GOING TO THE TODDLIN TOWN!

Chicago, with its broad shoulders will need them as my two sons and I descend upon the city for a ballgame or two, and a little sightseeing. By the time you read this I will have returned and writing tomorrow’s blogue.

This is more a mission for me, as I try to visit as many major league parks as I can before I pack it in. Having been a baseball fan all my life, I was born across the street from Ebbets Field a long time ago, the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers: (They lost that day and set the stage for the rest of my life) I have loved the game ever since.

One of the things I love about baseball is the difference of the playing field from stadium to stadium. Each arena has different configurations and dimensions once you pass the infield.

It is the old parks I love in particular, bringing back memories of my childhood and that grand old stadium on Flatbush Avenue. You can center your focus on a small part of these old ballparks and it will carry you back to a small section of Ebbets Field, and the nostalgia.

Of course this mission is somewhat a suicide mission since I will be watching my dysfunctional but beloved team, the New York Mets. They are taking on the Chicago Cubs the weekend I am going and so I am resigned to the fact that they will be playing in the enemy’s playpen, so they will probably get shellacked. That is OK too, since it is baseball, and a new place to view it instead of the TV.

I am a fatalist when it comes to the Mets and if you look at their record you would understand. I get comfortable with them losing before they even start the game so the outcome isn’t such a disappointment when the game is over. This is a distinct advantage over Yankee fans, who will be disappointed about 60 to 65 times a year while I will never be disappointed, and will be pleasantly surprised about 60 to 65 times a year.

Wrigley Field, which was built in 1914, will be playing host to Major League Baseball for the 100th season in 2013 - and to the Cubs for the 98th year. It is the second-oldest ballpark in the majors behind Boston's Fenway Park (1912), that I visited a few years ago.

The Friendly Confines Originally known as Weeghman Park, Wrigley Field was built on the grounds once occupied by a seminary.

To quote the Chicago Cubs website:

• Weeghman Park was the home of Chicago's entry in the Federal League and was the property of Charles H. Weeghman ... the club was known as both the Federals and the Whales.
• The cost of building Weeghman Park, which had a seating capacity of 14,000, was estimated at $250,000 ... the infield and outfield consisted of more than 4,000 yards of soil and four acres of bluegrass.
• The first major league game at the ballpark took place April 23, 1914, with the Federals defeating Kansas City 9-1 ... the first homer in ballpark history was hit by Federals catcher Art Wilson - a 2-run shot in the 2nd inning off Kansas City's Chief Johnson.
• When the Federal League folded for financial reasons after the 1915 campaign, Weeghman purchased the Cubs from the Taft family of Cincinnati and moved the club to the two-year-old ballpark at the corner of Clark and Addison streets.
• The first National League game at the ballpark was played April 20, 1916, when the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in 11 innings ... a bear cub was in attendance at the game.
• The park became known as Cubs Park in 1920 after the Wrigley family purchased the team from Weeghman ... it was named Wrigley Field in 1926 in honor of William Wrigley Jr., the club's owner.

The Wrigley Field bleachers and scoreboard were constructed in 1937 when the outfield area was renovated to provide improved and expanded seating ... the original scoreboard remains intact.

• The score-by-innings and the pitchers' numbers are changed by hand ... the numbers signaling batter, ball, strike and out, along with "H" and "E" to signify hit and error, are eyelets.
• No batted ball has ever hit the centerfield scoreboard ... two baseballs barely missed - a homer hit onto Sheffield Avenue (right-center) by Bill Nicholson in 1948, and one hit by Roberto Clemente onto Waveland Avenue (left-center) in 1959.
• One of the traditions of Wrigley Field is the flying of a flag bearing a "W" or an "L" atop the scoreboard after a game ... a white flag with a blue "W" indicates a victory; a blue flag with a white "L" denotes a loss.

The original vines were purchased and planted by Bill Veeck in September 1937 ... Veeck strung bittersweet from the top of the wall to the bottom, then planted the ivy at the base of the wall.

• The bleacher wall is 11.5 feet high ... the basket attached to the wall was constructed in 1970.
• Ernie Banks' uniform No. 14 and Ron Santo's No. 10 are imprinted on flags which fly from the right field foul pole ... Billy Williams' No. 26 and Ryne Sandberg's No. 23 fly from the left field foul pole.
  

Wrigley Field added lights in 1988.

• The first night game took place August 8 against Philadelphia, but was rained out after 3 1/2 innings.
• The first official night game occurred August 9 vs. New York, when the Cubs defeated the Mets by the score of 6-4.
• In 2009, Wrigley Field will be celebrating its 22nd year of playing host to baseball under the lights.

Wrigley Field has also been the site of numerous construction projects since Tribune Company purchased the Cubs in 1981.

• New office space was created and old offices refurbished in the administrative area behind home plate in 1981-1982, while the ticket office was built directly behind home plate in 1983.
• During the winter 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, formerly occupied by the press box and broadcasting booths ... a press box and broadcasting booths were constructed in the upper deck directly behind home plate ... other improvements included a food court in the upper deck.
• Following renovations in 1994 and 1995, there are now 63 private boxes.
• An elevator was added to the third base concourse in 1996.
• Following the 2005 season, the Cubs expanded the bleachers, adding a restaurant in the batter's eye and a window to Sheffield Avenue in right field.

And so the best part of the whole thing will be I am sharing a brew with two guys I truly love!