Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy

Walking up to the greatest ballyard in America is a thrill in and of itself. However, when it comes to Wrigley Field, the thrill that is felt is not exclusive to the ballpark itself. Wrigley Field is the home of the Chicago Cubs and is a tradition, a gathering, and a celebration of everything that is good about baseball, from the street vendors selling everything Cubs to the vendors in the ballpark selling $15 nacho filled helmets. Since there is more to Wrigley Field than just the ballpark, Wrigley is the place to be whether the Cubs are in town or not. What people fail to realize is that even though the ballyard itself is 96 years old, the atmosphere is beyond belief and the experience is priceless.

The Bleachers are where the heart and soul of Wrigley lie. There are people that have been season ticket holders in the bleachers since 1993 (when bleacher general admission season tickets went on sale), but these fans have been sitting in the bleachers long before that. The bleachers at Wrigley are broken up into three main sections: Right Field, Left Field, and Center Field, and the people that sit there are assigned to their respective sections by themselves. Visitors dare not sit in these seats, seeing as the regulars have their seats already picked out even though there is general admission in the bleachers.

One of the perks of a season ticket holder is that they get early entrance and they have the ability to stake out their seats with towels. After they eat whatever food they brought in themselves (because food is expensive), they send someone down to get the scorecards, because real fans know how to keep score. One particular fan, Judy Caldow, has kept score for every home game since 1963. In fact, she has every scorecard from every home game since July 4, 1963, and they are all filed away in her basement. To Judy, keeping score is a connection to her past, “My dad kept score when I was younger and he would come home, total it, and put it away and I really liked looking at them. I just can’t imagine going to a game and not keeping score.” During the game they listen to Ron Santo and Pat Hughes who announce the game on WGN radio. In addition, they shout at tourists and drunks who try to start the wave, because at Wrigley, there is no wave. Also, there is no keeping an opponent homerun ball. Those baseballs have to be thrown back in order to avoid being taunted and embarrassed by the locals.

The greatest thing about Wrigley is the family atmosphere. No matter where you are from, what team you like, or how much you make, if you like baseball, you are welcomed. The regulars know the vendors, and the security listen to the regulars when it comes to unruly fans. No matter what’s going on at home, everyone at the ballpark is willing to listen and help you get through tough times with a round of beer and some baseball. Wrigley Field is the home of the Chicago Cubs, but it is also home to the greatest atmosphere that the game of baseball has to offer.