Weeghman Park to Cubs Park to Wrigley Field .281916.E2.80.931932.29 History of Wrigley Field

cubs right fielder max flack in front of original short right field wall, c. 1920. note doublemint elves atop scoreboard, , wilson sporting goods sign on right field wall.

the cubs played first game @ weeghman park on april 20, 1916, besting cincinnati reds 7–6 in eleven innings. proved highlight of otherwise unremarkable season. after year in bottom half of standings, cubs won national league pennant in 1918 under manager fred mitchell. victory not without little outside help, wartime conditions during height of american involvement in world war caused major league baseball end regular season on september 1. cubs struggling cash, weeghman reluctantly rented larger capacity comiskey park cubs home games in world series. cubs, experience bust, club lost series babe ruth , boston red sox in 6 games relatively anemic attendance. such losses may have provided final push forcing charlie weeghman out of management following season.

although weeghman dominant figure in revamped cubs organization in 1916, number of investors had taken minority shares in club. 1 of new investors chewing gum magnate william wrigley. on next couple years, weeghman s financial fortunes off field entered sharp decline, wrigley acquired increasing number of shares in club , took on growing role in team s affairs. in november 1918, weeghman gave remaining interest wrigley, resigned president, , left baseball good. wrigley acquire complete control of cubs 1921.

with weeghman out of picture, starting in 1919 park referred cubs park. although cubs featured stars such pitchers grover alexander , hippo vaughn, along young catcher named gabby hartnett, on next few seasons cubs park setting largely also-ran teams.

the fans had more frustrated off field. rumors of thrown games plagued cubs during latter part of 1920 season gave impetus criminal investigations led uncovering infamous black sox scandal across town white sox. in addition, 1920 marked beginning of prohibition, meaning fans have find other way quench thirst during many hot summer afternoons @ cubs park.

although cubs teams of 1920s little more also-rans, fans still flocked cubs park. in 1922, 542,283 fans went through turnstiles—the second-highest attendance in national league—to watch fourth-place club.

major renovations (1922–23)

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.

double decking grandstand (1927–28)

the upper deck of newly rechristened wrigley field remained unfinished throughout 1927 season, extending along third base line.

by 1926, cubs benefiting handily peak of roaring twenties. 900,000 fans went through turnstiles @ park capacity of on 30,000. after close of season, work began on adding second deck grandstand. original idea have job completed opening of 1927 season, april, third-base side of upper deck had been completed, temporarily giving park startlingly asymmetrical appearance.

cubs park formally renamed wrigley field prior start of 1927 season.

despite half-finished state of upper deck expansion, 1927 cubs drew on 1.1 million fans, becoming first national league team ever so. in addition increased capacity of park, cubs helped own cause becoming increasingly competitive team under manager joe mccarthy.

the upper deck completed in time 1928 season, saw cubs break million mark in attendance yet again. timing couldn t have been more fortuitous. in 1929, cubs put 1 of potent lineups in major league history, , walked national league pennant stars hack wilson, rogers hornsby, kiki cuyler, charlie root , pat malone. season attendance soared 1.5 million fans. remain major league record seventeen years, record aided in large part declining major league attendance during great depression , world war ii. cubs not top mark forty years.

as world series approached, wrigley sought provide more seating @ park. contracted have temporary wooden bleachers erected on both waveland , sheffield avenues, raising park s capacity 50,000. both streets closed traffic. in end, bleachers needed games 1 , 2 of 1929 world series, both of cubs lost on way five-game defeat @ hands of underdog philadelphia athletics.

by 1930s, distance markers posted: left field line, 364 feet; left-center against outer wall, 372; left center, corner of bleachers, 364; deep center field corner, 440; right center, 354; right field line, 321.

during 1968–1970 off-seasons, concrete in upper deck stripped , replaced. after 40 years of harsh chicago winters, original concrete showing signs of wear , tear; replaced precast concrete installed on 1927 steel framework. in 2004, 40 years later, precast concrete began show deterioration several chunks of precast concrete fell, leading increased safety inspections , installation of protective netting.