to be a United States Historical Landmark in September 2020 as it is the oldest national league ballpark in the country. The top ten interesting facts about Wrigley Field Stadium will provoke your interest in the historic stadium.

1. The stadium was not built for the Chicago Cubs initially

In 1913, Charles Weeghman signed a deal to build a stadium for the Federal League’s Chicago Whales. The Federal League comprised eight teams which meant that it was one of the major leagues. However, in 1914, the federal league was dissolved. Charles, however, came out of the dissolvement with a deal to buy the Chicago Cubs from Charles Taft of Cincinnati. 

He then transferred the baseball team to Weeghman Park during the 1916 season. William Wrigley, who was Charles Weeghman’s business partner, bought him out and thus making the club his. In 1927 the stadium was named Wrigley Field after the Chicago Cubs owner.

2. The stadium is not used for just football and baseball games

Over the past decades, the stadium has been used for various events apart from just football and baseball like, circus rodeos, and boxing matches, with a noteworthy one being Jake LaMotta’s knockout. Concerts have also been held in the stadium as it has a capacity of 41,649, thus allowing many fans to come and enjoy their favourite artist.

A ski jump competition was held in the stadium in 1944.

3. The main grandstands were moved

The position of the main grandstands is not its original spot. After Wrigley acquired the stadium and the Cub, he decided to increase the stadium’s capacity. The stadium’s original architect was in charge of the renovation project, and he sliced the grandstands into three portions. The left-field sections and the middle home plate were pushed about 100 feet outwards, while the right Homeplate was left where it was.

The space created was filled with more seating and box seats. These changes allowed the club to increase its capacity by about 20,000. 

4. The lights were put in the stadium later than planned because of World War 2

William Wrigley had a thought to line up some late games so that he could tap into the working-class market in 1941. He even bought the materials necessary to ensure that the lights were connected to the stadium.

However, the attack on Pearl Harbour by the Japanese prompted Wrigley to donate the materials he had bought for the stadium to be used to light flying fields. The stadium was later fitted with lights, and the first night game was held in August 1988.

5. The walls of the Wrigley Field Stadium are covered with ivy

The ivy adorning the stadium’s walls makes it more attractive to the visitors as it has a rich history. The plant has been growing for more than eighty years and thus making it part of the attraction when tourists visit the stadium.

Balls often get lost in the lush greenery, and the outfielder has to look for the ball inside the ivy or let the umpire know that they could not find it.

6. The original grandstand seating was removed

The original seating that was built in 1914 was ripped up and rebuilt. This can be attributed to the fact that the materials used to construct the seating were not as durable as the ones in the market today. 

Most of the concrete wall was replaced in the early 70s, and little of what was used to build the stadium remains as there have been many renovations done to it over the past decade.

7. The fans could keep foul balls

During the early 1900s, when a fan caught a foul ball, the ushers came and demanded that they return the ball. However, Weeghman enacted a policy that allowed the fans to keep the foul balls when the ballpark when the Chicago Whales were using the stadium. This policy was kept up after the Cubs moved to the stadium.

Therefore, the long-standing tradition sets the stadium apart from other major league stadiums and thus attracting many visitors.

8. The scoreboard is manually operated

The scoreboard was introduced to the stadium in 1937, and the scoreboard is still being manually operated. A batted ball has never struck the scoreboard despite how its prominent placement. This is interesting as many games have been held in the stadium, yet none has hit the scoreboard.

However, it has been hist once when golfer Sam Snead teed off the ball and hit the home plate. 

9. Neighbours can watch the games from their roofs

Wrigley Field Stadium is one of the only ballparks where residents from the neighbourhood can go and sit on their roofs and watch a game inside the stadium. This was not a problem until the residents decided to build bleachers on their roofs and start charging fans. However, they came into an agreement with the club that they would give some of the proceeds to the Cubs.

10. Home run balls are given to the player

When a Cubs player hits a home run, and a fan catches that ball, they do not take it as a souvenir. Instead, tradition dictates that the ball be returned to the player who hit the home run. Also, if the player who hits a home run is from the opposing team, the ball will not be taken and instead thrown back to the field.