As I write this, Chicago Cubs fans are celebrating Wrigley Field’s 100th birthday with some Wednesday afternoon baseball. In the eighth inning, the Cubs are beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2.
I don’t think Wrigley’s centennial is getting the same fanfare as Fenway Park did in 2012 because it wasn’t built for the Cubs and wasn’t called Wrigley Field until 1927. Wrigley is a vestige of the short-lived Federal League which for two seasons tried to compete with MLB. Back then it was called Weeghman Park and it was home to the Chicago Whales. The Cubs didn’t move in until 1916.
Of course, there is the small detail of the Cubs not winning a World Series since 1908. But that hasn’t stopped people from seeing games win or lose (mostly lose).
When I think of Wrigley, I think of the long home run Dave Kingman hit in 1979 against the Phillies in a 23-22 loss that hit the porch of a house across the street. Such a thing could never be said of any other ballpark.
As for me, I have never been to Wrigley, but seeing a game there is at the top of my bucket list.
