April 28, 2011

Wrigley Field: The First 100

to Wrigley Field
1914 thru 2014 
The Home of a Few Sports Teams
mapped out "YEAR BY YEAR"
I have used a book called 'Wrigley Field: Year by Year' 
by Sam Pathy as a baseline for 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.
Let's begin with this 1887 map
1887 Rascher's Atlas
Before 
the Baseball Park
1892 photo & 1957 text - Karin Olson 
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. Also, my grandfather's uncle, Reverend Franklin Edward Jensen, attended the Lutheran Seminary."
Finding a Location
in 1913
The Location
on Addison Street
image via Zachary Taylor Davis-Chicago Architect/Facebook
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 LeagueThis baseball league would only last two seasons for it lack the funds to continue. - Chicagology
Trouble is Bubbling ...
a cartoon above
via ZacharyTaylorDavis.com
photos below from Ebay 
photos below snipped from the above video link
the first year with a colorization by a seller from Ebay
A New Baseball Field 
Built within 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
zoomed view below
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 
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
The Area Back 
in 1887
Rascher Map
the X marks the sport
located in part 1
October 1914 Baseball News
and then it was ...
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
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 Wrigley Field: Year by Year'

Charles Weeghman Restuarant Business
a 1918 ad - Chicago Daily Tribune
1920 ad 
- Chicago Daily Tribune
a 1921 ad - Chicago Daily Tribune
He owned over 10 shops in the Loop area
Legendary Joe Tinker becomes Manager
of the Federals & then the Cubs
photo - Business Magazine

advertisement - Benjamin Yolarski‎ via 'Chicagoland Before We Were Born'-Facebook in July 1916
1916 photo - Ebay
The Whales
 (The Federals)
postcard - Ebay

Chicago Federal 
Baseball Cards
1914-1915
reproduction miniature baseball cards - my collection
a Wikipedia list of the players

I followed this books' thematic script for the most part
The First Year 
for the Weeghman Park
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
 a postcard from my personal collection
Zeider, Whales, following through after swinging 
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
Joe Tinker 
was the first manager at Wrigley Field (Weegman Park)
text - Chicago Cubs by Warren Brown
photo of the 1914 Chicago Federals via History Blog
with Joe Tinker third from the right
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 fortitude 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
Charles Murphy
previous owner of the Chicago Cubs
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 below - 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."
3,000 girls drilling
The boys drilling
a Folk Dance
Sample team player
contracts of that year
via Ebay
M Prendergast
zoomed below
George McConnell
zoomed below
The Year 
1916 
image - Ebay
postcard below - Ebay
The First Game
of the Season
The Cub's 
Co-Investors

 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
photo via Wikipedia
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
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
United States entered the World War I on April 6, 1917 
by declaring war on the then German Empire
  
text below - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
The Year 
1918
another war year 
image - Chicago Tribune

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
batting practice that year according to a seller on Ebay
all real photos - Ebay
1918 advertisement
photos - Ebay
zoomed below
zoomed further
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 2016
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year




advertisement - Ebay
The Year 
1919
The year Weegham sold out 
and Wrigley slowly and progressively steps in

text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam PathyMagee, 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
mentioned in another post
"I hope and think the Cubs management will eventually see the wisdom of returning..."

text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy

postcard below - Ebay
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
& the Chicago Cubs
photo via Vintage News
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 1915 Examiner ad
a 1916 Chicago Daily Trib ad
a 1922 ad
 his factory in 1933
once located at 3535 S Ashland Avenue
Chicago should own the Cubs!
Charles Weeghman Resigns
Wrigley would buy out other Investors
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
in 1923
The Year 
1923
not everyone is happy
a postcard view - from my personal collection
a 1923 Sanborn Fire Map view
photo - Ebay

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
positioned as if in the Follies!!
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
baseball coach George Gibson and manager Bill Killefer 
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
photo - Chicago History Muesum
The Year
 1926
Religion Comes to Town
 program - Ebay

The Year 
1927
postcard - Ebay
zoomed below
the double deck occured in 1927-28
1927 photo - Ebay
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
photos - Chicago Tribune


a 1927 advertisement below - Chicago Public Library
The Year 
1928
photos - Chicago Tribune
1928 photo - Chicago and the Midwest/Newberry Library
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
images - Ebay
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 
The Chicagoan 1929
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

photos - Chicago History Museum
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
with the former Lutheran Semminary buildings in the background

photo - Chicago Tribune  

The Year 
1930
ushers on parade
photo - Chicago History Museum 
via Explore Chicago Collection
The Year 
1931
1931 aerial view per Ebay

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





National League Champions 
that year 
photos - Ebay
photo - analysis 
by Earl Camembert & Michael Blane & me
Earl was able to figure out the year 
Chicago Sunday Tribune via Ebay
 images - David Zorning 
via Forgotten Chicago Discussion Group
 on the reverse side below
another ticket - Ebay
another view of it - Ebay

both photos - Ebay
A Chicago Cardinals/Bears 
Schedule
image - Ebay
images - Ebay
Some photos 
from the 1930's
photo - via Chicago Tribune
postcard - Ebay

 photo - 'Ballpark of Baseball'
Bob Hendricks via Vanished Chicago FaceBook 
George Brace photographer
1930's photo - Ebay
 photos - via Chicago Tribune

photo - part of my personal collection 
photos via Chicago Tribune

Once
a Boxing Venue

That Coal Yard 
across the Street
pre 1909 address
2020 N Clark = 3637 N Clark Street
 an interesting location for coal yard silo's 
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
a 1894 Sanborn Fire Map of the coal yard
 The Seminary School was still there
below is a 1923 slice view of the yard under shorten name
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
text - Chicago Cubs by Warren Brown

but after a while
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
 images - Ebay


The Year 
1933
photo & text - Glenn Miller
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
part of my collection
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 
from my personal collection
The Year 
1935
converted color print - Chicago History/Facebook
 National League Champions that year
photo is part of my collection
photo - Chicago Railroad Historians 
 with a zoomed view some folks 
overlooking the crowds below
 photo - part of my personal collection
A Cubs program book 
from Ebay






 another scorecard - 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 - Ebay
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*
images - Ebay



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
John J Kulidas via Chicagoland Before We Were Born/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
 National League Champions that year
this photo is part of my collection
 image - Ebay

photo & text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Peter Pathy
 images - part of my collection



photo via Chicago Tribune
aerial view from a United Airlines airplane or blimp
 press photo - part of my personal collection
Flagstaff Videos

video 1 via Bleacher Nation
video 2 via Bleacher Nation
video 3 via Bleacher Nation
video 4 via Bleacher Nation
video 5 via Bleacher Nation

postcard - part of my collection
 images - Ebay
press photo - my personal collection 
images - 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
 from my personal collection




text & photo - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
 press photo - my personal collection 

  images - part of my collection


Baseball's New Names by Art Krenz
... and the last year for the Cardinals 
at Wrigley Field
photos - part of my collection



 
 



Last Game at Wrigley 
for the Cardinals


1939 press photo - Ebay
The Year 
1940
 Active Ancients by Sords via Ebay
The Cubs Managers to this Date 
 image - Chicago Sunday Times via Ebay
Cardinals no longer 
at Wrigley Field
 the team for 1940
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
newsletter is part of my collection 

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
photo below - Ebay
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
photo - Ebay
photo via Chuck Humberson
 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
 ski jumping in 1944
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 - Ebay
National League Champions that year
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
 text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
photo & text below - Calumet 412

Read an accounting of the last game
 by the Associated Press
The Blame Game 
text - Wrigleyville by Peter Golanbock
pin - from my personal collection
Bears vs Packers 1945 program booklet
images - Ebay 
split pages 

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

 text above - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
photo below - Ebay
The Year 
1947
1947 photos - Ebay
part of my personal collection



The Year 
1948
painting by Norman Rockwell
 images via Calumet 412
 images - part of my collection


The Year 
1949
photo - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy 

A Pocket Schedule
photos - Ebay
below photo - part of my personal collection
below 1940's photo - Art Institute of Chicago
The Year 
1950
1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
photo - Ebay
 newsletter - part of my collection











Chicago Cubs v Chicago White Sox 
Scorecard
 images - part of my collection


The Year 
1951
 a rodeo comes to town
aerial photo view - Chicago History Museum
photo via Wrigley Report-Facebook
photo - Trolley Dodger
 slides of the event is part of my personal collection


 program - part of my personal collection

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
 photos - part of my personal collection


Enter Ernie Banks 
1956 postcard - seller 'greg morris cards' via Ebay
text below from Wrigleyville by Peter Gozenbock

photo below - Brace Collection via Ebay
photo below via Chicago Reader
a 1970 photo - my personal collection
below photo of Ernie Banks with Pearl Jam in 2016
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
press photo - part of my personal collection
 press photo - part of my personal collection
 the year of my birth - images from Ebay

above photo - Ebay
Cleaning up after a Bears Game 
in December of that year
part of my personal collection
 selected pages
images - my personal collection 

The Year 
1956
a experiment that failed before the season over
the rendering above
photo - Calumet 412
photo above - Ebay
The Year 
1957
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 above - Wrigley Field: Year by Year
A 'Green Hornet' Passes By
photos below from the Trolleydodger
heading south on Clark toward Seminary
below the #22 heading north passed Addison Street
images - part of my collection

Bears Team photo - Ebay
The Year 
1958
 photo - part of my personal collection
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


text  - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy 
No Lights Yet!
photo - Ebay

The Year 
1961
planting the ivy 
1961 photo - Forgotten Chicago Discussion Group

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




Cubs vs Dodgers
photo above - Lance Grey
photos of the Bears below - Ebay
The Year 
1962
photography by Algimantas Kezys via Calumet 412
view of Clark & Addison
Kodachrome photo - Vintage Everyday
 press photo - part of my personal collection
When rooftoppers were only local residents
 part of my personal collection

text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year

Lights Mentioned Again

 images - part of my collection


a Chicago Tribune Advertisement


 football practice slides - Ebay
football photo below - Ebay
The Year 
1963
Pocket Schedule - Ebay
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
 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 Year 
1964
photo via Chicago Tribune
Halas yes, Wrigley no 

text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathypress photo - my personal collection 

A Food Hangout for 20 Odd Years
Franksville Restaurant
1110 W Addison/on Sheffield
1964-1980
photo & text - Ebay

1966 Chicago Tribune ad
 zoomed address below
Enter 
Leo Durocher
one of the controversial managers
 1966 photo - part of my personal collection
He managed the Cubs from 1966-1972
text below - Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbrock
photo below - Ebay
the Bears that year
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
An All in One Field
photos - StadiumPage.com
Pocket Schedule
photos - Ebay
waiting for tickets at 3am
 part of my personal collection
part of my personal collection 
the Bears that year
photo - Ebay
The Year 
1968
An Aerial View
photos - Chicago History Museum
almost dead center 
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
photos - Chicago History Museum
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 
and those fans
photos - Ebay
The Year 
1970
 1970 photo - Chicago History-Facebook
new fencing
photo via Chicago Tribune
 booklet - part of my personal collection

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
scorecard - part of my 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.
And Then One Year Later ... 

An Agreement by August
The Year 
1971
 images - part of my collection


 text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
photos below - Pro Football at Wrigley Field
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
images -  part of my collection


The Torco Sign
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
photo - Ebay
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.
images - Flickr
photo - part of my collection
The Year 
1974
 part of my personal collection
photo - part of my collection
images - part of my collection


 The Year 
1975
photo - Bob Rehak Photography
photo above via Chicago Tribune
photo below - Calumet 412
images - part of my collection 

The Year 
1977
PK Wrigley Dies
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
mid 1970's photo below - Ebay
Pitching Pennies 
on Sheffield in 1977

part of my collection
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
artwork image - Ebay
 photo - part of my personal collection
trying to catch the ball in the fencing along with the garbage
photo below - Calumet 412
The Year 
1979
scenes - William Barnes via Picture of Chicago-Facebook
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
 photo - part of my personal collection
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
 scorecard from my collection

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
 photo - part of my personal collection
photo - part of my collection
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

3 Getty Images below
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

photo - part of my collection
Jeff MacNelly Chicago Tribune 1982
via Ebay
The Year 
1983
 part of my collection

bleacher fans 
and a record number at Wrigley
photo below - Calumet 412
The Year 
1984
via Ron Kolman - Frogotten Chicago Discussion Group
 photo - part of my personal collection
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
artwork 1985
via Ebay
The Northside vs Southside: 
a 1985 article



The Year 
1986
 photo - part of my personal collection

Ferris Bueller's Day Off:

Wrigley Field Showcase

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 apparent mood of the time ...
photo - Art Institute of Chicago 
Thomas Frederick Arndt photographer
The Year 
1988
the year of the lights
photo & text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy

image - Ebay
 photo via Chicago Tribune
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





The Neighborhood Protection & Improvement Agreement
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
 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
below photos - part of my personal collection

The Year 
1990
 an artist view in July 1990 via Ebay

photo - part of my personal collection
The Year 
1991
image - Pinterest
 postcard - Ebay
postmarked in 1991
The Year 
1992
 part of my collection

text -Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
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
scorecard from my collection 



The Year 
1992
This movie was filmed that year and released in 1993
also
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
there is always the bars in Wrigleyville
The Year 
1993
photo - part of my personal collection
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
The Year 
1994
no more smoking
for the fans
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 
1997
photo - Wrigley Areials 
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
 image above - Princeton Club of Chicago
photo below via ABC News
The Year
1999
The Year 
2001
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
The Year 
2005
photo via Chicago Cubs Yesterday and Today
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
 The Year 
2006
photo via Chicago Cubs Yesterday and Today
text via Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy

The Year 
Sam Zell
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 Out
 the new owners - The Ricketts Family
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" 
The Roof Advertising
3701 N Kenmore Avenue

2009 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

Buying/Investing

 up the Rooftops Begin

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
the independent roof-top owners & their patrons
photo & text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy
 2013 photos via Chicago Tribune
The Year
2013
Major Renovation Announced
text - Wrigley Field: Year by Year by Sam Pathy

A Day at the Ballpark
Bob Russel took his family to the watch the Cubs play the Reds at Wrigley Field in August of 2013 a year before the renovations. This is his story through the eye of a camera.
The Year 
2014
The Renovation Years Begin

'The restoration of historic Wrigley Field is officially underway. On Saturday, Oct. 11, the Chicago Cubs and the Ricketts family hosted Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig, former Cubs pitchers Milt Pappas and Kerry Wood, city and state officials, community and corporate partners, and representatives from the project team at the groundbreaking ceremony for Wrigley Field’s long-awaited expansion and restoration, now titled The 1060 Project.

The primary focus of the project’s first phase, to be completed this offseason, is infrastructure work. The ballpark’s structural steel and foundation will be strengthened, and much of the concrete in the Budweiser Bleachers will be replaced. More than 50 million pounds of new concrete will be poured at the Friendly Confines during the course of the restoration.' - Cubs Vine Blog

A New Mascot indroduced called Clark

Opinions for the Future

(video)

I have a Few
 Post Notes:
The Scoreboard: its many faces
 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
 post 2014 photos via MLB/Cut4
(the second one)
2017 photos - Omaha Public Radio

2014 photo below - 'Man of Five'
The Center of Baseball 
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
and Joa was its name
My Facebook album - LakeView Historical
List of
Owners, Presidents, and Managers

The Cubs 
According to Shoe 
published in 1988
and part of my collection


 before 1914
located along the existing lakefront along Michigan Avenue
... and a 1877 page from Harpers Weekly - Ebay
The 1907-08 
World Series Trio
 reprints and part of my personal collection
The Chicago Bears
 at Wrigley
When the Chicago Cardinals 
played at Wrigley Field
The 1937 
Renovations
photos - Ebay
College Football 
at Wrigley Field
Scroll down to the
Twitter video below
the early years
 photo - Wikipedia
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
West Side Ball-Park
(enlargement)
Located at Polk, Lincoln, Wood and Taylor streets
The Torco Sign
The Torco Company 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
1987
1988

1990
1993
and in 2000
photo below - Mark Czerniec 
More about Signs
The Chicago 
Bears  
Some Reference Books
for this Post
all books are part of my collection
To Find Endless Photos 
and 
Finally
From My Private Collection

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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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