Giving Wrigley a new Field .282007.E2.80.932008.29 History of Wrigley Field

the turf replacement in progress through wrigley s right field fan window.



after view of turf replacement.

at end of cubs 2007 season, 2 different efforts undertaken upgrade playing field @ old ballpark. few years earlier, sports illustrated poll found players considered wrigley s playing field 1 of poorest in major leagues. renovations should go long way toward fixing situation.

first, reported on cubs official website , reported , pictured in november issue of chicago cubs vine line, cubs official fan magazine (p. 4), outfield , portions of infield replaced turf purchased oswego, illinois, firm. accomplished in 13 days between last home regular season game , first (and last, turned out) post-season game year. project supervised roger bossard, head groundskeeper chicago white sox.

then, following post-season, reported on cubs website , reported , pictured in december issue of vine line , more ambitious project began, install state-of-the-art drainage system. entire playing surface @ wrigley removed, required digging down 14 28 inches. underlying base material replaced system of 6,000 feet of piping buried in special clay. drainage system capable of holding 60,000 gallons of water installed, on top of new playing surface of colorado-grown sod unrolled. renovation, replacing system installed in 1935, makes wrigley last major league field move away crown-based water management system. infield had been @ raised elevation relative shallow part of outfield , far edge of foul ground around infield, hence gutters in front of box seat railings.

as of 2008, infield sits lower did, 14 inches, eliminating slight downhill slope runners had contend upon rounding third base, , allowing managers in dugouts see opposite-field outfielder in full, not top half . system allows shorter rain delays, while controlling flow of water toward storm sewers. ballpark sits on block has noticeable downhill slope northwest corner southeast corner. left field (northwest) corner of playing field several feet below street level. natural drainage direction toward right field (southeast) corner, , new system directs water through outlet under right field corner.

as part of excavation, crew found , removed foundations of goal posts bears playing days. crew reported left time capsule buried somewhere under new turf. lowering infield 14 inches raises outfield barrier 14 inches, standpoint of batter. remains seen whether factor have effect on home run production.