Restoring Wrigley Field

They say that baseball is as American as apple pie. The game of baseball conjures up images of some of the great men of sports – Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax and countless others. The ballparks where baseball is played have a historical aspect of their own. Wrigley Field in Chicago is one of these parks.

Wrigley Field was built in 1914 and is the oldest baseball park in the country, only second to Fenway Park in Boston. Then it was known as Weeghman Park and was home to the Chicago Whales, a Federal League baseball team. The Chicago Cubs began playing there in 1916. The Chicago Bears called Wrigley Field home from 1921 to 1970. It was the first park with a permanent food concession stand. It bears the name of chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr.

Restoration required at Wrigley Field
Over the years, Wrigley Field has been the site of many baseball games, not to mention other events. These events have taken a toll on the famed park and its field is suffering from wear and tear. To help keep Wrigley Field in operation, and to keep a long-standing Chicago tradition going, the services of Roger Bossard, the so-called Sodfather, were required.

Read More about Wrigley Field’s Restoration
For baseball park history buffs, or for fans of the game, an interesting article about the Wrigley Field restoration project can be found at the Smithsonian Magazine. To read it, log on to http://www.smithsonianmag.com/.

National Archives, Cleopatra, Quincy Jones, Wrigley Field, Diane Arbus, the Phantom of the Opera

The Repair of Wrigley Field

One of the best known ballparks is Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field has had a proud and long history being the second oldest ballpark in America (the oldest ballpark is Fenway in Boston). Throughout the almost 100 years that this park has been around, it has served as being one of the best places to play ball, enjoy a concert or other event. Unfortunately, over the past few years, the field at Wrigley grew into disrepair and required a complete and utter renovation.

Wrigley Field had plenty of firsts and after almost 100 years of being a landmark in Chicago, the field went through a complete renovation. The park is known as being the first to offer permanent concession stand and the first to allow fans to keep foul balls hit into the stands- two parts of the game that are not only enjoyable, but long lasting traditions. Besides being first at many aspects of baseball, it was also the last too. In this case, Wrigley Field was last at putting up night lights to offer night baseball games- in 1988.

To read more about Wrigley Field and the complete restoration process that recently took place, please visit the Smithsonian Magazine. You can read the article at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Daredevil, Cheetah Facts, Tattoo Art, Cleopatra, Wrigley Field, Benjamin Franklin

Wrigley Field: One of the Oldest Ballparks

If you love baseball, you probably have a soft spot for one of the oldest and most storied parks in the world- Wrigley Field. Located in Chicago, Illinois, Wrigley Field is the second oldest ballpark in America, the only older one is Fenway Park in Boston. However, Wrigley Field offers some of the firsts and some of the lasts in the country. Here are just some of the interesting facts about this great ballpark.

Wrigley Field was built in 1914 and a few years later was bought by William Wrigley of the gum fame. Throughout its history, Wrigley Field was one of the best parks to see a ballgame. Some of the firsts of this park included, the first park to allow fans to keep foul balls hit into the stands and the first to offer a permanent concession stand. It should also be known that Wrigley Field was the last ballpark to install lights for night games in 1988.

Recently Wrigley Field has undergone a major renovation after years of disrepair. Once one of the worst ballparks to play on, today it is a shining achievement once again refurbished for the many years to come. For those interested in Wrigley Field, the Smithsonian Magazine offers an interesting article on the subject. You can read it at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Black Holes, Cleopatra, Forbidden City, Benjamin Franklin, Wrigley Field, Tattoo Art

The Restoration Project of Wrigley Field

For those that love the game of baseball, one of the most fun and exciting things to do is visit the great ballparks where the game is played. There are dozens of great ballparks in America, however only a very select few have rich histories that make them wonderful landmarks for fans of all teams to visit- Wrigley Field in Chicago is one such ballpark.

Wrigley Field, the second oldest ballpark in America (Fenway in Boston is the oldest ballpark). Wrigley Field was built in 1914 and then sold to William Wrigley of the Wrigley chewing gum fame which went on to make this ballpark into a first rate landmark. Among other things, Wrigley Field was the first with a permanent food concession stand (think of a ballgame without a hotdog) and the first to allow the fans to keep foul balls.

Wrigley Field Requires a Restoration
Throughout the years, this great ballpark has seen hundreds of ballgames played here, concerts and other events that have impacted the field negatively. As the field deteriorated to the point of disrepair, it was evident that a major restoration was needed and who better to handle the job than Roger Bossard- the Sodfather.

Read More About the Restoration of Wrigley Field
For those curious about this great ballpark and its restoration, the Smithsonian Magazine offers an interesting article on the subject. To read it, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Forbidden City, Black Holes, Wrigley Field, Cleopatra, Tattoo Art, Benjamin Franklin, Daredevil, Parthenon

Wrigley Field: Reconstruction of a Beloved Ballpark

Wrigley Field is a legendary ballpark located in Chicago and the infamous home to the Chicago Cubs. Built in 1914, Wrigley Field is one of the most beloved parks in the nation and the second oldest standing- Fenway Park in Boston is older. While infamously known for being home to the Cubs, Wrigley Field was also home to the Chicago bears for close to 50 years (1921-1970 and originally the home of the Chicago Whales, the original baseball team that was part of the Chicago Federal League).

Wrigley Field being one of the most well known baseball landmarks in the country has had a storied history that any baseball enthusiast would be proud of. Built in 1914 as Weeghman Park and then renamed Cubs Park for 6 years, since 1926 it has been called Wrigley Field- named after the owner and chewing gum titan William Wrigley, Jr.

Wrigley Field has had quite a few infamous firsts as well as lasts. For instance, it was the first ballpark to have a permanent concession stand. It would seem inconceivable today, to have a ballpark without a hotdog stand on park grounds. In addition, Wrigley Field was the first park to allow foul balls that landed in the seats to be kept by the fans. The normal etiquette of the day was to throw the foul ball back onto the field. As far as lasts go, Wrigley Field was the last ball park to have stadium lighting. While originally slated for having lights in 1941, after Pearl Harbor, Phillip K. Wrigley instead donated the materials for the lights to the war effort. Night games would not take place until 1988- the last of all the ballparks.

The Renovation of Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field, while known throughout the world as one of the most famous ballparks was recently at the point of disrepair. Continually believed to be one of the worst fields to play on due to damage from ball games, stadium events and concerts, Wrigley Field was in desperate need of a full restoration. This restoration took place from 2007-2008 by one of the best in the business- the Sod Father Roger Bossard. An incredible under taking not only in the scope and magnitude of what needed repair, but the technology installed to ensure the field lasts for the many years to come, the restoration of this great field was quite an important achievement and is now an important part of this park’s history.

To learn more about the restoration of Wrigley Field, the Smithsonian Magazine has an excellent article on the subject. Please visit our main website to read it at: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Benjamin Franklin, Wrigley Field, Black Holes, Diane Arbus

Wrigley Field and Its Renovation

Wrigley Field is one of the best known and most beloved ballpark in America. American’s love affair with the game of baseball seems as strong as ever and baseball parks have become tourist destinations and landmarks in many cities. One of the ballparks that have an incredible legacy is Wrigley Field in Chicago. Wrigley Field is one of the oldest (second only to Fenway Park in Boston) and while it has earned many accolades, it was almost in disrepair and beyond renovation. However, with the help of Roger Bossard (A.K.A. The Sodfather), Wrigley Field now offers one of the best fields around.

Wrigley Field, built in 1914 for about 250K in today’s dollars continues to be one of the premier parks to watch a game at. This field has a tremendous amount of history. A few facts about this park are that it was the first to offer a permanent refreshment stand and it was the first park to allow the fans to keep foul balls- two things that still make going to the park to watch a game well worth the experience.

Unfortunately, the field was severely damaged after hundreds of games, concerts and other events and almost at the point of complete disrepair it was given an extension for the many years to come with a complete restoration. With the help of Roger Bossard- the Sodfather, this park is once again a shining achievement. To read more about Wrigley Field and the remarkable renovation, pleas visit Smithsonian Magazine at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Parthenon, Daredevil, Black Holes, Benjamin Franklin, Glacier National Park, Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field: The Restoration Process

If you are a baseball fan, you probably not only know most of the players, but are quite familiar with this nations most prestigious and historical ball parks. One of the top ballparks that many baseball fans visit each year is Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field has tons of history and while being the second oldest ball park (Fenway in Boston is the oldest) it continues to hold on to many of the earliest baseball traditions.

Wrigley Field was built in 1914 at a cost of an incredible 250K in today’s dollars. Although the man believed to be the founder -William Wrigley wasn’t always the owner of the park; in 1924, ten years after its construction, William Wrigley, Jr. (famous for chewing gum) bought the team and the field. It should also be noted that this ballpark did have quite a few firsts including the first permanent concession stand and the first ballpark to allow fans to keep foul balls.

Today, Wrigley Field is undergoing a much needed restoration. In fact, the field was in complete disrepair after hosting numerous ball games, concerts and other events. The recent restoration was actually a complete overhaul conducted by the sodfather Roger Bossard. To read more about this historic ballpark along with how the restoration of Wrigley Field took place, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Benjamin Franklin, Cheetah Facts, Tattoo Art, Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field: The Renovation of a Great Ballpark

For baseball lovers, there are a few ballparks left that continue to inspire. Many can say these parks include Fenway in Boston (which happens to be the oldest ballpark left standing), Yankee Stadium (the house that Ruth built- now moving to the lot next door) and Wrigley Field- the home of the Chicago Cubs. Wrigley Field being one of the last great ballparks and also the second oldest has had a wonderful history; however recently, this park was almost past disrepair.

The Wrigley Name
Wrigley Field was built in 1914. In those days, baseball was a past time, but without all the pomp and circumstance that today’s sports receive. The field itself cost about $250,000 in today’s dollars, which is about the price that a high school baseball field costs. Originally, Wrigley Field along with the team was owned by 10 shareholders, however, ten years later in 1926, the ballpark and the team was sold to William Wrigley Jr. of the chewing gum fame and aptly renamed to Wrigley Field- the rest is history.

Fun Facts About Wrigley Field
Enjoying a game at Wrigley Field was and is today legendary. One fun fact about Wrigley Field is that this field was the first to allow fans to keep a foul ball knocked into the stands. This act of generosity immediately became part of the baseball experience in all stadiums and of course still continues today. It was also the first to have a permanent concession stand (can you imagine baseball without hot dogs, peanuts and popcorn).

The Sodfather
Unfortunately, over the decades Wrigley Field itself became damaged almost to the point of disrepair. After countless games, concerts and other events, the field needed a world class replacement- enter the Sodfather Roger Bossard.

Read About the Restoration Process
Roger Bossard was asked to come on board and completely restore Wrigley Field. Beyond the typical field maintenance, the construction, planning and engineering that went on is not only extremely complicated, but fascinating as well. For those interested in how a world class ballpark undergoes a complete restoration Smithsonian Magazine offers an intriguing article. To read this article, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Cheetah facts, Quincy Jones, Wrigley Field, Black Holes

Wrigley Field: The Renovation

If you grew up being a baseball fan, you probably know all of the historical ballparks still standing. Many baseball fans make trips each and every year visiting the most unique and interesting ballparks- usually visiting Fenway Park in Boston, Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and Wrigley Field in Chicago. For these parks renovation and reconstruction is part of the process of keeping them maintained and in the public spotlight.

Wrigley Field, one of America’s oldest ball park (second only to Fenway) has gone through its ups and downs. Unfortunately, over the past few years, this park was severely deteriorating from years of ball games, concerts and other events that practically destroyed the field. However, with Wrigley Field in almost complete disrepair, it was up to the man known as the Sodfather to once again reclaim this field’s glory.

Roger Bossards has given his time and expertise to meticulously restoring this great field. Smithsonian Magazine was on site to record this historic event. If you were ever interested in knowing just what goes into a world class field restoration, now is your opportunity to experience the process at Wrigley Field. You can read the Smithsonian Magazine article at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Quincy Jones, Wrigley Field, Cleopatra, Glacier National Park, Phantom of the

The Restoration of Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field is a historic baseball landmark and beloved by many throughout America. Wrigley field, the second oldest field (Fenway Park in Boston is the oldest) has seen more games played than any other field in America. For those that love the game of baseball and enjoy reading about the nuances of each ballpark, Smithsonian Magazine offers an interesting article regarding its recent restoration.

For many years, Wrigley Field was neglected and needed an overhaul. With so many games being played, concerts taking place and other events, the field itself was in disrepair. Wrigley Field needed a complete overhaul and who best to tackle the job than Roger Bossards (AKA the Sodfather).

Roger Bossards has meticulously restored this great field and Smithsonian Magazine was there to record this historic event. Find out just what is necessary to remove an entire field and start from scratch. It should also be noted that many new technological innovations were used to ensure that the field stay in excellent condition for the many years to come. For baseball fans around the world interested in seeing how a world class field Wrigley Field
is fully restored, please visit our main website to read this interesting article at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Quincy Jones, Wrigley Field, Glacier National Park, Phantom of the Opera

The Reconstruction of Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field is known as one of Americas Greatest ball parks. With a history that goes back to the beginning of the 1900’s and being the second oldest (Fenway in Boston being the oldest in America), Wrigley Field has held a special place in all baseball fan’s hearts. While this field has always bucked the trends (finally installing lighting for night games in 1988), its field has seen years of neglect and heavy use. Fortunately, Wrigley Field is now getting a well deserved restoration and Smithsonian Magazine was there to document this important makeover.

Wrigley Field after years of neglect, games and concerts is finally getting a full restoration by the best in the business- third generation grounds keeper Roger Bossards (AKA the Sodfather). Go inside this incredible restoration process to see exactly how a world class ball park is restored. Besides just the turf being replaced, a new designed drainage system has also been put in place.

Smithsonian Magazine offers this insightful article about Wrigley Field for sports fans around the world. For those that love the game and this historic field, this article shouldn’t be missed. You can read it today by visiting Smithsonian Magazine’s website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Quincy Jones, Glacier National Park, Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field: A Rich Tradition in Baseball

Wrigley Field is a Chicago --and an American-- landmark. Constructed in 1914 for what would today be considered a “measly” $250,000, the field is one of the oldest ballparks in baseball history.  And, funnily enough, it wasn’t always called Wrigley Field.  When the ballpark was built, it was owned by ten shareholders, who also owned the team… and it stayed that way for about ten years.  Then, in 1926, the ballpark was sold to the owner of Wrigley’s Chewing Gum, William Wrigley Jr., and renamed Wrigley field.

In addition to being one of the first ballparks named for a business (though that’s the norm now, of course-- think Staples Center and Philips Arena), Wrigley Field had a lot of “firsts” in the sports industry. Wrigley Field was the first field to give fans official permission to keep the foul ball that players hit into the audience… an experience that would soon become a baseball classic.  It was also the first ballpark to build a permanent concession stand.

Wrigley Field has played host to more ball games than any other field in baseball history. And everything about Wrigley Field celebrates the classic baseball experience; it’s one of the most traditional venues in baseball.  Most of the stadium is free from the flashing, buy-buy-buy advertisements that plague other ballparks.  The stands and the scoreboard hail from 1937, and are operated manually to this very day.  And until recently, the park maintained exactly the same landscaping built in the 1930’s by Bill Veek, who was also responsible for building the scoreboard and bleachers at Wrigley Field.

However, damages to Wrigley Field over the last decades have forced the managers of the ballpark to make some changes.  They recently renovated the whole field, and while it still looks like the Wrigley Field we all know and love on top, many things have changed underneath.  The new grounds designer, ballpark genius Roger Bossard, renovated everything from the turf to the drainage to the dugouts. 

Wrigley Field is a baseball history landmark, and deserves to be cared for and preserved. After all, a lot of the most historic moments in baseball history have taken place there… making Wrigley Field a sort of temple to the sport.  Babe Ruth’s famous “called shot” of the 1932 World Series took place at the park, as did Ernie Banks’s 500th homerun in 1970, and, more recently, Sammy Sosa’s most famous homeruns in the late 1990’s and in the year 2001.

To learn more about Wrigley Field, including Roger Bossard’s incredible renovations, visit the Smithsonian Magazine website at the following link:  http://www.smithsonianmag.com

Cheetah facts, Quincy Jones, Wrigley Field, Black Holes

The Renovation of Wrigley Field

Baseball, our national pastime is filled with great legends of the game, a long history of tough teams and the great ballparks that showcased our love of the game. One ballpark that will always be held in high regard is Wrigley Field. The second oldest field, only to Fenway Park in Boston, Wrigley Field has housed the cubs for almost a century. While this field has seen many of the greats play, the field itself was forced to undergo a renovation recently.

After years of playing ball, hosting events and concerts, the field must undergo a comprehensive renovation. So what kind of renovation is required for this world class ballpark. Well, first off, the field itself must be evened out and the crown must be eliminated. The crown, a prevalent feature at Wrigley Field makes it seem as if the players appeared to float a few inches off the ground. Using bulldozers and backhoes, these features were fixed. In order to fix the crown, It entailed removing 9,000 tons of dirt from the field.

Next the turf at Wrigley Field was replaced, however not before a state of the art drainage system was put in place. This included gravel and a well engineered plan of pipes underneath the dirt. To learn more about the fascinating process of renovating Wrigley Field, please visit Smithsonian Magazine today at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Cleopatra, Parthenon, Wrigley Field, Daredevil, Black Holes

The Renovation of Wrigley Field

Baseball, our national pastime is filled with great legends of the game, a long history of tough teams and the great ballparks that showcased our love of the game.  One ballpark that will always be held in high regard is Wrigley Field.  The second oldest field, only to Fenway Park in Boston, Wrigley Field has housed the cubs for almost a century.  While this field has seen many of the greats play, the field itself was forced to undergo a renovation recently.

After years of playing ball, hosting events and concerts, the field must undergo a comprehensive renovation.  So what kind of renovation is required for this world class ballpark.  Well, first off, the field itself must be evened out and the crown must be eliminated.  The crown, a prevalent feature at Wrigley Field makes it seem as if the players appeared to float a few inches off the ground.  Using bulldozers and backhoes, these features were fixed.  In order to fix the crown, It entailed removing 9,000 tons of dirt from the field.

Next the turf at Wrigley Field was replaced, however not before a state of the art drainage system was put in place.  This included gravel and a well engineered plan of pipes underneath the dirt.  To learn more about the fascinating process of renovating Wrigley Field, please visit Smithsonian Magazine today at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com

Cleopatra, Parthenon, Wrigley Field, Daredevil, Black Holes

Wrigley's New Field

For baseball enthusiasts, the team itself is not the only thing that fans are interested in experiencing- it’s the baseball park that has a strong allure as well. One of America’s most oldest and appreciated baseball parks is Wrigley Field. Second to only Fenway Park in age, Wrigley Field
has an incredible history that all baseball enthusiasts find interesting and are passionate about.

Wrigley Field has been home to the Cubs since 1916. Its name comes from William Wrigley Jr, not only the baseball maven, but also of Wrigley gum fame. While the field has gone through many innovations over the last few decades including adding lights to play night games in 1988, this year the innovation has been a new field. After years of using a field that has been deteriorated by concerts, games and other events, Wrigley Field will undergo new turf.

You might think that all fields are created equal, but with competition so fierce and the cost of winning extremely high, new turf at Wrigley Field
might just be what the Cubs needs to put new mojo into their life. A new field can have substantial benefits to the team and Smithsonian Magazine has an extremely interesting article that every baseball enthusiast is sure to enjoy.

For more information regarding Wrigley Field
and its addition of a new field, please visit the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Daredevil, Black Holes, Cleopatra, Wrigley Field, Evel Knievel

Wrigley Field: The Pride of Chicago

Chicago’s Wrigley Field is synonymous with baseball history. For many that love the game, Wrigley Field is a ball park that should not be overlooked. Wrigley field, constructed in 1916 when baseball was solidifying itself as the national past time was built by William Wrigley- of the Wrigley chewing gum fame. This park is the second oldest- Fenway Park in Boston holds the title as the oldest ball park in the nation.

Today, Wrigley Field is still one of the best places to play and watch the game of baseball. Home to the Chicago Cubs since the beginning, the field has gone through many innovations recently. One has been adding lights for night games (1988), another change has been the recent renovation of an entirely new field (2007-2008) to fix damage to the field from concerts and shows held on the grounds.

You might be asking yourself what kind of planning and workmanship goes into reviving this treasured ballpark? Well, Smithsonian Magazine was also interested in Wrigley Field's incredible renovation as well. For baseball enthusiasts, there is a ton of information, pictures and insight that is offered on our main website.

For baseball historians and enthusiasts around the US and the world, Wrigley Field has always been one of few great parks. If you are interested in seeing the field’s renovations and learning incredible facts about this park, view our article at Smithsonian’s Magazine site: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

forbidden city, Wrigley Field, Cleopatra

Renovating Wrigley Field

Chicago’s Wrigley Field is the second oldest ballpark in major league baseball. Named from the founder of --what else?-- Wrigley’s Chewing Gum, Wrigley Field has housed the Chicago Cubs since 1916. During almost 100 years, Wrigley Field has been one of thee best places in America to watch and play baseball. That is, until a few years ago… when one of America’s most famous ballparks began to struggle.

During recent years, Wrigley Field has been used for loud and rowdy concerts which have damaged the entire field. In addition, the summer of 2007 brought with it a fungus that proved disastrous for the turf. This, combined with the field’s old, ineffective drainage system, turned Wrigley Field into a less than perfect place to play a game of baseball. The uneven surface caused weird hops in the ball, and a pronounced hump in the field made it appear that the outfielders were floating above the field-- a decidedly strange sight.

But one of the oldest, most prestigious ballparks in the world can’t go on uncared-for and practically unusable. To solve Wrigley Field’s problems and return it to its former glory, the ballpark had to turn to the competition. Roger Bossard is one of the best groundskeepers in the world-- but he also works for the Cubs’ rivals, the Chicago White Sox. Still, passion for your work is passion for your work, and Bossard agreed to come across town to renovate Wrigley Field.

But… how did Bossard do it? The first order of business, of course, was to even out the surface of the field and eliminate the “crown” that made players appear to float a few strange inches off of the ground. With bulldozer and backhoes at work, Bossard cleared 9,000 tons of dirt from the field.

Next, of course, was turf-- good turf is one of the most important elements of a ballparlk, and Wrigley’s turf has been decimated by fungus. And while Bossard starting off with some great new sod for Wrigley Field was an important step, it might not have been his most important. The last key step was installing a state of the art drainage system. Bossard’s drainage system used pipes nestled in the gravel underneath the turf. Any water coming down on Wrigley Field will be swept directly into Chicago’s sewer system, keeping the field dry and keeping playing going,

The renovations of Wrigley Field were complete in November, and one of America’s most famous ballparks is again one of her best. Want to read more about Wrigley Field and how “the Sodfather” Roger Bossard transformed it into an incredible place to play baseball? Visit the Smithsonian Magazine website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/