Construction of the bleachers .281937.29 History of Wrigley Field

wrigley field seen above during 1935 world series. 1 of 3 times prior 2005 cubs erected temporary bleachers on waveland , sheffield sidewalks. other occasions 1929 , 1932 world series.

another mistake constructing bleachers in straightaway center field: batters lose sight of ball in white shirts worn spectators on sunny days, because wall not high enough provide full batter s background itself. various methods tried around this. @ 1 time flat canopy extended on area, try put spectators in shadow, ineffective (the 2005–2006 reconstruction extent revisit concept). while in mid-1960s, screen attached top of wall , ivy twined way up. batters , bleacher fans disliked it, , removed after couple of seasons. later, number of years, green tarp covered seats.

after being closed spectators sometime in late 1940s or 1950s, last time 3 problem sections used baseball during 1962 all-star game. seats continued used other events such football , soccer, during years when chicago bears , chicago sting played games here.

by 1990s, area occupied juniper plants, nicely complemented ivy. also, layout tweaked bit, open few seats on either side of straight center field area while still providing rectangular background perspective of batter.

after 2005 season, plants temporarily removed during reconstruction (see below). on following winter, lounge constructed in upper part of area , new rows of juniper bushes placed in lower part.

by end of 1937, dimensions set: 355 feet left field corner, few feet behind corner wall tangents foul pole; 368 deep left-center; 400 deepest part of center (at right edge of batters background area); 368 right center; , 353 right field foul pole. there other intriguing distances have never been posted. in original encyclopedia of baseball, hy turkin , s.c. thompson, 1951, measurements of 357 feet left field , 363 right field revealed. put closest point of left end of bleachers no more 350 feet home plate, fact many pitchers have cursed on years. left-center in general shallow. straightaway center 390. deep center , right field area in general better balanced. shallowness of left-center power alley, cozy major league standards, , resultant increase in home runs in decades since 1937, suggest chicago tribune s original skeptical assessment correct.

the basket , angling chain-link fence runs along top of outfield wall, installed @ start of 1970 season. during 1969 pennant race, there several incidents of fans interfering fly balls , falling onto field. there first , incident of fan running field , escaping without prosecution. famous photograph taken of incident , published in chicago sun-times. basket intended deter or prevent kind of problem. security cameras installed @ time. basket angles away wall, , higher wall in order provide balance pitchers. however, on years number of baseballs have been hit basket home runs have been outs, or off wall, or possibly interfered fans. basket exists there seating. during 1980s, when bleacher seating extended on catwalks , i.e. bleacher ramps in extreme left , right fields, basket likewise extended.