Weegham Park to Wrigley Field
1914 thru 2014
The Home of a Few Sports Teams
1914 thru 2014
The Home of a Few Sports Teams
YEAR BY YEAR
image via Zachary Taylor Davis-Chicago Architect/Facebook
the architect's rendition for Weegham Park
I have used a book called 'Wrigley Field: Year by Year'
by Sam Pathy as a baseline to this post. This book includes sections called '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 posted selective years that I regarded as notable. Also, I will copy pages from a book called 'Wrigleyville' by Peter Golenbock - both books are part of my personal collection on the history of Lake View from its inception to the present day.
Before
the Baseball Park
1892 photo & 1957 text - Karin Olson
via Windy City Historicans - Facebook
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 is at the base of the wooden bell tower. Besides my grandfather and his uncle, my grandfather mentioned (in handwritten notes on the article) that his grandmother is sitting at a table or bench on the right edge of the photo."
Finding a Location
in 1913
The Location
on Addison Street
the architect's rendition for Weegham Park
and below photo from SB Nation
images - 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 before it was finally called Wrigley Field. The baseball team in 1914 was called the Chicago Federals (also called Whales) named after the establishment of a new baseball league called the
Federal League. This baseball league would only last two seasons for it lack the funds to continue. - Chicagology
a cartoon above
via ZacharyTaylorDavis.com
photos below snipped from the above video link
the first year with a colorization by a seller from Ebay
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 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 dominate ownership and placed his name to the ballpark by 1927. 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
negatives below - Chicago History Museum
1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
.jpg)
zoomed view below
Wrigley Field: The Long Life and Contentious Times
of the
Friendly Confines by Stuart Shea
pages 5&6
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 finally
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 finally as the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Chicago."
- Kevin Byrnes/Forgotten Chicago Discussion Group/Facebook
1900 photo via Mike Tuggle
3654 Sheffield Avenue
from Forgotten Chicago Discussion Group/Facebook
with a current 2020 Google view below of that address
located in part 1
image - Ebay
The First Owner
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 - 'Wrigleyville' by Peter Golenbrock
'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 outlive its league.' -
Author Sam Pathy of
Charles Weeghman Restuarant Business
a 1918 ad - Chicago Daily Tribune
He owned over 10 shops in the Loop area
Legendary Joe Tinker becomes Manager
of the Federals & Cubs
photo - Business Magazine
advertisement - Benjamin Yolarski via 'Chicagoland Before We Were Born'-Facebook in July 1916
(The Federals)
postcard - Ebay
reproduction miniature baseball cards - my collection
a Wikipedia list of the players
a postcard from my personal collection
Zeider, Whales, following through after swinging
Joe Tinker was the first manager at Wrigley Field (Weegman Park)
text - Chicago Cubs by Warren Brown
3,000 girls drilling
image - Ebay
postcard below - Ebay
The Co-Investors
Albert Lasker
1916-1923
controlling investor of the Chicago Cubs
and a financial partner with William Wrigley, Jr
photo via Wikipedia
Albert Laster's investor partner William Wrigley,Jr.
all real photos - Ebay
An Almost Possible Scandal:
mentioned in another post
postcard below - Ebay
Wrigley would buy out other Investors
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
positioned as if in the Follies!!
baseball coach George Gibson and manager Bill Killefer
photo - Chicago History Muesum
program - Ebay
1927 photo - Ebay
photos - Chicago Tribune
1928 photo - Chicago and the Midwest/Newberry Library
images - Ebay
The Chicagoan 1929
photos - Chicago History Museum
photo - Chicago Public Library
via Explore Chicago Collection
Chicago Federal Baseball Cards
1914-1915
a Wikipedia list of the players
I followed this books' thematic script for the most part
The First Year 1914
"Not in my Neighborhood"
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
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
photo - Chicago History Museum
photo - Baseball Yesterday & Today
The initial plan was to make the baseball field's grand-stand out of pure wood. This may have worked in the olden days of the City/Township of Lake View but after the annexation of 1889 & the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 wood was out and brick & steel was in.
photo above via Chicago Tribune
photo of the Chicago Federals via History Blog
photo & text - 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 $$ to 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 owner 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 Charles Weeghman.'
opening day image via Chicagology
Good fortunes would soon lead to the poor economic times of the recession of 1918 (end of World War I) 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. Slowly and surely some of the Cub players left the National League to Weegham's Federals.
Chicago Cubs owners before their
move to Lake View
photo via Society of American Baseball Research
‘One of the most controversial figures of the ‘Deadball
Era’was Charles W. Murphy who owned the Chicago Cubs from 1906 to 1913; the period
during which they reached their greatest baseball 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 management.
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
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
Composite photo in 1915
images - Chicago History Museum
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
Senn Field Day
June 11, 1915
photos from Jano Karen Phillips
"My grandfather took these photos-that's Charlie Chaplin in the infield with others. Photos were taken on 6-11-15."
The boys drilling
a Folk Dance
Sample Contracts of that Year
via Ebay
M Prendergast
zoomed below
George McConnell
zoomed below
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 investor
Albert Laster's investor partner William Wrigley,Jr.
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
Does Damn Cushions!!
The Year
1917
a war year
The country joined World War I
photo via Chicago Tribune
the public announcer of the Chicago Cubs from 1917 til 1974
In the beginning a megaphone was used
the public announcer of the Chicago Cubs from 1917 til 1974
In the beginning a megaphone was used
photo - Ebay
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
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
The Year
United States entered the World War I on April 6, 1917
by declaring war on the then German Empire
by declaring war on the then German Empire
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
1918
another war year
image - Chicago Tribune
another war year
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
the 1918 team
photo via Midwest Sports Fans
text - 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
batting practice that year according to a seller on 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
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
The Year
1919
The year Weegham sold out
and Wrigley slowly steps in
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
Magee, Cubs, following through after throwing a baseball at Weeghman Field 
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 an online news feed called 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
Football at Wrigley?
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Year
1920
the first rodeo & football
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 located
within a mile of the baseball field
"I hope and think the Cubs management will eventually see the wisdom of returning..."
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
a scorecard of that year
photos - Ebay
from Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce
'Each February the team would arrive with great fanfare, including parades, speeches and live music. The team would be accompanied by the sports press, which would showcase the exploits of the players. One radio sportscaster, Ronald “Dutch” Reagan, who covered the Chicago Cubs on Catalina Island, would go on to earn acclaim in a different environment. Throughout the years they trained on the island, Cubs players were photographed enjoying the island’s many attractions, spotlighting the famous Catalina Island pottery, exploring the Catalina Island Bird Park, fishing in island waters and much more. Those photos made their way to newspapers across the country revealing the island and its many amenities to baseball fans from one coast to the other. Wrigley also used the Cubs’ presence on the island in advertisements: “The Cubs Are Here, You Should Come Too” was a frequent tagline.'
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
first sole owner of the baseball field
photo via Vintage News
His Story
His Story
From Soup & Gum to Baseball
text above - 'Wrigleyville' by Peter Golenberg
photo - Ebay
‘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
a 1916 ad
a 1922 ad
his factory in 1933
once located at 3535 S Ashland Avenue
Chicago should own the Cubs!
Charles Weeghman Resigns
text above & below - Chicago Cubs by Warren Brown and
Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
baseball field pride
the refreshments
text - Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
text below - Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
knew how to make a buck
In the words of Wrigley, Jr.
text above - Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
Ebay Photos
Wrigley Family Residences
1200 N Lake Shore Drive
1927 photos - Chicago History Museum
via Explore Chicago Collection
and
their home on Catalina Island
photo - Ebay
The Year
1922
construction plan for a upper stands
upper decks addition
via ZacharyTaylorDavis.com
a 1929 rendition of planned expansion of 1922
Chicago History Museum via Explore Chicago Collection
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
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.’
ticket - Growing up in Chicago/Facebook
The Year
1923
not everyone is happy
a postcard view - from my personal collection
a 1923 Sanborn Fire Map view
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
about the expansion
phot below - Mama Bear Virginia via John Charleston
The Year
1924
Wrigley, Jr. buys the land under the field and
and radio announcements from the ballpark
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
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 fieldto make ends meet
Da' Bears
poster - Ebay
photos via Chicago Tribune
1920's? photo with 'Red' Grange in the background - Ebay
below photo - Calumet 412 Bears vs Giants
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 years before the Cardinals would call Wrigley Field their home field - from 1931 to 1939 season
The Year
1926
Religion Comes to Town
The Year
1927
with a wider view of the area below
photo - 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 - Chicago Tribune
zoomed view - northwest
a 1928 scorecard above
and part of my collection
Bears complete program below - 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
That year marked the beginning of a
world-wide economic depression
text above - Wrigleyville by Peter Golanbock
photo - Ebay
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
an editorial from magazine called
The Chicagoan
September 1929
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 - Ebay
the announcer Pat Pieper
1929 photo - Chicago Public Library
via Explore Chicago Collection
photo - Chicago Tribune 
the old bleacher section 
photo - Chicago Public Library
via Explore Chicago Collection
photo - 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
that year
.jpg)
by Earl Camembert & Michael Blane & me
Earl was able to figure out the year
Chicago Sunday Tribune via Ebay
via Forgotten Chicago Discussion Group
on the reverse side below
another ticket - Ebay
both photos
images - Ebay
photo - via Chicago Tribune
postcard - Ebay
photo - 'Ballpark of Baseball'
another view of it
below photo - Chicago Bears pose - Ebay
A Chicago Cardinals/Bears Schedule
image - Ebay
Some photos
from the 1930's
photo - 'Ballpark of Baseball'
George Brace photographer
photos via Chicago Tribune
Once
a Boxing Venue
That 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
Maps of the Area
what the area looked like in 1887
a 1894 Sanborn Fire Map of the coal yard
The Collin & Wiese Company
a more zoomed view below
photo below - Hank's Trunk Farm
The Coal Yard
Exists the Landscape by 1961
the second owner of the baseball park
1932-1977
photo - Alchetron
He 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
Bears vs Cardinals
1933 home game
for both teams
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
A Color Conversion Photo
watching the game from Sheffield Avenue in 1934
by Imbued with Hues
Phil Cavarretta
1934-1953
He played for the Cubs continuously for almost 20 years
photo - Brace Collection via Ebay
photo - Ebay
The 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 vs
Detroit in 1935
football
negatives - Chicago History Museum
Chicago Bears vs Chicago Cardinals in December
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
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
postcard - part of my collection
a Snowy and Empty
Wrigley Field
via Wrigley Report-Facebook
photo below - Ebay
The Year
1939
the first year of World War II
United States would enter in 1941
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
at Wrigley Field
images - part of my collection
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
photo via Chuck Humberson
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
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
photo below - Ebay
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, with a 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
a baseball player
photo - City at War: Chicago
'Real Cubs fans never called him 'Big Bill'. 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
a football player
his performance
The Year
1942
and the history of lights on the field
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Peter Pathy
photo below - Ebay
The Year
1943
Bronko Nagurski 1943
War Happenings
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Peter Pathy
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
and the last year of World War II
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
Move to Rivervierw Park??
heading to the game via El
press photo - part of my personal collection
1947 photo - Ebay
images via Calumet 412
images - part of my collection
photo - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
images - part of my collection
images - part of my collection
The Year
photo via Wrigley Report-Facebook
press photo - part of my personal collection
text above - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
photo below - Ebay
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
below 1940's photo - Art Institute of Chicago
The Year
1950
Chicago Cubs v Chicago White Sox
Scorecard
The Year
1951
a rodeo comes to town
aerial photo view - Chicago History Museum
photo - Trolley Dodger
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 1919
The 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
Chicago Tribute video honoring him
on Opening Night 2015
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 before the season over
the rendering above
a experiment that failed before the season over
photo - Calumet 412
The Year
1957
below the #22 heading north passed Addison Street
images - part of my collection
photo - part of my personal collection
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
Cubs vs Dodgers
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
Ground-Keeper Bobby Dorr Dies
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
A part of Bobby Dorr story was saved when the Ricketts Family decided to renovate his home in 2017
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
A 'Green Hornet' Passes 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 remain
photo - Chicago History Museum
photo below - Manny Manotas Velez
via Original Chicago-Facebook
photo below via Bleed Cubbie Blue
photo above - Lance Grey
photo of the Bears below - Ebay
The Year
1962
photography by Algimantas Kezys via Calumet 412
view of Clark & Addison
Kodachrome photo - Vintage Everyday
When rooftoppers were only local residents
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
Lights Mentioned Again
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 linebackers
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Year
1964
photo via Chicago Tribune
Halas yes, Wrigley no
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
press photo - my personal collection 
Franksville Restaurant
1110 W Addison/on Sheffield
1964-1980
1966 Chicago Tribune ad
zoomed address below
Leo Durocher
1966 photo - part of my personal collection
He managed the Cubs from 1966-1972
photos - StadiumPage.com
one of the controversial managers
He managed the Cubs from 1966-1972
text below - Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbrock
The Year
1965
photo - Calumet 412
The Year
1966
photo above - 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
The Year
1968
An Aerial View
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
The Year
1969
view #1
view #2
view #3
view #4
view #5
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.' - Roger Lanunis's
image - plaquelady via Ebay
text from Wrigleyville by Peter Golonbock
Ron Santo catching a foul ball - Chicago History Museum
The Year
1970
new fencing
photo via Chicago Tribune
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
press photo - part of my personal collection
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
The Year
1971
by Beth Gorr/photos by Ron Nelson
(this book is part of my personal collection)
The Year
1973
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
text - 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 Other Advertisers
1914-2012
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The RR 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.
The Year
1974
images - part of my collection
The Year
1975
photo - Bob Rehak Photography
images - part of my collection
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
photo above via Chicago Tribune
photo below - Calumet 412
The Year
1977
PK Wrigley Dies
mid 1970's photo below - Ebay
Pitching Pennies
on Sheffield in 1977
artwork image - Ebay
photo - part of my personal collection
scenes - William Barnes via Picture of Chicago-Facebook
photo - part of my personal collection
scorecard from my collection
photo - part of my personal collection
3 Getty Images below
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 desenter ...
'
a fashion shot
a Danish photographer, Dirk Bakker,
photo - Art Institute of Chicago
The Year
1981
a new owner
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
Photographer Jim Dow View
image - Art Institute of Chicago
The Year
1982
opposition to night games intensifies
photo - Mears Auction
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
called 'The Cubs Light Up' via GE Reports
*forgotten sources*
photo below - Jody Avirgan via Twitter
The C.U.B.S.
backed by Lake View Citizen's Council
Jeff MacNelly Chicago Tribune 1982
via Ebay
The Year
1983
bleacher fans
and a record number at Wrigley
photo below - Calumet 412
The Year
1984
artwork 1984
via Ebay
(video)
The First
Musical Concert
images - Ebay
The Year
1985
Jeff MacNelly Chicago Tribune 1985
via Ebay
photo - part of my personal collection
The Year
artwork 1985
via Ebay
The Northside vs Southside:
a 1985 article
The Year
1987
William Louis Veeck Sr.—not to be confused with his
legendary, franchise-owning, promotional stuntman of a son (think exploding
scoreboards and Disco Demolition)—was a by-the-book but out-of-the-box leader
who rewarded loyalty and regularly took the long view. A baseball fan from a
young age, Veeck was born in Indiana in 1877 and had his roots in journalism,
not management. His first job was selling newspapers, and as a teenager he
worked as a printer’s apprentice. Veeck never attended college and eventually
landed a job in the cutthroat world of Chicago newspapers. He bounced around
among publications until gaining purchase at the Chicago Evening American,
first reporting on the city desk and later on sports, where his lifelong love
of baseball paid off. He wrote under the pen name “Bill Bailey,” and there was
a quality to his work that went beyond simply posting gameday recaps and
churning out stats. He demonstrated a nuanced understanding of the game that
caught the baseball world’s attention—so much so that when the Cubs began
considering a new management direction, Veeck’s name was on the short list. - Cubs Vine Line Blog
Mayor Harold Washington
Steps In on the Light Issue
text below via Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
shirt - Ebay
The Year
the apparent mood of the time ...
photo - Art Institute of Chicago
Thomas Frederick Arndt photographer
1988
the year of the lights
photo & text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
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 enforced since 1988 in its various forms. One constant in the agreement has been an annual meeting months before the next season. Residents of Wrigleyville, Alderman Hansen/Tunney along with the Cubs organization gather into a grand discussion to speak about the future of Wrigley Field and Chicago Cubs. This annual gathering was a lively one during the 2014-2019 Wrigley Field/Wrigleyville renovations.
The original document was 34 pages
photo below - Ebay
photo below - Wrigleyville Sports
91 year old Harry Grossman turns on the lights
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
postcard - Ebay
below photos - part of my personal collection
The Year
1990
an artist view in July 1990 via Ebay
photo - part of my personal collection
image - Pinterest
postcard - Ebay
photo - part of my personal collection
The Year
1991
postmarked in 1991
The Year
1992
part of my collection
text -Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
baseball cards - Ebay
scorecard from my collection
image above - Princeton Club of Chicago
photo below via ABC News
The Year
The Year
The Line Up for the Year
baseball cards - Ebay
A Movie that Highlighted
Wrigley Field and an earlier era
This DVD is part of my personal collection
The Year
1993
photo - part of my personal collection
The Year
1994
no more smoking
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
in the Addison Street Station
The Year
1996
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
1954 photo below - Cut4 via Twitter
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
1997
photo - Wrigley Areials
1999
The Year
2001
Renovation Plans
photo via Wrigley Report-Facebook
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
What Happened ...
It is so ready for renovations!
versus
photos - The Urinals of Wrigley Field
2000 article about expansion
of the bleachers
landmark status maybe??
published by a 2001 Preservation Magazine
(click on images to enlarge)
page 1
page 2
The Year
2002
More Bleachers Planned
2005
photo via Chicago Cubs Yesterday and Today
The Year
photo via Chicago Cubs Yesterday and Today
2006
photo via Chicago Cubs Yesterday and Today
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Year
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Year
Sam Zell bought the Chicago Tribune hence the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field in 2007. He tried to sell off the pieces of it to the highest bidder instead of selling both the Cubs and the baseball field as a package deal.
text below - 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 - 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"
Roof Advertising
3701 N Kenmore Avenue2009 photo - Google Maps
The Year
2010
photo via Chicago Magazine
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
images below - part of my collection
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 - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Year
2013
Major Renovation Announced
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Year
2014
The Renovation Years Begin
Post Notes:
Scoreboard: its many faces
(the second one)
The Center of the Universe
by Duna Photography in 2012
photo - Redfin
"In the world of real estate, location means everything. But does a property around the corner from Wrigley Field command $9.8 million? The sellers of 3710 N Kenmore Ave. realize that there is much more to the property than the two-story frame house that sits on it. The property has some potential to earn a few bucks and the listing agent is suggesting that investors consider erecting rooftop advertising (specifically a digital billboard) on the site. The Ricketts family have famously scooped up several of the surrounding rooftop properties, but this property is billing itself as one of the few that is not under the control of the Cubs organization. Broker Amy Duong of Jameson Sotheby's Intl Realty tells us that the seller has been paying attention to sales in the neighborhood, notably the McDonald's parking lot that the Ricketts family paid $20 million for. Duong also tells us that there's no mistake in the price in the listing and the seller is fine with sitting on the house until a reasonable offer comes forth." - Curbed Chicago
Historical Cub Logos
via Mark McHugh
LakeView Historical-Facebook album
List of
Owners, Presidents, and Managers
The Cubs According to Shoe
publised in 1988
part of my collection
located along the existing lakefront along Michigan Avenue
... and a 1877 page from Harpers Weekly - Ebay
The 1907-08
World Series Trio
The Chicago Bears
at Wrigley
When the Chicago Cardinals played at Wrigley Field
at Wrigley Field
Scroll down to the
Twitter video below
the early years
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 that time
The Torco Sign
Torco is still as of 2022 an industrial leader in ultra-high-end specialty lubricant formulations for high-performance and racing applications and we welcome the challenge of staying ahead of the performance curve that exists today. We're proud to be one of the last true specialty oil companies that focuses on building extreme protection and horsepower into each and every one of our products
according to their website
More about Signs
My Main Reference Books
for this Post
all books are part of my collection
To Find Endless Photos
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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