To this point we’ve tried to use this space to offer personal reflections on upcoming major sporting events. We’re deviating this week based upon recent travels to Chicago (see my other blog here for about that) that took me to a recent Chicago Cubs–Cincinnati Reds game at Wrigley Field.
To the best of my recollection it’s been since the late 1980s since I attended a baseball game at Wrigley. To say it’s changed would be an understatement. While I’m uncertain if the lights were up when I was last there, I definitely remember it was a day game. So the fact I found myself on a crowded Red Line out of central Chicago during the late afternoon rush hour heading to a night game between the hometown Cubbies and my childhood favorite Reds felt odd.
I hadn’t been on a train to a MLB game since a visit several years ago to Nationals’ Park so that, in and of itself, was enjoyable to capture the vibe of the fellow passengers as the train grew more and more crowded en route.
As our group emerged from the Addison Street Station in the heart of Wrigleyville the excitement – as much as their can be for an insignificant regular-season midweek game between two teams heading nowhere – was palpable. Another addition since the last I’d attended a game here are the monetization of the rooftop seats along Sheffield and Waveland Avenues. I was suprised to see patrons of these seats had their bags checked and get wanded as part of a security check.
After a quick moment to pose for a photo with the Harry Caray statue across from Murphy’s Bleachers on the corner it was onward to the plaza out front of Wrigley on Clark Street. There we were greeeted by four statues of Cubs’ Baseball Hall of Famers (Ernie Banks, Fergie Jenkins, Ron Santo, and Billy Williams). Jenkins’ is the latest statue to go in, dedicated May 20th. There’s another pedestal awaiting the next Cub legend to get the bronze treatment. (My money’s on Sandberg.)
My earliest memories of entering Wrigley Field are from the early-to-mid 1970s when, as a young boy, I joined my father (and perhaps some family friends?) for a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. I recall sitting along the firstbase side and seeing Steve Garvey and his furry forearms. While I remember very little about the game or the other players who might’ve been on the field that day, I do remember that moment we emerged from the dark, dank ramp up into the seating area and seeing the green. The green grass, the ivy-covered outfield walls, and the green seats. To this smalltown kid who’d only ever seen dirt infields it was like Dorothy’s first glimpse of the Emerald City. I had every intention of capturing video of the trip up the ramp into Wrigley’s seating area, but, alas, I was the keeper of our digital tickets and my phone was needed. So you get that look in two segments.
Based upon the pricetag of our seats, I knew our friend Sara – a longtime Cubs’ fan – wasn’t fooling around. Seventh row behind the Chicago dugout. To quote legendary broadcaster Harry Caray, “Holy Cow!” The seats were good, the company great, and the Cubbies better still, winning 8-3. Catcher Willson Contreras went 3-for-4 with pair of doubles and a homer. The Reds’ struggling (and aging) star, Joey Votto, even had a pair of doubles.
The real star of the game, however, may have been the Wrigley Field Organist. I’ve no idea who was playing that night, but they were on top of it … all of it. When Reds’ designated hitter Brandon Drury strode to the plate, “The Muffin Man” played. After a terrific leaping grab by Cubs’ secondbaseman David Bote, Van Halen’s “Jump” played. And after Chicago centerfielder Christopher Morel fouled off a pitch that camed straight up into the area between his thighs (fellas, you get it), Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy” played. Who knows what we missed before we were really paying attention?
After a walkabout to get as close to the Wrigley Bleachers as possible (no dice, but I did score a sweet photo of a cople ivy leafs through a fence in rightfield), I was back in my seat in time for the seventh inning stretch and the singing of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Among the guest conductors during our game, which was Cubs’ Pride Night was the team’s part owner, Laura Ricketts, the first openly gay individual to have an ownership stake in a American major league franchise.
When Cubs’ reliever Matt Swarmer fanned Votto to end the game you would have thought the home team had just won Game 1 of the NL Divisional Series.
All in all, a good – dare I say, great – night. My first game under the lights at Wrigley Field was memorable because of the company, the excellent seats, the beautiful evening, and seeing the home team win. I hope it’s not my last.
