The Wrigley Blog

So... This Happened

2012-02-20T13:49:00.000-06:00

(photograph via @trickholland)

This past weekend while shooting some sort of commercial for PlayStation, they gussied up Wrigley Field with all her flags, turned on all her lights, and at some point they flashed this message.

And we missed it!

Even though we spend a good part of each day around Wrigley Field we actually missed it when it briefly said World Series Champs. This, in a nutshell, is my greatest fear. You see, someday the Wrigley Marquee will read World Series Champs. Someday we will win it all. And when that day finally comes, I better be alive to see it.

Go Cubs Go (hopefully, sometime soon)

Wrigley Bleacher Patio Work Begins

2012-02-17T14:49:00.000-06:00

Work on the soon to be known "Budweiser Patio" began this week. So far there's been a lot of prep work, a lot of noise and a lot of plastic (The right field bleachers are starting to look like what they did to Elliot's house in E.T.)

Anyway, here are some photos of this week's progress. We can't afford a fancy helicopter view like the Chicago Tribune, but maybe we can talk a neighbor with a rooftop into letting us up to document the work.

New Contest: Predict the Lineup, Win a Beer

2012-02-06T12:27:00.002-06:00

Predict the Cubs Opening Day lineup: Win a Beer

Now that the football season is behind us, it's time to start thinking about baseball (and beer) again.

So here is the contest: leave your prediction below for the Cubs Opening Day lineup - including Starting Pitcher. (make sure you leave a twitter handle or some other way to contact you) If you get it right, we will send you $7.00 cash money so you can buy yourself a cold one after the Cubs return to Wrigley Field on April 5th.

Contest is open until Dale Sveum makes the official call.

Good luck. Go Cubs

New Rendering of Bleacher Patio and LED Videoboard at Wrigley

2012-02-01T14:25:00.003-06:00

We've had a few weeks to calm down since seeing the Cubs off-season plan to add a party deck and LED ad board to the bleachers. Sure we were mighty upset by the notion, but we know that Wrigley Field isn't a static place. She's slowly evolved over these years; she's had too. And let me tell ya, we have no doubt Wrigley Field can handle this change and hopefully the next round of changes Mr. Ricketts throws at her.

But next time around, we'd appreciate if they'd cut the bull when selling us the idea. Don't tell us it's "for the fans". This here patio is only for corporate events and bachelor parties. It's just one more place in the park we aren't welcome, and we don't take too kindly to that fact. But more to the point, the reason for the patio is the advertisement money. If that there money turns the Cubs into winners, then and only then could you say it was "for the fans".

Now back to that ad / patio. Two thing struck me when taking a gander at the pretty picture of the patio and strolling around the stadium. For one, there sure isn't much room there for a patio. My hope is that when it's complete most folks reaction will be: "Is that it?" The second thing that I noticed is that the image only shows that one section of the ballpark. It doesn't show how or if it'll fit in with the rest of Wrigley Field.

I reckon that they don't much care if it does...

But we do care, and I really wanted to know how it'll look so I asked my employment-challenged grandson to draw it up for the blog. He sort of took what they presented and fiddled with it until it went in. Take a gander and let us know what you think.

Purdy Photo of the Week XII

2012-01-27T11:50:00.000-06:00

The snow, the sweeper, the marquee message... all elements coming together at just that right moment. What a energetic photograph.

Sloop Purdy

They Are Putting a Jumbotron in Wrigley Field

2012-01-14T17:29:00.004-06:00

The day we have dreaded is here.

Today the Cubs "braintrust" announced: THEY ARE PUTTING A JUMBOTRON IN WRIGLEY FIELD.

Are we happy about this turn of events? No sir.

Did we start drinking heavily as soon as we found out? Yessir

We will have to get back to you with some rational thoughts at a later date, but let me tell ya - no matter how much we disagree with the decision, you can count on us to document the construction every step of the way.

Go Cubs

Mid-Offseason Wrigley Upkeep Report

2012-01-10T12:12:00.000-06:00

It seems pretty much halfway thru the offseason, so I reckon we should show you some of the goings on at Wrigley Field so far. Besides removing some 1950's concrete panels on the Clark Street side, this years round of upkeep seems to be more about patching and replacing concrete. Now don't get me wrong, they are working away in there and no doubt spending bundles of money, but I'm not too certain most folks will even notice what's been done. I reckon until they do some major renovating this work here will be par for the course.

Here are some photographs:

Removal of the concrete panels from the '50s

Behind the panels: a mess, but they're working on it

Concrete pump truck

Ramp work off of Addison St.

More concrete work by that "Captain Morgan" monstrosity

More concrete

Plenty of scaffolding over there by Waveland Ave.

Our Photos of the Year

2011-12-30T11:16:00.002-06:00

Well sir, 2011 definitely wasn't "The Year" for our Cubs, but we had a dandy time documenting the old ballpark nonetheless. Here are some of our better photographs of the year. We sure hope you enjoy them.

Merry Christmas from The Wrigley Blog

2011-12-25T12:56:00.000-06:00

Wherever you are today, we hope you have a Merry Christmas, and 100 days from now we hope to see you at Wrigley Field for Opening Day

TheWrigleyBlog Dictionary: Tebowing

2011-12-09T00:01:00.001-06:00

For those of you who have something better to do than pay attention to kids these days:

Tebowing

te•bow•ing (tee-boh-ing) verb 1. The act of getting down on one knee and acting like you are praying to Tim Tebow.
also see: buffoonery

via tebowing.com (i kid you not)

Ron Santo Elected to the Hall of Fame - A Year Too Late

2011-12-05T12:18:00.001-06:00

Just over one year ago, us Cubs fans lost Ron Santo.

Today, Ronnie was voted into the baseball Hall of Fame - an honor he surely deserved and one that should've happened before he passed. They say it's better things happen late than never at all, but this here is still a damn shame.

There are two things Ron Santo never lived to see: the Hall of Fame and his beloved Cubs winning the World Series. I sure hope to heck I see both while still on God's green earth. Not much use for thing happening after you pass.

"Holiday Tree" Lighting Ceremony Planned at Wrigley. What in The Holy Heck is a Holiday Tree?

2011-12-02T11:34:00.001-06:00

The other day we received following email from your Chicago Cubs:

The Friendly Confines will add another iconic symbol this holiday season: A 30-foot decorated holiday tree will welcome visitors and ice skaters to Wrigley Field when The Rink at Wrigley opens. A Grand Opening celebration is planned in coordination with the lighting of the decorated holiday tree near the Wrigley Field Marquee on Saturday, December 3, at 5 p.m.

What in the name of baby Jesus is a "holiday tree"? Is this thing trimmed with holiday lights and holiday decorations with the hope that good old holiday nick will deliver some holiday presents?

I understand why most folks take the safe route this time of year; wishing each other a "happy holiday's".. lord knows you wouldn't want to offend anyone. And I am absolutely certain that is what the Cubs braintrust is trying to avoid here - poorly.

Oh, to have been in that room to hear them them spitball this idea:

"Ok boys, we've decided to scrap the Holiday Menorah idea and go with a tree, but we can't call it a Christmas tree. Who's got any ideas?

"How bout a Season's Greetings Spruce?"

"or ... a Festive Holiday Evergreen?"

"Why not call it a Well Lit Winter Tree?"

"or ... perhaps a Tall Non-Religious Shrub?"

"I got it... Decorated Holiday Tree! Brilliant!"

Now I'll be honest here, I don't exactly know why a decorated tree became the symbol for the birth of Jesus. But it did. And that symbol is known as a Christmas Tree. Now grow a pair of shiny oversized Christmas tree balls and call it what it is.

Cubs Sign Kim DeJesus' Husband To A 2-Year Deal

2011-11-30T21:15:00.000-06:00

photo via @KimDeJesus12 (hope that's ok, Kim)

Kim DeJesus' already lucky husband got a little more fortunate today when he signed a 2 year contract with the Chicago Cubs worth 10 million dollars.

Kim's spouse spent 8 seasons with the Kansas City Royals and one - last season - with the Oakland A's. He has a .284 career batting average; hitting a total of 207 doubles, 50 triples, 71 home runs and 436 RBI. He also has a .356 on-base percentage, and a smoking hot wife.

The Cubs will introduce Mrs. DeJesus' significant other at a press conference from Wrigley Field tomorrow at 11 am. No word as of yet if Kim, a lifelong Cubs fan from Wheaton, Illinos, will be in attendance. (Hope so)

Go Cubbies!

Lakeview Wal-Marts Opens Today

2011-11-30T11:09:00.001-06:00

The Wal-Marts on Broadway that we told you about opened for business this morning - just a stone's throw from our beloved Wrigley Field.

They call it a "Wal-Marts Express" which sounds an awful lot like a "Walgreens Regular" to me. And seeing as how there's one of them Walgreens right next door, I reckon you can go compare for yourself.

My employment challenged grandson Jeremy jokes around that I should go get a job as a greeter. It wouldn't kill the kid to follow his own advice.

Ice Rink to Return to Wrigley

2011-11-28T11:43:00.000-06:00

They were out there filling it with water this morning.

Historic Wrigley Field has hosted her fair share of non-baseball events over these years. Inside she's seen soccer and football, ice hockey and even golf. Outside, in the parking lots, they've held everything from street fairs to snowmobile jumping. And for the last three off-seasons they've done their best to turn the corner of Clark and Waveland into some sort of winter wonderland with a ice skating rink.

Now, you wouldn't catch me dead out there for fear of a broken hip, but this here "Rink at Wrigley" should be opening up this week. The Cubs had hoped to get her going on the 25th but of all things it's been too warm, if you'd believe that.

Go Cubs.

Catching Bartman

2011-11-22T11:51:00.001-06:00

Well sir, I broke down and watched that there ESPN movie about that damn walking curse, Steve Bartman. Now, I didn't want to because I figured it would be like watching old war footage and the nightmares would start up again, but I'd heard some of the boys down at the VFW talking about it, and they were sayin the whole thing was made to show that Bartman was a good guy and that the "Friendly Confines" weren't so friendly afterall. Well, that got my damn blood a boilin, so I grabbed a couple Schlitz and the remote and got ready to start my own one-man A'Hole chant right there in my livin room.

The movie started off talkin about ol' Bill Buckner, who if you remember right, was a pretty damn good player back in his days at Wrigley til he went off to Boston and forgot how to field a grounder Then came the talk of the 2003 season, and all these guys pourin salt on the wound of how good the Cubs were that season...and dammit the Cubs were good that year!! We had Prior and Wood, Gonzalez and Karros, probably our best team in a damn long time. Then came the buildup to that Game 6 debacle that will forever be burned into my head. 3-0, top of the 8th, 5 outs away from the Series and Luis Castillo hits a foul ball the other way near the left field wall. Alou's got a line on it, then...WTF?! Some greedy green-turtlenecked, 1987 Walkman-wearin bastard wantin a souvenir to show his mommy when he got home, knocked it away, along with the hopes and dreams of almost 100 years of Cubs fans.

I sat there watchin and takin a drink evertime they showed it. I took it all in until it showed where the computer boys worked their magic and took away all of the fans from the video. They could show that if no one had touched the ball, Alou would have caught it!!!...I couldn't take it any more so I grabbed my '84 Sandberg homerun ball and threw it through the TV. And just so everyone knows, I caught it that ball way up away from the field where there was no way I would have ruined the Cubs chances of a pennant. This Cub fan knows the rules of how not to screw your team and town...if only Bartman did too.

Johnny Davis

TheWrigleyBlog Dictionary: Sveum

2011-11-18T09:24:00.000-06:00

SVEUM
sveum (swaym) noun 1. The 52nd manager of the Chicago Cubs, Dale Sveum.

Rhymes with:
Acclaim
Ballgame
Exclaim
Fame

Unfortunately, it also rhymes with:
Ashame
Blame
Lame
Maim
Shame

Restored Ernie Banks Statue Looks Spiffy

2011-11-11T15:40:00.002-06:00

Ernie Banks' bronze statue returned to Wrigley Field today after a week of restoration, and boy does it look spiffy. Apparently the likeness of Mr. Cub was starting to turn green prematurely so they did what they had to do. For good measure they also brightened up the blue accents that were much more subtle when unveiled back in March of '08. That bright blue now matches Ronnie Santo over on Addison.

Let me tell ya, it's a real dandy!

Extreme Snowmobiling Coming To Wrigley Field

2011-11-02T10:52:00.002-05:00

Well I'll be...

Something called the "Red Bull Fuel and Fury" is heading to Wrigley Field this Saturday, November 5th, from 5-8pm. This looks to be some type of stunt show with snowmobiles set for the Clark Street parking lot.

What will they think of next?

It says here that eight of the world's top snowmobilers (how many can there possibly be) will "ascend into the night sky" next to historic Wrigley Field. This will supposedly place our beloved ballpark "into uncharted territory - the center of an extreme machine playground" (wowzers) and "if history is any indicator, the spectacle promises to be and outdoor laboratory for extreme innovation"

You know, I've come to notice that kids these days like to talk about extreme this and extreme that. Try living through a Chicago winter with not much more than a blanket or a Chicago summer without air conditioning. That there is extreme...

In case you were wondering, the event will include Winter X Games (never heard of it) gold medalist Daniel Bodin, plus Heath Frisby (frisby?) and Justin Hoyer, as well as all-stars (all-stars of what?) Cory Davis, Jimmy Fejas and Jeff Mullen. The competition will be scored by a "panel of five judges, all of whom are industry heavyweights" (impressive)

Gates at the corner of Clark and Addison will open at 5pm and the show will start at 6. Admission is free to the public and "for sure... will be insane!"

It's Official: Waters To Bring "The Wall" To Wrigley on June 8, 2012

2011-11-01T10:34:00.001-05:00

A press conference will be held later today to announce that Roger Waters of Pink Floyd will play Wrigley Field on June 8th 2012. Tickets will go on sale on November 14th.

Also announced: There are plans for an additional concert on June 9th (Grandpa's birthday) but "no additional details are available at this time". Not sure if that means Waters will perform "The Wall" twice or if there will be two different concerts.

Either way... Let the Pearl Jam rumors commence!

An obviously flustered Crane Kenney forgets to turn off his car lights

2011-10-27T11:42:00.001-05:00

No doubt frazzled by Theo Epstein recent hiring, Chicago Cubs President Crane Kenney accidentally left his car lights on this morning. Who could blame the guy for being a little preoccupied. Following the coronation of Epstein as President of Baseball Operations many have started to wonder what exactly Mr. Kenney's role with the team will be. While the Cubs new regime has yet to discuss Kenney's future, it is obvious that he is no longer Cubs owner Tom Ricketts right hand man. Also obvious is Crane's discombobulation by this weeks events.

Theo Epstein Definitely Maybe Seen Near Wrigley Field

2011-10-10T12:30:00.000-05:00

The Chicago Tribune reported yesterday that a Lakeview resident, and lifelong Cubs fan, was 99.9 percent sure he saw Theo Epstein at a Starbucks kinda near Wrigley Field.

Well, if it's in The Chicago Tribune. . . it has to be true.

I mean, It's THE Tribune. It's not like the report came from some blog where they do their "reporting" out of their basement while wearing underwear and eating lucky charms. No sir, this story has been corroborated by "one Lakeview resident in a purple T-shirt" according to Tribune reporter Paul Sullivan. And if Paul Sullivan wrote it - it's gotta be solid. Because Paul Sullivan is a real life reporter. I mean, obviously Mr. Sullivan went to an esteemed university where he earned his journalism degree - probably with honors. (Ok, we just looked it up... Paul Sullivan only has a B.A. in English from Mizzou... close enough) What we are trying to say is, it's not like it was written by some hacks who would rather photoshop a funny picture than actually make sure things are true.

We're certain it's true, and it can mean only on thing: Theo Epstein is going to be the next General Manager of the Chicago Cubs... as soon as the Cubs ship Starlin Castro to the Red Sox as compensation.

Purdy Photo of the Week XI

2011-10-04T11:54:00.001-05:00

I have titled this one: White Clouds White Flag

Sloop Purdy

Roger Waters wants to bring The Wall to Wrigley Field

2011-09-28T19:16:00.002-05:00

According to a story by Rolling Stone, Roger Waters will be taking his "The Wall" tour to baseball stadiums across America next summer. That tour, you'd think, would include Wrigley Field.

And that. would. be. Awesome!

In the article, the former Pink Floyd bassist said (in a British accent): "We've done light tests (in) Fenway Park and Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium just to see what the ambient light is like. And it's fine. It works. We've taken part of The Wall and the projectors into those three places."

Sounds like a done deal to us: The Wall at Wrigley Field - Summer 2012.

Sweeeet.

Closing Day 2011

2011-09-21T11:36:00.000-05:00

Well sir, it is that time of year again.

Time for one last home game before they kick us out and close the gates on 2011.

I guess you could say that this season has been over for quite some time. I don't believe the Cubs were ever more than a game over .500 - and that happened way back in April. Ridiculous.

Be sure to come back and check out this here blog from time to time. We will document any work they do on the old stadium, and me and the boys have plenty of photographs in and around the Friendly Confines. We will continue to share it all while we wait out another long Chicago winter and dream once again of Cubby success in 2012.

Wait Til Next Year.