Clark and Addison

“Wrigley Field has seen it all: baseball, football, basketball, wrestling, women’s pro baseball and even vaudeville. But mostly Wrigley has seen baseball, good and bad, glorious and embarrassing” (xiii).

The Book

Wrigley Field: The Unauthorized Biography by Stuart Shea delivers exactly what it promises: a biography of the second oldest ballpark in America (Fenway Park has Wrigley beat by two years). Shea introduces the reader to the land that became Wrigley Field and the people behind it. The land was purchased in 1909 to become home to a new minor league baseball team; at this time, the Cubs played on the West Side and the Sox were on the South Side.

The minor league team never happened and in 1914 the Federal League (a third “major” league) built a ballpark for the Chicago Federals. Wrigley Field was built with future expansion in mind and much of the same structure still remains. The Chicago Federals lasted two seasons and their owner, Charley Weeghman, bought the Cubs. The Cubs moved to Wrigley Field and their first game was played April 20, 1916. Two years later, Weeghman sold control of the Cubs to William Wrigley. The Wrigley family owned the Cubs until they sold them to the Tribune Co. in 1981. In 1926, the field’s name became Wrigley after going through several different names in the previous years.

In order to completely tell the story of Wrigley Field, Shea provides a brief history of the time period, local characters, politics, and unique stories and facts. The chapters are broken up into short sections that introduce new topics; the one downside is the lack of consistency in chapter lengths. Wrigley Field: The Unauthorized Biography chronicles the ups and downs of a baseball team and their fan base. Life is not always perfect for the Chicago Cubs, yet their loyal fan base is as unique as the field itself.

The Place

The best way to visit Wrigley Field is to attend a ball game. Just like any other major league team, tickets can be hard to get, but it is worth it. I’m not a Cubs fan, but the atmosphere of the game I attended is unlike any other. The stadium is smaller and truly provides an intimate feel with the game and fans. A visitor can see both Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline from Wrigley. The “L” rattles past the field and it is refreshing to have a scoreboard that is not electronic.

If you can’t attend a ball game, tours are available. The tour gives visitors an in-depth look at the ballpark and its rich history. Even if you can’t attend a game or a tour, it is a great experience to simply walk around Wrigley. On game days the neighborhood is packed and it seems like you have stepped back in time. Unlike so many other ballparks, where you must walk from a large parking lot to an industrial area, Wrigley Field immediately immerses you in the ballpark atmosphere, no matter your mode of transportation.