Major renovations .281922.E2.80.9323.29 History of Wrigley Field

aerial rendering of proposed expansion of cubs park, circa 1922.

by 1922, william wrigley had decided after 9 seasons, both seating , playing field of cozy cubs park ready major expansion. rather rebuilding grandstand scratch, wrigley hired original architect zachary taylor davis make expansion around existing structure. grandstand sliced 3 pieces, home plate section placed on rollers , moved 60 feet west (away right field), , left field section 100 feet northwest. both gaps filled in more seating, resulting in longer grandstand , noticeable dog leg shape of stands on first base side visible day. additionally, foul ground , height of fence in front of reduced additional rows of box seats added in front of existing grandstand. diamond , foul lines rotated 3 degrees counterclockwise earlier orientation, allowing box seats. original location of home plate in front of cubs dugout near first base coaching box.

the relocation of grandstand, additional box seats, make right field far more spacious before, addition of new bleachers in right field corner center field scoreboard. old wooden bleachers in left field dismantled , replaced newer steel-framed wooden seats being installed in right field. renovations boost park s capacity 18,000 31,000. dimensions 320 feet in left field, 318 in right, , 446 feet straightaway center.

cubs park grandstand, seen corner of clark , addision, divided 3 segments during 1922-23 expansion, prior construction of additional sections between relocated segments. note that, in days before famous marquee installed, ballpark identified sign along top of grandstand reading chicago national league baseball club.

work on renovations began in december 1922 , completed in time 1923 season opener. changes of such magnitude many publications of time referred new cubs park. fans flocked park, , attendance shot 703,705 1923 season, although once again second-best in national league. on field, however, cubs remained also-rans. team drifted aimlessly through middle of standings in 1923 , 24. 1925, cubs found commemorating fiftieth season in national league finishing last first time (which in 1925 meant eighth place).

the renovated cubs park, while hit fans, not without critics. main objection new left field bleachers easy target right-handed hitters. late july , august 1925, reporters griping games lost fly balls have been easy outs without left field bleachers. during cubs first road trip month, half of left field bleachers closest foul line dismantled, leaving jury box of seats running deep left-center center field scoreboard. change cost cubs on thousand seats, although left-field area filled standing-room-only spectators behind ropes, custom of day. left field line @ substantial 364 feet home plate, home run production dropped.