Friday Featured Fun Facts: Wrigley Field

Watching a baseball game at Wrigley Field should be on everyone’s 'Bucket List.'  With the exception of Fenway Park in Boston (built in 1912), Wrigley Field (built in 1914) is the only other true, original ‘ballpark’ still utilized in Major League Baseball.  While recently enjoying "The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field" (a phrase made popular by 'Mr. Cub' Ernie Banks) I took this photo of the outfield scoreboard at the end of the game.  Originally constructed in 1937, the scoreboard remains mostly as it was back then – with the exception of a few, minor additions.  The pitchers’ numbers and inning scores are still changed by hand – manually operated by someone working inside the scoreboard.  Atop the scoreboard, colored flags representing all the National League teams are lined up in their respective divisions – then flown in order of that day's current team standings.  At the end of a Cubs game, one "strand" of flags is replaced by a "W" or "L" flag. 

The white “W” flag indicates a Cubs “Win.”  When the Cubs lose, an “L” flag is flown instead.  (And, if you are at all familiar with my 'Loveable Losers' the Cubs, you can imagine how many "L" flags have been flown in the past.)  The tradition of flying a “W” or “L” flag started soon after the scoreboard was constructed in 1937.  Since Wrigley Field is situated in a heavily populated residential neighborhood, flying the “W” or “L” flag allowed residents in the neighborhood to look up from the street, or while riding the train, to confirm the outcome of that day’s game.  That tradition still lives on today.  In fact, a Cubs game at Wrigley Field is filled with so many fun and wonderfully unique traditions and characteristics – you just have to go and experience them for yourself.  Ahhh ... you can't beat fun at the old ballpark!