Wrigley Field History | Baseball Almanac (original) (raw)
The Official History of Wrigley Field | Baseball Almanac
Charlie Weeghman built Weeghman Park for "his" Chicago Federals of the brand new Federal League. The Federal League went out of business after only two years, so Weeghman, William Wrigley, Jr., and nine others purchased the National League Chicago Cubs. The Cubs were then moved from West Side Grounds to Weeghman Park. Wrigley bought out the shares of the other original members and changed the name to Cubs Park in time for the 1920 Opening Day. In 1926, it was renamed to Wrigley Field in his honor. Research by Baseball Almanac.
Wrigley Field  Wrigley Field Aerial Photograph PostcardBaseball Almanac Research Library Major League Occupant(s) |
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| Wrigley Park Game Related Data | ||
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Weegham Park | |
| First Game | 04-23-1914 | |
| Last Game | 10-03-1915 | |
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First Game | 04-20-1916 |
| Last Game | 09-21-1919 | |
| Cubs Park | ||
| First Game | 04-22-1920 | |
| Last Game | 10-04-1925 | |
| Wrigley Field | ||
| First Game | 04-21-1926 | |
| Last Game | Current / Active | |
| Wrigley Field Game Related Data | ||
Wrigley Field  Ballpark Capacity & Seating Chart |
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| Wrigley Field Capacity | ||
| Capacity Changes(Yearly Attendance) | 1914 | 14,000 |
| 1915 | 18,000 | |
| 1923 | 20,000 | |
| 1927 | 38,396 | |
| 1928 | 40,000 | |
| 1938 | 38,396 | |
| 1939 | 38,000 | |
| 1941 | 38,396 | |
| 1949 | 38,690 | |
| 1951 | 36,755 | |
| 1965 | 36,644 | |
| 1972 | 37,702 | |
| 1982 | 37,272 | |
| 1986 | 38,040 | |
| 1987 | 38,143 | |
| 1989 | 39,600 | |
| 1990 | 38,710 | |
| 1994 | 38,765 | |
| 1997 | 38,884 | |
| 1998 | 38,902 | |
| Wrigley Field Capacity | ||
Wrigley Field  Ballpark Diagram & Dimensions |
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| Wrigley Field Dimensions | ||
| Backstop | 1914 | 62.42' |
| 1957 | 60?' | |
| 1982 | 62.42' | |
| 1986 | 60' | |
| Left Field | 04-1914 | 345' |
| 05-1914 | 310' | |
| 06-1914 | 327' | |
| 1921 | 343' | |
| 1925 | 348' | |
| 1928 | 364' | |
| 1938 | 355' | |
| Left Field Power Alley | 1914 | 364' |
| 1938 | 368' | |
| Center Field | 1914 | 440' |
| 1923 | 447' | |
| 1928 | 436' | |
| 1938 | 400' | |
| Right Field (Deep) | 1923 | 429' |
| 1937 | 407' | |
| 1976 | 385' | |
| Right Field Power Alley | 1914 | 364' |
| 1938 | 363' | |
| Right Field | 04-1914 | 356' |
| 06-1914 | 345' | |
| 1915 | 321' | |
| 1921 | 298' | |
| 1922 | 399' | |
| 1928 | 321' | |
| 1938 | 353' | |
| Wrigley Field Dimensions | ||
Wrigley Field Postcards  Wrigley Field PostcardBaseball Almanac Research Library  Wrigley Field PostcardBaseball Almanac Research Library  Wrigley Field PostcardBaseball Almanac Research Library |
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| Wrigley Field Miscellaneous Items of Interest | ||
| Owned By: | 1914 | Charlie Weeghman |
| 1916 | Chicago Cubs | |
| Field Surfaces | 1923 | Merion Bluegrass & Clover |
| First Night Game | Scheduled | 08-08-1988 |
| Played | 08-09-1988 | |
| wrigley Field Items of Interest | ||
| Wrigley Field History | Baseball Almanac |
The architect who designed Weeghman Park (which was its original name) was Zachary Taylor Davis and it was built for roughly $250,000. The legendary outfield ivy vines were purchased and planted by Bill Veeck in September 1937.
Not one batted ball has ever hit the centerfield scoreboard in Wrigley Field. In 1948, Bill Nicholson barely missed the scoreboard when he launched a home run ball onto Sheffield Avenue and in 1959 Roberto Clemente came even closer with a home run ball hit onto Waveland Avenue.
Did you know that Wrigley Field is the ONLY ballpark still in existence where a Federal League team played their games? From April 23, 1914, until October 3, 1915, Weegham Park (as Wrigley Field was once known) was the home of the Chicago Whales.