Take Me Out to the Ballpark -- A Tour of Wrigley Field

Our guide Clay 

You might be surprised to learn that my favorite experience during my recent trip to Chicago wasn't looking at art or sitting in a dark theater. Instead, I'm still pumped up over our tour of Wrigley Field, the iconic baseball stadium that's been home to the Chicago Cubs since 1916. What a slice of history. Read on for a few of the highlights. 

--The team became known as the "Cubs" in 1902 because of the youth and inexperience of its players. Prior to that, the team was called the "White Stockings" because -- you guessed it -- they wore white socks. Their next moniker was the "Orphans" after their manager was fired. "Cubs" became the official team name in 1907.

--The expression "he's out in left field" comes from the fact that an insane asylum was located just outside the left field wall of the ballpark. Who knew?

--The scoreboard at Wrigley is shaped like a mast because team owner William Wrigley, Jr. (of chewing gum fame) liked to sail. The score is still manually operated by folks in a room with no A/C. The highest temperature recorded there is 117 degrees. 

--The Cubs held out for daytime only baseball until 1988. (Clay's t-shirt said "No lights at Wrigley Field" on the front and "Support Day Baseball" on the back.) The first night game -- against the Phillies -- ended up being rained out. There's some sort of poetic justice there.

--The term "Bleacher Bums" comes from the days before night games. Television viewers noticed the same guys in the bleachers day in and day out. Clearly, they had no official place of business to be. So "Beacher Bums" they became. The guys started wearing hardhats to indicate that being at the field and cheering their team on was in fact their job. For the theater geeks out there, the play "Beacher Bums" was collaboratively written by members of Chicago's Organic Theatre, including Joe Mantagna and Dennis Franz. The show has received mixed reviews, but I'd still see it. 

With Suzanne in the visitng team's dugout

--The tour included stops at the visiting team's dugout and locker room. It was very cool to sit in the same spots as the likes of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The dynamic duo played for the Yankees (of course). In addition to regular season games, the Yankees took on the Cubs in the 1932 World Series. The Yankees swept the Series. Ouch. It's worth noting as well that Wrigley is the only remaining ballpark where Jackie Robinson played. 

Back to Chicago today. I'm sure you noticed Suzanne is doing an imitation of a player chewing tobacco. It's not something you see these days since the MLB banned smokeless tobacco products in dugouts in 2016. Sunflower seeds seem to have taken chaw's place. Seeing someone spit shells instead of tobacco is only marginally less gross, but it is healthier.

In the press box! 

--I'll leave you with our visit to what was unsurprisingly my favorite stop -- the press box. It was the home of the iconic Harry Caray for 16 seasons. I say "iconic" even though I'd never heard of him. From what I've read, though, it would have been fun to hear him announce a game. He was known for saying "Holy cow!" when the Cubs made a good play. I like it.

Caray also unintentionally began a tradition that everyone who's been to a game is familiar with -- singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch. There was of course an actual organ playing the tune in the day, and Caray inadvertently left his microphone on one day when he sang the song. A ritual was born. 

And so concludes my report of our visit to Wrigley Stadium. I cannot recommend it more highly if you find yourself in Chicago, whether you're a baseball fan or not. And now it's time to go cheer on the Rays from the comfort of my couch. It's not the same as being there, but the snacks are both better and more affordable.