Wrigley Field Stadium

When Wrigley Field was inaugurated, it was called Weeghman Field and was primarily built to house the short lived "Federal League", and the Chicago Whales, which dissolved after 2 seasons. The stadium was built on the grounds once occupied by a seminary. Named after the Whales' club owner, Charles Weeghman, the park became the home of the Chicago Cubs after the 1915 season when the Federal League collapsed. The Cubs played their first National League game at the ballpark on April 20, 1916 , when the Cubs bested the Cincinnati Reds by 7-6 in 11 innings. Weeghman successfully gained a part of the ownership of the Cubs, and moved the club to his new north side facility, abandoning legendary (and wooden) West Side Park . The chewing gum entrepreneur, William Wrigley,Jr., was also one of the investors.

He gained the full ownership of the team in 1919 after Weeghman, due to the financial setbacks was forced to sell his shares. From 1920 to 1925, the field was called Cubs Park . In 1926, it assumed the name Wrigley Field in honor of Charles Weeghman, though " Cubs Park " is still sometimes used as an alternate name. Located in Chicago , Illinois Wrigley Field is bounded by Clark and Addison Streets, Waveland and Sheffield Avenues. The stadium has the seating capacity of fewer than 40,000, which makes it the third-smallest ballpark being in active use. It is nicknamed The Friendly Confines; a phrase popularized Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. It is the only remaining Federal League Park . Built at the cost of $250,000, the stadium was designed by Zachary Taylor Davis. In 1917 Jim 'Hippo' Vaughn and the Cincinnati Reds' Fred Toney threw no-hitters for nine innings before Cincinnati 's Jim Thorpe drove in the only run in the 10th inning. On Sept. 28, 1938 , Cubs Hall of Fame catcher Gabby Hartnett hit his famous "Homer in the Gloamin" off the Pittsburgh Pirates' Mace Brown. Babe Ruth's "called shot," when Ruth allegedly pointed to a bleacher location during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series.

Probably no event at Wrigley Field is more famous than Babe Ruth's supposed "called shot" home run off Charlie Root in the 1932 World Series. On May 12, 1970 , Ernie Banks hit his 500th career home run against Atlanta 's Pat Jarvis. On September 8, 1985 , Pete Rose got his 4,191st hit, which tied his record with Ty Cobb's record for the most hits in baseball history. The stadium was a site for Major League Baseball in 1947, 1962 and 1990. As a matter of fact, the Cubs have never won a World Series title at their home field, having lost in all six attempts since 1918. The Cubs won their last world Series Championship in 1908, six years before Wrigley was built. The first permanent concession stand in baseball was built in 1914. Numerous fans have watched and enjoyed the game from the balcony and rooftops of the houses on Waveland Avenue (behind the left-field fence) and Sheffield Avenue (beyond right field). The outfield bleachers were put up in 1937 and the scoreboard was constructed the same year by Bill Veeck. The -by-innings and the pitchers' numbers are still manually operated. Veeck was also responsible for planting the ivy plant that gives the stadium its distinctive look. He also strung bittersweet plants from the top of the wall to the bottom along with 200 Boston ivy plants at the base of the wall. After every game flying of a flag bearing a "W" or an "L" atop the scoreboard is one of the traditions at the Wrigley Field.

Wrigley Field added lights in 1988 and the first night game was played on August 8, which was rained out after 31/2 innings. The first official night game took place on August 9 against New York Mets, when the Cubs defeated the Mets 6-4. Lights had actually been scheduled to place in the ballpark in 1941, but were donated to a shipyard for the war effort. It was only after the threats given by the Cubs management, the lights were eventually installed. In the fall of 1984, a new home clubhouse was completed under the third base stands. The visitors' clubhouse was renovated in 1990. In 1989, private boxes were constructed on the mezzanine level. A press box and broadcasting booths were constructed in the upper deck directly behind home plate. Wrigley is affected by winds that blow from Lake Michigan . Wrigley Field is the only stadium where it's more difficult to hit a homer down the foul line than to hit one 50 or so feet out in fair territory, because of the protrusion of the bleachers into the outfield.