A Fan's Guide to the Game

The Cubs are looking to make another run at the NL Central pennant. Strong pitching and some changes in the slugging lineup have got Chicago on their way to an exciting season. Any Cubs fan headed out for a game at the Friendly Confines should take a look at our "Fan's Guide to the Game" below.

Built in 1914 and home to the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field is the second oldest stadium in the Major Leagues. Fans get more than a great game when they visit Wrigley; they get a sense of baseball's history in a town that loves its team.

Tucked on the corner of Waveland Avenue and Addison Street lies a legendary mass of red-brick and ivy that's been home to great names like Ernie Banks, Fergie Jenkins, Ron Santo, Ryne Sandberg and the beloved Harry Caray. Wrigley Field is a friendly stadium in a wonderful city with great baseball fans. It's a place to enjoy baseball, win or lose, and a place you're bound to have fun at either way.

The signature feature of Wrigley Field has to be the red-brick and ivy outfield wall. There's been more than a few long-hit shots eaten up by the ivy in the park's history. In deep-center field, still standing above the bleachers, looms the giant, manually-operated scoreboard that was erected in 1937. Who knows, maybe you'll be attending the game that sees a home run hit long enough to reach the (as of yet) untouched barrier.

Whether you're in the outfield with the original "Bleacher Bums" enjoying the sun, tucked in close to the brick wall behind home plate, or enjoying the shade of the upper or lower level seats, you'll be surrounded by thousands of fans sharing the same intent to root on the Cubbies and enjoy a day at "the ol' ball game."

I highly recommend a "Windy-City Classic" from one of the vendors outside the stadium. The fresh chopped tomatoes and onions they serve on their hot dogs in "Chi-Town" changed the way I'll serve my own hot dogs for life.

I haven't made my way back to my fathers hometown of Chicago for a Cubs game since 1986, during the days of "The Penguin" Ron Cey, Keith "Zonk" Moreland and "Ryno" Ryne Sandberg, when you had the privilege of listening to Harry sing during the seventh inning stretch and Rick "The Red Baron" Sutclifffe was sending batters back to the dugout with haste. I didn't fully realize how great a lineup I was witnessing back then. I assumed watching a team like the Cubs in a park like Wrigley was how baseball was everywhere. I'm a lot older now and I've seen a few parks and countless Major League ball games, but not one has come close to the magical day I spent with my family at Wrigley Field in the summer of '86.

I envy the fan that gets to go to Wrigley this season. Could this be the year? Grab some friends, family or co-workers and get out to a game to celebrate baseball, as good as it gets!