Football Frenzy

Football Frenzy
Extensive Coverage

°

Homepage / Houston Sports
Text Size

Wrigley Field May End Up Changing Names

CEO Of Tribune Company Says Name May Go

POSTED: Wednesday, February 27, 2008
UPDATED: 10:55 am CST February 28, 2008

The chief executive officer of the Tribune Company said he may sell the naming right to Wrigley Field and would not hesitate to do so.

It is an idea that Cubs fans and baseball purists would not like at all.

Despite the fact that Wrigley Field is known worldwide, Sam Zell said during an interview on CNBC that he didn't get a discount because he wasn't going to use the naming rights that the field represents.

Zell said he plans to sell the Cubs and Wrigley separately, and the sale of the team has been delayed by Zell's plan to sell the stadium separately.

"Four or six" potential ownership groups have also been approved by Major League Baseball, he said.

Located on the north side of Chicago in the Lakeview neighborhood, Wrigley Field has been a landmark of the city since it was built in 1914, and has undergone few changes since. Originally called Weeghman Park, it was renamed Cubs Park in 1920 and then Wrigley Field in 1926.

Some of baseball’s most classic and memorable moments have taken place at Wrigley Field.

In 1917, there was the pitching duel between Jim "Hippo" Vaughn and Fred Toney, when both men threw no-hitters for nine innings, the only time in MLB history such a feat has taken place. The Cincinnati Reds won, 1-0, in the 10th with two hits off Vaughn, while Toney finished with a no-hitter.

But no Wrigley Field event is probably more famous than Babe Ruth’s "called shot" during the 1932 World Series, when Ruth gestured toward the outfield stands right before be blasted a homerun off of Cubs pitcher Charlie Root. There has been much controversy over whether Ruth was actually calling his shot with the gesture, but the legendary event will live on as long as baseball itself.

But one legendary event that has never taken place at Wrigley Field is a World Series victory, because the Cubs have never won a title there. The Cubs have been to the series six times since Wrigley Field was built, but have lost all six times. The Cubs' last World Series victory was in 1908, six years before the stadium was built.

This might have something to do with the famous "Curse of the Billy Goat," which dates back to the 1945 World Series when Billy Sianis, owner of the nearby Billy Goat Tavern, was ejected from Wrigley Field along with his pet goat. As the legend goes, Sianis placed a curse on the team, saying they would never win another World Series.

The legend of the curse of the Billy Goat resurfaced in the 2003 National League Championship Series, when in game 6 of the series, fan Steve Bartman touched a foul ball that prevented the second out of the eighth inning. The Marlins went on to rally and win the game and force a game 7 on their way to becoming the World Series champions. Bartman, a Cubs fan, had to be escorted from the stadium by security as fans booed him and threw beer on him.

In 1937 a scoreboard was added that was manually operated, and still is to this day.

The custom of allowing fans to keep foul balls hit into the stands started at Wrigley Field, as did the custom of throwing back home runs hit by opposing players.

"Take Me Out To the Ballgame" was sung at Wrigley thousands of times by legendary announcer Harry Caray until his death in 1998, and countless celebrities like Mike Ditka, Jesse Ventura, Ozzy Osbourne and Mel Gibson since.

Wrigley Field is located in a residential neighborhood with few parking ramps, and as a result fans have been able to watch the game from the windows, porches and rooftops of the houses and apartment complexes that surround the park.

Many movies have also been filmed at Wrigley Field, like "A League of Their Own," "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off," "Rookie of the Year" and "The Break-Up."

The 1980 comedy "The Blues Brothers" highlighted landmarks all around the city.

In the film, Elwood Blues, played by Dan Aykroyd, falsified the address on his driver’s license, putting down 1060 W. Addison, the address of Wrigley Field. Later, a group of Illinois Nazis looking for the Blues Brothers show up at Wrigley Field, thinking it is their address.

The views expressed are not those of Click2Houston.com, KPRC or its affiliated companies. This is a community moderated forum. (Please note the 'Like' and 'Report' tabs.) By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms of Use.

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus

Sponsored Links

Links We Like

Sponsored Content
Don’t ruin your chances of landing that new job by making easy to correct mistakes on your cover letter. More

Before you hire a professional inspector learn to do your own pre-inspection to spot potential problems. More

People with type 2 diabetes can still enjoy restaurant meals with some planning and ahead-of-time menu sleuthing. More

Ever wonder which cars people are buying the most? Find out here as we count down America’s top 20 sellers. More

Most Popular

  • StoriesClick to Expand

    • Child Crash Victim Laid To Rest

      Makaylin AngelMakaylin Angel,6,was laid to rest after being killed on Monday by a suspected drunk driver.

    • La. Gov. Declares State Of Emergency Ahead Of Ida

      Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency Sunday as the Gulf Coast braced for the arrival of Hurricane Ida, which was making its way across the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 2 storm.

    • Big Question Mark: Fate Of Health Care In Senate

      The glow from a health care triumph faded quickly for President Barack Obama on Sunday as Democrats realized the bill they fought so hard to pass in the House has nowhere to go in the Senate.

    • Muslim Leader Had Troubling Talks With Suspect

      An Army psychiatrist who authorities say went on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood was so conflicted over what to tell fellow soldiers about fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan that a local Islamic leader was deeply troubled by it, the leader said Saturday.

    • Deputies Arrest 2 Teens In Slaying

      Harris County homicide investigators said they have made two arrests after an 18-year-old woman was found dead Friday morning.

  • VideosClick to Expand

  • SlideshowsClick to Expand

    • Slideshow 2: Viewers At Airshow

      Wings Over Houston AirshowThe Wings Over Houston Airshow was held at Ellington Field on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2009. More than 80,000 people attended. Check out some of the viewers who visited the KPRC booth.

    • Tragedy At Fort Hood

      A soldier opened fire at a U.S. Army base in Fort Hood, Texas, on Thursday, unleashing a stream of gunfire that left 13 people dead and 31 wounded.

    • Slideshow: Viewers' Hot Shot Pictures 2009 Part 2

      butterfly hotshotViewers send their favorite pictures to KPRC Local 2 meteorologists to feature on air. Send your submission to hotshots@click2houston.com and watch Local 2 to see if it's picked.

    • Slideshow: Viewers At Airshow

      Wings Over HoustonThe Wings Over Houston Airshow was held at Ellington Field last weekend. More than 80,000 people attended. Check out the viewers who visited the KPRC Local 2 booth.