Cubs 24-25 July

We took a side trip to Wheaton while we were in Chicago to the First Division Museum. It is located in Cantigny park which was donated to the city by Col. Robert McCormick who was the editor of the Chicago Tribune and who fought in Europe during the First World War. This is one of the best military museums that I have visited. If you are in the area, it is definitely worth your time.
Visiting Wrigley field is like no other stadium that we have ever experienced. Most stadiums are set apart from the community and they are a entity unto themselves. Wrigley is different. Wrigleyville (as it is called) is a community that happens to contain a major league ball field. From the upscale John Barleycorn (note the "Se habla Beethoven")
To an authentic German pub serving beers from the old country and traditional German food (we ate lunch there before a game and it is worth the stop).

To a pub named after a player from the olden days.

This community is different. There are mascots out on the street before the game and parties everywhere. Unlike the White Sox Cellular Field which has a completely sterile atmosphere, Wrigley is alive. Go in any direction and a good time is available.
Of course, there is the game to attend. There is hardly a bad seat in Wrigley field. For a park of this age, it has been well preserved and the design was well ahead of its time. Although the Cubs have never won a world championship since moving to Wrigley, this is one club that can say maybe next year and actually have a chance.

Behind the left field bleachers is Waveland Avenue and the Fire House. This is where people have congregated for years to catch balls during batting practice and during games when they did not have tickets.
In front of the stadium there a several statues, and engraved into the sidewalk is the names of almost every famous Cub that you could think of. The first one that you come across is the announcer Harry Caray. This guy is still a legend here and every night during the Seventh Inning Stretch, his ghost is invoked to sing along in "Take me out to the Ballgame."
The next statue that you come across is that of Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks. His number has been retired and it now hangs with the numbers of three other retired Cubs at the top of the foul poles
Of course, if you can't get tickets and you are not satisfied to wait on Waveland Avenue, numerous home and apartment owners have figured out how to make better use of their property. Seats are available in these makeshift bleachers and the landlords run their own concession stands below.

One other thing to note is the shape of the outfield wall. There are notches along the foul lines that make this the deepest park in the majors down the lines.
During the first game that we attended, at the Seventh Inning Stretch, Styx was the guest performer for "Take me out to the ballgame."

The Cubs won the first game as shown on the old scoreboard. Don't let this picture or TV fool you, this is a small scoreboard and it is manually operated.
Here is another view of the notch down the line. This was formed when the center field fence was brought in to make room for more seating.
Sorry about the quality of this one but it is really back lit and it was the best that I could do. We attended the second game with Kates 2nd Cousin Madge and her husband Bobby. We had a great time hanging out with them. It is always nice to meet up with other people that know and respect the game.
The Cubs could not pull out two in a row, but Wrigley's certainly worth the visit--or should I say Wrigleyville was worth the visit.

When ranking ballparks, Wrigley is in that elite group with PNC Park and Turner Field, and of those, it is probably the best. So, thus far the rankings would go:

First Division:

• Wrigley
• PNC
• Turner

Second Division:

• Baltimore
• Cincinnati
• Toronto
• Philadelphia
• New York Yankees
• Cleveland
• Washinton
• Chicago White Sox
• Boston