Weegham Park to Wrigley Field
The 1914 thru 2014
The Home of a Few Ball Teams
image via Zachary Taylor Davis-Chicago Architect/Facebook
the architect's rendition for Weegham Park
architect Zachary Taylor Davis
The 1914 thru 2014
The Home of a Few Ball Teams
I have used a book called 'Wrigley Field: Year by Year' by Sam Pathy as a baseline to this post. This book includes sections from 'What's New' and 'What Happened' that was helpful in the chronological mapping of this post. The book ends its accounting in the year 2013. I will only post selective years that I regard as notable. Also, I will copy pages from a book called 'Wrigleyville' by Peter Golenbock. Both books are part of my personal collection
the architect's rendition for Weegham Park
Zachary Taylor Davis Chicago Architect-Facebook
This post begins with the construction of Weegham Park to be later called Wrigley Field - one of the oldest existing ballparks in the country. For a short period of time this baseball field was referred to as Cub's Park. The baseball team in 1914 was called the Chicago Fed's (also called the Whales) named after the establishment of a new league called the Federal League. This baseball league would only last two seasons for it lack the funds to continue.
photos snipped from video
view is northwest
cartoon image via ZacharyTaylorDavis.com
During this time period teams would come and go and so would the name and controlling ownership of the baseball park and baseball team. The architect of Weeghman Park was the same person who designed Comiskey Park - a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago,
Zachary Taylor Davis.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
the area in 1887 - Historical Map Works
a view of the property in 1894 - Chicago Public Library
The Evanston branch of the Chicago/Milwaukee/St. Paul no longer exits and the elevated tracks did not exist yet; to be located east of Sheffield Avenue by the 1900-ish
1892 photo & 1957 text - Karin Olson
via Windy City Historicans - Facebook
postcard of some of the buildings - my personal collection
The seminary school occupied this space
from 1891 until 1910
3 postcards - Chicago History in Postcards
"This seminary relocated to Maywood where it remained for
decades, eventually moving to Hyde Park where, merged with other Lutheran
denominations and exists as the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Chicago." - from
via Windy City Historicans - Facebook
"I came across a copy of this article in a group of
letters written by my grandfather and his friend William S Berger. My
grandfather is the young man at the base of the wooden bell tower. Besides my
grandfather and his uncle, my grandfather mentions (in handwritten notes on the
article) that his grandmother is sitting at a table or bench on the right edge
of the photo."
Another Account
by Beyond the Ivy: 100 Year of Wrigley Field
The seminary school occupied this space
from 1891 until 1910
"This seminary relocated to Maywood where it remained for
decades, eventually moving to Hyde Park where, merged with other Lutheran
denominations and exists as the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Chicago." - from 
1900 photo via Mike Tuggle
3654 Sheffield Avenue
from Forgotten Chicago Discussion Group/Facebook
with a current 2020 Google view below
The Lutheran Church Within
there was a chapel within the seminary grounds called St. Mark's
A New Baseball Field Built in Months
"This 1914 photo provided by the Chicago History Museum shows, from left to right, Charles Weeghman, James Gilmore, and Federal League baseball player Joe Tinker (wearing street clothes), attending the groundbreaking of Weeghman Park in Chicago. Weeghman Park became the Chicago Cubs home in 1916, but wasn’t renamed Wrigley Field until William Wrigley took over ownership and placed his name on the ballpark in 1927. The park was built for the short lived Federal League, which only lasted until 1915. Wrigley Field is the sole surviving Federal League park built specifically for the Federal League."
- Marty Swartz/Living History of Illinois & Chicago-Facebook
image above via Chicago Tribune
image - Ebay
with an article from New City called
image - Ebay
The First Owner
of the baseball field and then the Cubs
of the baseball field and then the Cubs
The owner of the Chicago Federals and the baseball park was a restaurant chain owner named Charles Weeghman.
an excerpt below
an excerpt below
text images via 'Wrigleyville' by Peter Golenbrock
image via Chicago Tribune
below image - book called East Lake View
by Matthew Nickerson
below image - book called East Lake View
by Matthew Nickerson
'Charles Weeghman now seemingly carried leases on two ballparks: Weeghman Park and the Cubs’ West Side Grounds. Many felt the west side held more promise for the Cubs, owing to their rich history there. But West Side Grounds’ antiquated wood construction left it a relic compared to other major-league parks. Consequently, on January 21, 1916, the Cubs moved their lockers and uniforms from West Side Grounds to Weeghman Park. That day, the Cubs became Chicago’s “North Side” team. In the process Weeghman Park did what most other Federal League ballparks could not: successfully outlive its league.' - Author Sam Pathy
Legendary Joe Tinker becomes Manager
photo - Business Magazine
Charles Weeghman Business
a 1918 ad - Chicago Daily Tribune
He owned over 10 shops in the Loop area
advertisement - Benjamin Yolarski via 'Chicagoland Before We Were Born'-Facebook in July 1916
postcard & photo - Ebay
1914-1915
a Wikipedia list of the players
also nicknamed the Chicago Whales
image above via Chicago History Museum
photo below - Chicago History Museum
the negative was flipped by Ronald Klewer
the view is east toward the lake
image via Chicago Tribune
photo via Living History of Chicago & Illinois-Facebook
In the background are the buildings of the
Lutheran Theological Seminary before the field
expanded northward to Waveland Avenue
The Story in ...
The initial plan was to make the baseball field stands of wood. This may have worked in the olden days of the City/Township of Lake View but after the annexation of 1889, hence the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 wood as a building material for construction was out and brick & steel were in.
photo above via Chicago Tribune
photo of the Chicago Federals via History Blog
photo & text images via Wrigley Field: Year by Year
postcard image via Chuckman Collection
When Federal League collapsed in 1915 he and his investor friends bought the Cubs franchise in 1916 and offered some of the baseball players from the Chicago Federals aka Chicago Whales to play with his new team. According to a site called Wrigley Ivy Weeghman 'his
millions led a group of investors who on January 20, 1916, purchased the Cubs
for $500,000 from Cincinnati publisher Charles P. Taft, the half brother of
President William Howard Taft. 'According to Chicagology 'the new ballpark was built in six weeks, and stands a monument to the
nerve and energy of Weeghman.'
opening day image via Chicagology
Good fortunes would soon lead to the poor economic times of the recession of 1918 which weakened the fortune of Charles Weegham and his financial hold on both ownership of the baseball park and the Chicago Cubs. The previous owner of the Cubs was a penny-pincher named Charles Murphy who refused to follow the innovations the National League demanded from their teams and made lots of money from the popular Cubs. Slowly and surely some of the Cub players left the National League to Weegham's Federals, the Federal League and his brand new baseball park.
Chicago Cubs owners before there move to Lake View
photo via Society of American Baseball Research
‘One of the most controversial figures of the ‘Deadball
Era’, Charles W. Murphy owned the Chicago Cubs from 1906 to 1913, the period
during which they reached their greatest heights. The Cubs won four National
League pennants and two World's Championships under his ownership, making
Chicago the center of the baseball universe. But instead of being revered by
the fans, his players, and his fellow owners, the ambitious, energetic Murphy
was generally despised’ according to Society of American Baseball Research.
In an essence the Chicago Cubs suffered financial from both owners; one from personal greed and the other from poor economic circumstances.
images - Chicago History Museum
image - Ebay
postcard below - Ebay
The Co-Owners
Albert Lasker
1916-1923
controlling investor of the Chicago Cubs
and a financial partner with William Wrigley, Jr
photo via Wikipedia
Albert Laster's partner William Wrigley,Jr.
image - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
Peter Pieper
the public announcer of the Chicago Cubs from 1917 til 1974
photo via Chicago Tribune
In the beginning a blow-horn was used.
Football at Wrigley?
Wrigley would buy out other Investors
about the expansion ...
Charles Taft owned the Chicago Cubs after Murphy from 1914-1916. He sold the Cubs to Weegham in 1916.
The Year 1915
retro postcard - part of my personal collection
The Year 1916
postcard below - Ebay
Albert Lasker
1916-1923
controlling investor of the Chicago Cubs
and a financial partner with William Wrigley, Jr
text image - American National Business Hall of Fame
Albert Lasker was the advertising genius who was the backbone of the Cubs organization until he sold his 'controlling' company shares to Wrigley. Read more about this relationship between Albert Lasker and William Wrigley, Jr. that involved promotion, friendship, and national politics.
...the other co-owner
Albert Laster's partner William Wrigley,Jr.
Does Damn Cushions
The Year 1917
the public announcer of the Chicago Cubs from 1917 til 1974
photo via Chicago Tribune
In the beginning a blow-horn was used.
According to an article from the Daily Herald 'Pat Pieper worked for the Cubs in 1904 as a
vendor. With the help of another fellow to hold up a
megaphone that was taller than Pieper, the German immigrant made this simple
announcement: "Attention! Attention, please! Have your pencils and score
cards ready, and I will give you the correct lineups for today's game."'
photo via Chicago Tribune
a retro postcard of the announcer
- part of my personal collection
images - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
images - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
United States entered the World War I on April 6, 1917
by declaring war on the then German Empire.
image below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
The Year 1918
another war year ...
image - Chicago Tribune
by declaring war on the then German Empire.
image below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
another war year ...
image - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
the 1918 team
photo via Midwest Sports Fans
image above - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
Chicago Sunday Tribune September 1, 1918
zoomed images from Ebay
image below - The New York Sun via Ebay
Chicago Sunday Tribune September 1, 1918
zoomed images from Ebay
before the Sox's did it
by ESPN
'Players commonly groused about being underpaid and there
wasn't anyone in the majors who didn't hear rumors about fixes. It was impossible
not to see the gamblers at the games, the lobbies of the hotels where they
stayed or in the taverns where they drank. And they talked about such rumors
all the time, including, Cicotte said, on a long train ride from Chicago to the
East Coast. "The ball players were talking about somebody trying to fix
the National League ball players or something like that, "Cicotte is
quoted as saying in the deposition. "Well anyway there was some talk about
them offering $10,000 or something to throw the Cubs in the Boston
Series," he said. "Somebody made a crack about getting money, if we
got into the Series, to throw the Series."'
A Quote to Live By until 2016
image - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
The Year 1919
The year Weegham sold out
and Wrigley slowly steps in
image - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
Cub’s trainer Andy Lotshaw crouching
and Bobby Dorr to the right standing
a 1926 photo via Chicago History Museum
and Explore Chicago Collection
Bobby Dorr was the groundskeeper at Wrigley Field from
1919 until his death in 1957. The house was built for Dorr by the Cubs owner
William Wrigley Jr. for only $6,000. Bobby Dorr lived in the building rent-free from 1923 until
his death according to Rare Chicago. The Evanston branch of the Chicago/Milwaukee/St. Paul railroad predates Wrigley Field by almost 60 years. This branch of the RR is now covered by buildings and pavement. - East Lake View by Matt Nickerson
image - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
The Year 1920
the first rodeo and new football name
Signage and rooftop folks begin to appear
photo via Library of Congress/edit
Bismarck Gardens was the most popular German-American owned and operated beer garden in the city at the time.
image - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
text images above - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
postcard - Ebay
A Scorecard
images - Ebay
from Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce
postcard - Ebay
'It didn’t take long for [William] Wrigley to introduce his other
passion to the island: the Chicago Cubs first visited Catalina Island in 1920,
kicking off what would be three decades of spring training on the island along
with the Cubs promoting Catalina Island and, to a lesser extent, Catalina
promoting the Cubs. By the middle of the ‘20's, Wrigley had built a spring
training field that matched the dimensions of Chicago’s Wrigley Field and by
the end of that decade, he had also constructed a clubhouse that would
eventually become the Catalina Island Country Club, one of the island’s most
beautiful buildings.' Read more from the link above.
photo - The Staley Musuem
[A football team called the] 'Staleys moved to Chicago from
Decatur, Illinois in 1921. George Halas, who was given the team and $5000 by [A.E.] Staley to keep the name Staley for another year, made the move that year. In the 1921
season, the Chicago Staleys finished first in the league and captured their
first league championship. In 1922, Halas changed the team name to the Bears to
reflect baseball's Chicago Cubs, the team's host at Wrigley Field'. - Wikipedia
The Year 1921
the first sole owner 1921-1932
photo via Vintage News
His Story ...
image above via 'Wrigleyville' by Peter Golenberg
His Story ...
‘Since the chewing gum business was highly competitive in the late 1800’s, William Wrigley Jr. spent more than a million dollars a year in advertising. He combined gum with other items like lamps, pocket knives, cookbooks and fishing tackle’ – The Vintage News. By the turn of the 20th century he would center is advertising to one very profitable product, his chewing gum. Interesting the similarity of the importance of advertising with the present owner of the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field, the Ricketts Family in selling a product.
a 1916 ad
a 1922 ad
.... his factory in 1933
Chicago should own the Cubs
Charles Weeghman Resigns
texts above & below - Chicago Cubs by Warren Brown and
Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
text - Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
text below - Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
Ebay Photos
Wrigley Family Residence
1200 N Lake Shore Drive
1927 photos - Chicago History Museum
via Explore Chicago Collection
their home on Catalina Island
photo image from Ebay
The Year 1922
construction plan for a second story
... and concerts at the ballpark
upper decks addition
via ZacharyTaylorDavis.com
a 1923 Sanborn Fire Map view
'The grandstand featured one deck, and foul line seating
did not extend to the end of the field, nor were the seats angled towards home plate.
The outfield was not rounded, as most ballparks weren’t at the time. The center
and right field bleachers went up about 10 to 12 rows and the benches were made
of wood. After an unusually high number of home runs were scored in left field
opening day, the fence was moved back 25 feet before the next day, requiring
the demolition of an adjacent building’s porch. When the field first opened, it
could hold 14,000 spectators.
Enter the Bears!
Wrigley Field would be the home
of the Chicago Bears until 1970
image below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
... and from the Bearswire/USA Today, ‘The Decatur Staley's relocated to Chicago and took on the name that they still have today, the Chicago Bears. Their original name, Staley's, came from the food starch company team out of Decatur, Illinois and the Bears still use ‘Staley’ today as the name for their team mascot ‘Staley Da Bear’. The name change came after George Halas bought the full rights to the team (for a whopping $100) and moved them to Chicago where they played at Wrigley Field. The name ‘Bears’ came from the Chicago Cubs, who are of course just the young offspring of Bears in nature. With the name change came a change in color for the team (Blue & Orange) which came from the University of Illinois where Halas was a student and they are still using that same color scheme today. The Bears found success right away in the league when they won the NFL Championship in 1921 and didn’t even have a losing season until 1929. Halas won eight NFL championships in total with the Bears (six as a coach and two as an owner) and is even honored by the league with the George Halas Trophy.’
a 1923 view via Sanborn Fire Map with upper decks
The Year 1923
not everyone is happy
a postcard view - from my personal collection
image below - Ebay
Da' Bears
photos via Chicago Tribune
1920's? photo with 'Red' Grange in the background - Ebay
below photo - Calumet 412 Bears vs Giants
The Year 1924
Wrigley, Jr. buys the land under the field and
radio announcements from the ballpark
text below - Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
The Tale of Ed Froelich
retold by 'Wrigleyville' by Peter Golenbock
This is part of his story:
These were the days when employees could become baseball players if the opportunity arose and baseball players would have part-time jobs off the field.
The Year 1925
snipped from Living History of Illinois & Chicago-Facebook
photo below - Bleed Cubbie Blue
Below is a photo of the Chicago Bears playing the Chicago Cardinals six year before the Cardinals would call Wrigley Field their home field - from 1931 to 1939 season via Marty Swartz, Living History of Chicago and Illinois-Facebook
The Year 1926
religion comes to town,
the main event occurred at Soldier Field
The Year 1927
with a wider view of the area below
photo via Chicago Tribune
1927 photo - Chicago History Museum
via Explore Chicago Collection
Wrigley and Mayor William 'Big Bill' Thompson, who by the way, was a resident of Lake View near the harbor
a 1927 advertisement below - Chicago Public Library
The Year 1928
photos via Chicago Tribune
in the words of Wrigley, Jr. ...
(His comment was to simply explain women demand more.)
text above - Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
photo of fans - Calumet 412
a 1928 scorecard below
Bears poster - Ebay
via LakeView Historical-Facebook
A Bears Newsletter
much like the Cubs the Bears had their own
This newsletter was sold on Ebay by a British seller
for $1,750 in 2019
The Year 1929
A World Series Year
The series was in the same month of the
Great Depression of 1929
text - Wrigleyville by Peter Golanbock
via Ebay
a 1929 rendition of another expansion planned in 1922
Chicago History Museum via Explore Chicago Collection
That year marked the beginning of a
world-wide economic depression and a halt to development.
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
Hack Wilson
image -Des Moines Register via Ebay
The Year 1929 in Pictures
via Chicago Tribune & Chicago Public Library
1929 photo - Chicago Public Library
via Explore Chicago Collection
photo - Chicago History Museum
photo - Ebay
the announcer Pat Pieper
1929 photo - Chicago Public Library
via Explore Chicago Collection
photo via Chicago Tribune 
the old bleacher section 
photo - Chicago Public Library
via Explore Chicago Collection
photo via Chicago Tribune
The Year 1930
ushers on parade
photo - Chicago History Museum
via Explore Chicago Collection
The Year 1931
Three teams call it home
a 1931 article
The Chicago Cardinals, a south-side team would use Wrigley Field for their home games 1931 through 1939
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
Ladies Day Only in 1931
an advertisement above - Chicago Public Library
image below - Steward Warner Collection
The Year 1932
Chicago Daily News Reports It
images from another article
An Article of Praise
photo is part of my collection
Chicago Sunday Tribune via Ebay
via Forgotten Chicago Discussion Group
below photo - Chicago Bears pose - Ebay
A Chicago Cardinals/Bears Schedule
image - Ebay
Some photos from the 1930's
photo - 'Ballpark of Baseball'
photos via Chicago Tribune
A Boxing Venue
The Coal Yard across the Street
image - 1903 Lake High School publication
and part of my collection
but it did predate the ballpark
The RR tracks predated the ballpark by 60 years. The now defunct & removed that RR was once used used for freight and called the 'Evanston branch' of the
Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul Railroad
photo via Bleed Cubbie Blue
Maps of the Area
what the area looked like in 1887
Maps of the Area
... a more zoomed view below
The Collin & Wiese Company
a more zoomed view below
photo below - Hank's Trunk Farm
Coal Yard exists the Landscape by 1962
the second owner 1932-1977
photo - Alchetron
The like 'things not people'
text - Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
but a big NO on night games
photo - Sport Seer
PK Wrigley did entertained lights in the park in late 1941 spending $185,000 on a light system including 165 tons of steel but the WWII was declared in December of that year. PK donated the steel and other materials to the government according Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy.
a Cubs program for that year
The Year 1933
Da' Bears playing a home game
photo via Man on Five
Bears v Cardinals
The Year 1934
photo - John Quin via Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
text and photo - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
Game 3 of the 1935 World Series below
A Post Game Scene
Phil Cavarretta
1934-1953
He played for the Cubs for continuously for almost 20 years
photo - Brace Collection via Ebay
Pennants of the 1930's
The Year 1935
photo is part of my collection
with a zoomed view some folks
overlooking the crowds below
A Cubs program book
from Ebay
Cardinals v Detroit
The Year 1936
... was the last year for the original scoreboard
photo - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
1936 photo below via Chicago Tribune
Western Union Ticket Buys ...
photo below via Ball Park of Baseball
Chicago Bears vs the Chicago Cardinals
both home teams at Wrigley Field from 1931-39
the front cover advertised next weeks game.
The Year 1937
a year of renovations
which included the bleachers
but there other prior renovations ...
It Began in July
photo above - Baseball Yesterday and Today
photos below Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Peter Pathy
More Photos of the Construction
photo - via Skcelton
photos via Wrigley Report-Facebook
photo via Ball Park of Baseball
There was Bear and Cardinal news ...
as you recall the Chicago Cardinals had their home games at Wrigley Field during the 1930's
The Year 1938
Charles Weeghman is Dead
this photo is part of my collection
photo & text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Peter Pathy
photo via Chicago Tribune
aerial view from a United Airlines airplane or blimp
video 1 via Bleacher Nation
and that coal yard across the street ...
postcard - part of my collection
a Snowy and Empty Wrigley Field
via Wrigley Report-Facebook
The Year 1939
1939 photo - Calumet 412
Catalina Island,California would be off-limits to the Cubs during the wars years of 1942-1945 due to national security
images - part of my collection
Baseball's New Names by Art Krenz
Last Game at Wrigley for the Cardinals
The Year 1940
Active Ancients by Sords via Ebay
The Cubs Managers to Date ...
image - Chicago Sunday Times via Ebay
the team for 1940
part of my personal collection
newsletter is part of my collection
ski jumping in 1944
photos - Calumet 412
National League Champions that year
photo is part of my collection
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
photo & text below - Calumet 412
Read an accounting of the last game
text - Wrigleyville by Peter Golanbock
pin - from my personal collection
images - Ebay
split pages
The Year 1946
heading to the game via El
press photo - part of my personal collection
A Move to Riverview Park??
photo - Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal
images via Calumet 412
images - part of my collection
photo & text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
photo via Wrigley Report-Facebook
slides of the event is part of my personal collection
program - part of my personal collection
The Year 1953
Enter Ernie Banks ...
1956 postcard - seller 'greg morris cards' via Ebay
a 1970 photo - my personal collection
below photo of Ernie Banks with Pearl Jam in 2016
and part of my personal collection
photos - part of my personal collection
press photo - part of my personal collection
press photo - part of my personal collection
the year of my birth - images from Ebay
part of my personal collection
selected pages
images - my personal collection
The Year 1956
a experiment that failed after one season
photos - Calumet 412
the rendering above
The Year 1957
a 1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance map of the now defaunt section of Seminary with the caolyard to the west of the ballpark
below the #22 heading north passed Addison Street
images - part of my collection
photo - part of my personal collection
text images - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
press photo - part of my personal collection
part of my personal collection
images - part of my collection
football practice slides - Ebay
clearing the field of tons of snow
photo - part of my personal collection
photos via Marty Swartz
photo - part of my personal collection
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
pennant - part of my personal collection
The Cubs Managers to Date ...
Cardinals no longer at Wrigley Field
part of my personal collection
The War Years:
Dec. 1941 - Aug. 1945
photos via 'Chicago World War II' by Images of America
Cub News in May 1941
image - Philip Roeda via Original Chicago-Facebook
'Le Roy Paige first played for the semi-professional
Mobile Tigers from 1924 to 1926. He began his professional baseball career in
1926 with the Chattanooga Black Lookouts of the Negro Southern League and
became one of the most famous and successful players from the Negro leagues.
While his outstanding control as a pitcher first got him noticed, it was his
infectious, cocky, enthusiastic personality and his love for the game that made
him a star.'
- Wikipedia
article & illustration by Jack Sords via Ebay
1941 team photo - Ebay
photo - City at War: Chicago
'Real Cubs fans never called him Swish. To us, he was Big
Bill, or Nick. The Swish nickname originated in Brooklyn. The big left handed
hitter always leveled his bat across the plate several times when stepping in
to face an opposing pitcher. Dodger fans would yell, "Swish, swish,
swish," in unison with his practice swings. The name caught on on the east
coast, but was soundly rejected in Chicago. Because news is made in New York,
the Swish designation has survived and Big Bill has been all but forgotten. But
you won't see Swish used here. Nicholson was the archetypical home run hitter of the
1940's. His numbers don't look impressive today, but in that low octane era, 20
homers was a big deal. He led the Cubs in home runs eight seasons in a row, a
mark that was tied by Ernie Banks and finally broken by Sammy Sosa. From 1940
through 1944, he never finished lower than fourth in the National League in
home runs. Although he topped 30 only once, he led the league in homers and
RBI's in back to back seasons, 1943 and 1944.' - text from the film
The Year 1942
The Year 1943
The Year 1944
Chicago Cubs News
image - Ebay
1944 photo - Ebay
photos - Calumet 412
Slides of the Bears at play in 1944 from Ebay
The Year 1945
the Year of that Damn Goat
photo is part of my collection
photo - Cera Chicago
photo - Calumet 412
photo via Chicago Tribune
article & photo via The Seattle Times
The Cubs lost to series in game 7
photo & text below - Calumet 412
Read an accounting of the last game
by the Associated Press
The Blame Game text - Wrigleyville by Peter Golanbock
Bears vs Packers 1945 program booklet
Former Bears watching a Bears Game at Wrigley
The Year 1946
press photo - part of my personal collection
text above - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
below 1940's photo - Art Institute of Chicago
The Year 1947
part of my personal collection
The Year 1948
painting by Norman Rockwell
The Year 1949
below photo - part of my personal collection
The Year 1950
images - part of my collection
images - part of my collection
The Year 1951
aerial photo view - Chicago History Museum
... a rodeo comes to town
Chicago Cubs v Chicago White Sox Scorecard
The Year 1951
photo below via Chicago Tribune
new manager 1954-1956 and field player 1932-1947
image by City-Autograph
The Year 1952
First increase of box seats since 1919The Year 1953
Enter Ernie Banks ...
text below from Wrigleyville by Peter Gozenbock
photo below - Brace Collection via Ebay
photo below via Chicago Reader
and part of my personal collection
Others views for 1953
The Year 1954
March 29, 1954 The Cubs fire skipper Phil Cavarretta
after he tells reporters the team had little chance to finish in the first
division. The 36-year-old player-manager, who compiled a 169-213 (.442) record
during his three years at the helm, is the first person to lose a managerial
position during spring training. The dismissal was all the more bitter for him
since it came after an exhibition game in Dallas, where at the time he made his
home and owned a children’s amusement park. - Marty Swartz, Living History
of Chicago & Illinois-Facebook
playing the St Louis Cardinals
RBK Kodachrome 3D stereo photo slide via Ebay
The Year 1955
Cleaning up after a Bears Game in December
The Year 1956
a experiment that failed after one season
photos - Calumet 412
Ground-Keeper Bobby Dorr Dies
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
A part of Bobby Dorr was saved when the Ricketts Family decided to renovate his home in 2017
A 'Green Hornet' Passing By
photos below from the Trolleydodger
heading south on Clark toward Seminary
The Year 1958
Lights at Wrigley Mentioned
Boxing Continues at Wrigley
image - Ebay
press photo - part of my personal collection below
southwest corner of Sheffield/Addison - late 1950's
The Year 1960
scorecard - part of my collection
No Lights Yet!
The Year 1961
While the coal yard is gone the RR tracks of the
photo - Chicago History Museum
photo below - Manny Manotas Velez
via Original Chicago-Facebook
photo below via Bleed Cubbie Blue
The Year 1962
photography by Algimantas Kezys via Calumet 412
Kodachrome photo - Vintage Everyday
When Rooftoppers were Residents
Lights Mentioned
a Chicago Tribune Advertisement
football photo below - Ebay
The Year 1963
unknown publication via Ebay
photo - part of my personal collection
photo above - Geoff Schultz
via History of Chicago & Illinois-Facebook
Marty Swartz, via Living History of Chicago and Illinois-Facebook, mentioned that the "Chicago Bears relied on their defense to
defeat the New York Giants 14-10 and win the national football championship.
The heart of the 1963 Bears' league-leading defense - and of the entire team
- was its corps of linebackers: from left, Larry Morris, Bill George and Joe
Fortunato. - Ray Gora, Chicago Tribune" with photos
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
Jeffery Lindmark via 'Chicago Before 1980'/Facebook
The Year 1964
photo via Chicago Tribune
Halas yes, Wrigley no sure
Franksville Restaurant
1110 W Addison/on Sheffield
1964-1980
1966 Chicago Tribune ad
zoomed address below
one of the controversial managers
He managed the Cubs from 1966-1972
text below - Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbrock
The Year 1965
photo - Calumet 412
Newsletter
The Year 1966
photo - Marty Swartz via
Living History of Illinois & Chicago-Facebook
'The Wrigley Duo' by Algimantas Kezys' 1966, Calumet 412
The Year 1967
waiting for tickets at 3am
part of my personal collection
A Aerial View in 1968
photos - Chicago History Museum
with Clark to the right, the elevated to the left
move past the field toward Clark Street
with view east toward Clark below
1 inch pin - ausports2 via Ebay
'Between 1967 and 1972 one of the best teams ever
assembled played in the friendly confines of Chicago’s Wrigley Field. The Cubs
during those years were perennial favorites to win at least the National League
championship. Anchored by three Hall of Fame players—Ernie Banks, Billy
Williams, and Ferguson Jenkins—and a Hall of Fame manager, Leo Durocher, they
should have dominated the league. A late arrival to the Hall of Fame, Ron
Santo, also played for them. But they never even made the playoffs.'
Read more from this blog article from the link above.
image - plaquelady via Ebay
text from Wrigleyville by Peter Golonbock
Ron Santo catching a foul ball - Chicago History Museum
video
The Year 1970
photo via Chicago Tribune
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
photo - part of my personal collection
"The Chicago Bears played their final game at Wrigley
Field in 1970, bringing to an end their nearly 50-year relationship with the
stadium. The Bears began playing at Wrigley back in 1921 when the team was
still the Chicago Staleys and the field was called Cubs Park. The growing
popularity of the team and the sport itself led to consistent overcrowding at
the affectionately dubbed “friendly confines.” Portable bleachers and folding
chairs were crammed into every available space to accommodate the mass of
spectators. But the close proximity of players and fans at Wrigley Field
fostered a unique level of connection between the two, and the Bears enjoyed
many successes as a result. In fact, they won a total of eight championships
while at Wrigley. However, in 1971, amid growing safety concerns, the addition
of television cameras, and the NFL’s desire to accommodate 60,000 fans, the
Bears finally uprooted and moved to their current home at Soldier Field, where
they brought home the championship in 1986. The posted photo is Gale Sayers
greeted by fans near the ivy." - Marty Swartz via Living History of Illinois & Chicago
‘There was a tee-pee outside of Wrigley Field in the ‘70's,
and it had nothing to do with Cleveland or Atlanta baseball teams. It was put
there by a group of Native Americans protesting poor social services and
housing conditions for Native Americans relocated to Chicago. But it wasn’t at
Clark and Addison – it was on the other side of Wrigley Field at Seminary and
Waveland. The protest began in May 1970 when a Menominee woman
named Carol Warrington and her six children were evicted from their apartment
on North Seminary for refusing to pay rent. [Ms.] Warrington was withholding rent to
pressure the landlord into improving the building’s living conditions.' according to the article written by WTTW corespondent Erica Gunderson with full article above.
An Agreement by August
by Beth Gorr/photos by Ron Nelson
(this book is part of my personal collection)
'The Bears opened the 1970 season on September 19,
defeating the New York Giants 24-16 at Yankee Stadium. It marked the 29th time
in the 30 preceding seasons that Chicago had been on the road in Week 1, as the
Cubs occupied Wrigley Field through the end of September. The following week
the Bears were scheduled to play at home, but the baseball season hadn't come
to an end. So the Bears opened their home slate versus the Eagles at
Northwestern University's Dyche Stadium, in Evanston. Halas hoped to play more
games in the northern suburb, but the Big Ten Conference ruled that
professional sports could not be played in on-campus stadiums, putting an end
to a long-term deal there.' Read more from link.
The Year 1973
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
I ain't lookin' it up and prefer that it always be a
mystery company or brand or whatever it was. When I was little my Dad was in the Air Force, and he
always insisted that we not live on the air bases but rather, we were
constantly buying houses and selling houses.We were stationed in Hawaii for 3 glorious years, and
when we moved sold our house (which was on a lake and a short drive to the
beach) for... $16,000.Long time ago, but...I equate the value of that real estate with the location
of the Torco sign. Wouldn't you love to know what Mr. Torco paid to have his
sign up for all those years? Across the street but basically the same place that
Anheuser Busch is now actively helping Tom Ricketts pay for Yu Darvish or
Anthony Rizzo.' - by Cubby Blue
The List of Advertisers
1914-2012
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Tracks along Seminary Avenue
The Evanston Branch of the Chicago, Milwuakee, St. Paul RR once sliced through Lake View next to the ballpark. Below is a engine parked along the now decomissioned/removed Seminary Avenue segment east of Clark & north of Addison.
More on this RR in my other posts about transportation.
with a 2012 view from Google
former section of Seminary Avenue to the left of photo
The Year 1974
images - part of my collection
The Year 1975
photo above via Chicago Tribune
photo below - Calumet 412
The Year 1977
PK Wrigley Dies
Pitching Pennies on Sheffield in 1977
the third owner 1977-1999
There is very little about him online other then what appears on Wikipedia. I am assuming his interest was more about his grandfathers company then Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field.
Inside the Scoreboard in 1977
photos - Ebay
The Year 1978
trying to catch the ball in the fencing along with the garbage
photo below - Calumet 412
The Year 1979
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
book called Blizzard '79
this snowstorm last two days - January 13-14th
Dave
Kingman hit 3 home runs and the Cubs scored a total of 22 runs but lost to the Phillies
23-22
video from Greg Siewert via Original Chicago-Facebook
The Year 1980
A smiling George Halas, 85, throws out the ceremonial
first pitch at the Cubs’ home opener in 1980.
photo - Marty Swartz, Living History of Illinois & Chicago
a Danish photographer, Dirk Bakker,
takes his fashion shot for this company
photo - Art Institute of Chicago
The Year 1981
According to the New York Times, ‘The Chicago Cubs, one
of major league baseball's least successful franchises on the field in recent
years, were sold yesterday for $20.5 million by William Wrigley to the Tribune
Company, parent of The Chicago Tribune and The Daily News in New York. In
announcing an agreement for the transfer of his 81 percent ownership and all
remaining 1,900 shares in baseball's only publicly owned corporation, Mr.
Wrigley, a Chicago chewing gum manufacturer, ended a family association with
the National League team that began when his grandfather became a minority shareholder
in 1916. That family tie, which was strengthened when the grandfather acquired
a majority interest in 1921, was the oldest in major league baseball.’
photos - Man on Five
The Chicago Sting (1974-1988)
would occasionally play at Wrigley Field
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
below personal photo by Mike Tuggle
The Year 1982
opposition to night games intensifies
photo - Mears Auction
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
photo - Jody Avirgan via Twitter
The C.U.B.S.
Photographer Jim Dow View
image - Art Institute of Chicago
The Year 1983
bleacher fans in record number
photo below - Calumet 412
The Year 1984
The First Concert
images - Ebay
view the non-ballgame events in my other post
The Year 1985
photo - part of my personal collection
The Year 1986
photo - part of my personal collection
The Year 1987
the son of the first president dies
the other Bill Veeck
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
Mayor Harold Washington Steps In
text below via Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
shirt - Ebay
The Year 1988:
the year of the lights
photo & text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
photo via Chicago Tribune
the first night game was not completed due to rain
page 2
The Neighborhood Protection & Improvement Agreement
This document has been enforce since 1988 in its various forms. One constant in the agreement has been an annual meeting help during the months before the next season. Residents of Wrigleyville, Alderman Hansen/Tunney along with the Cubs organization gather in a grand discussion to speak about the future of Wrigley Field and Chicago Cubs. This annual gathering have been a lively one during the 2014-2019 Wrigley Field/Wrigleyville renovations.
The original document was 34 pages
also that year ...
with a video from YouTube
photo - part of my personal collection
The Year 1989
photo via Chicago Tribune
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
selling dirt from the field that year
postcard - Ebay
The Year 1990
an artist view in July 1990 via Ebay
photo - part of my personal collection
Postmarked in 1991
Seminary Avenue as a parking lot; once a
through street decades ago
postcard - Ebay
The Year 1992
part of my collection
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
images via Ebay
image above - Princeton Club of Chicago
photo below via ABC News
scorecard from my collection
photos - The Urinals of Wrigley Field
The Year 2005
photo via Chicago Cubs Yesterday and Today
The Year 2006
photo via Chicago Cubs Yesterday and Today
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Year 2008
talk of selling the assets
Sam Zell
the new owners - The Ricketts Family
photo via The New York Times
3701 N Kenmore Avenue
2009 photo via Google Maps
images - part of my collection
the independent roof-top owners & their patrons
photo & text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
2013 photos via Chicago Tribune
the first one via Bleed Cubbie Blue
the second one under construction via Ballparks of Baseball
the second one completed in 1938 via Hoy of Los Angles
photo via via Ballparks of Baseball
1978 photo via CBS Chicago
old and new
post 2014 photos via MLB/Cut4
2017 photo - Omaha Public Radio
photo - Omaha Public Radio
2014 photos - 'Man of Five'
the space in 2014
the planned space in post 2014
part of my personal collection
reprints and part of my personal collection
photo - Wikipedia
Important:
view the non-ballgame events in my other post
The Northside vs Southside: a 1985 article
The Year 1986
the son of the first president dies
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
text below via Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
the apparent mood of the time ...
photo - Art Institute of Chicago
Thomas Frederick Arndt photographer
the year of the lights
the first night game was not completed due to rain
page 2
The Installation
images below via Chicago National League Ball Park, Inc.
a booklet called 'Wrigley Field'
This booklet is part of my personal collection
This document has been enforce since 1988 in its various forms. One constant in the agreement has been an annual meeting help during the months before the next season. Residents of Wrigleyville, Alderman Hansen/Tunney along with the Cubs organization gather in a grand discussion to speak about the future of Wrigley Field and Chicago Cubs. This annual gathering have been a lively one during the 2014-2019 Wrigley Field/Wrigleyville renovations.
The original document was 34 pages
photo - Ebay
postcard - Ebay
below photos - part of my personal collection
The Year 1990
photo - part of my personal collection
Seminary Avenue as a parking lot; once a
through street decades ago
The Line Up for the Year
images via Ebay
A Movie that Highlights Wrigley Field
This DVD is part of my personal collection
The Year 1993
photo - part of my personal collection
The Year 1994
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Year 1996
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
1954 photo via Cut4 via Twitter
2015 photo below by Wisconsin State Journal
The Year 1998
photo via Albuquerque Journal
"Someday the Chicago Cubs are going
to be in the
World Series"
text via Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
photo below via ABC News
The Year 1992
The Year 2001
Under the leadership of the Chicago Tribune owners
renovation plans begin
photo via Wrigley Report-Facebook
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
What Happened ...
It is so ready for renovations!
2000 article about expansion of bleachers
landmark status maybe??
published by a 2001 Preservation Magazine
(click on images to enlarge)
page 1
page 2
The Year 2002
Sheffield Avenue would eventually loss space
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
about the bleachers
photo via Chicago Cubs Yesterday and Today
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Year 2008
talk of selling the assets
and the worst economic downturn
since the Great Depression
Sam Zell bought the Chicago Tribune hence the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field in 2007. He tried to sell off the pieces to the highest bidder instead of selling both the Cubs and the baseball field as a package deal.
text below via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Year 2009
Cubs & Wrigley Field Bought
photo via The New York Times
Theo Epstein-president with Chairman Tom Ricketts
photo via Zimbio
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
caption/photo - Greg Siewert via Original Chicago-Facebook
"Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane
lead the charge for the
Blackhawks"
2009 photo via Google Maps
The Year 2010
photo via Chicago Magazine
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Year 2012
'"There is no doubt in my mind that if the Cubs were
willing to leave Wrigley Field and build a state-of-the-art stadium with all of
the amenities that fans have come to expect these days, they would be able to
make a deal in the range of $20-25 million per year," he said. "However,
if I was running a major corporation and I was asked to buy the naming rights
to a renovated Wrigley, I would not touch that deal because of the potential
for negative backlash from the Cubs' huge fan base who have known that ballpark
as Wrigley Field Field for nearly 100 years.' - per article
photo & text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
Photo Omens for the Next Couple of Years
The Year 2013
The Renovation Years Begin
photo via MLB Vineline
The NEXT blog post will not only be about the five year long renovation of Wrigley Field but also the changes to Wrigleyville - for whatever happens to the baseball field happens to the neighborhood. I have a third related blog post on the non-baseball events that occurred, as well.
Scoreboard: its many faces
old and new
(the second one)
photo - Omaha Public Radio 
photo - Omaha Public Radio 
The Center of the Universe
by Duna Photography in 2012
1914-2013
a 2017 Google Earth view
These are 3D models published by the Chicago Tribune in April 2014 that highlights the major changes to the space
the space in 1914
the space in 2014
Post Notes:
The Bears at Wrigley
an album - LakeView Historical-Facebook
Owners, Presidents, and Managers
The Cubs According to Shoe in 1988
located along the existing lakefront along Michigan Avenue
... and a 1877 page from Harpers Weekly - Ebay
The 1907-08 World Series Trio
Once the park movement in Chicago was established in the late 19th century the movement apparently split into two according to a site called The Digital Library of Illinois Research Journal. "Two distinct movements, out of the ordinary, are
noticeable this year [1904], the first being the number of new parks which are being
fenced in at the desirable locations all over Chicago, nearly all of which are
proving money makers right from the start, while the second movement is the
rapid rise of many of the smaller baseball clubs into the semi-professional ranks.
The first of these movements, that of the building of baseball parks, is
directly traceable to the enormous success scored by West End Park, the grounds
at Forty-eighth Avenue and West Madison Street, where the crowds went in droves
almost on the opening day and have continued ever since.
When Gunther Park [now Chase Park] was
opened almost at the end of last year, at the corners of Ashland, Leland
Avenues and North Clark Street, it capped the success of the West End Athletic
Association, and the rival managers of the grounds have been in friendly
argument ever since as to which is drawing the most people."
other baseball parks at this time
A Snapshot History of the
Chicago Cubs
published by the Chicago Tribune in 2017 - snipped
My Reference Books:
all part of my collection
Find Endless Photos:
Important:
These posts are exclusively used for educational purposes. I do not wish to gain monetary profit from this blog nor should anyone else without permission of the original source - thanks!
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