It's time to get rid of Wrigley

[Doomsday101]

Babe Ruth and Peter Gammons share little in common beyond baseball and beginning their careers in Boston but, 79 years apart, the two came up with the same description of Wrigley Field: "A dump."

Ruth made his observation during the 1932 World Series, when the New York Yankees played at Wrigley for the first time. Gammons spoke last week in his role as an analyst for MLB Network.

As the Yankees prepare for an interleague series with the Cubs at Wrigley Field this weekend, a fan can ask if, from very different perspectives and very different eras, Ruth and Gammons were both right.

Maybe dump is a tad harsh, but the 97-year-old ballpark has seen better days --and decades.

As Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Morrissey noted this week, "There's still rust, the concourses still resemble dark alleys and people still have to elbow their way to their seats. ... It's a great park when you look at the field from your seat. It's not so great on the way to and from your seat."

Yes, it's time.



Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...schild/06/14/wrigley/index.html#ixzz1PYPlhpjw

 

[Yeagermeister]

Babe Ruth and Peter Gammons share little in common beyond baseball and beginning their careers in Boston but, 79 years apart, the two came up with the same description of Wrigley Field: "A dump."

Ruth made his observation during the 1932 World Series, when the New York Yankees played at Wrigley for the first time. Gammons spoke last week in his role as an analyst for MLB Network.

As the Yankees prepare for an interleague series with the Cubs at Wrigley Field this weekend, a fan can ask if, from very different perspectives and very different eras, Ruth and Gammons were both right.

Maybe dump is a tad harsh, but the 97-year-old ballpark has seen better days --and decades.

As Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Morrissey noted this week, "There's still rust, the concourses still resemble dark alleys and people still have to elbow their way to their seats. ... It's a great park when you look at the field from your seat. It's not so great on the way to and from your seat."

Yes, it's time.



Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...schild/06/14/wrigley/index.html#ixzz1PYPlhpjw

Sounds like Texas Stadium in it's later years

 

[Doomsday101]

Sounds like Texas Stadium in it's later years

There is a part of me that would hate to see Wrigley torn down, when you think about the history dating back to Ruth. I just hope what ever they do it is with their own fans in mind

 

[YosemiteSam]

Sounds like Texas Stadium in it's later years

Texas Stadium was nice compared to Wrigley. (visited for the first time this season) I will say that even as crusty as it is, it is a great experience. I would hate to see it go too, but there is no question it is a dump. Even worse than old Yankee stadium and that place was an absolute dump also.

 

[Stautner]

As hard as it is to think of another part of baseballs history being torn down, every structure runs its course. I would like to think they would build a new park to resemble the old one in a lot of ways. Keep the brick wall with the ivy covering - that's key to Wrigley.

 

[Doomsday101]

As hard as it is to think of another part of baseballs history being torn down, every structure runs its course. I would like to think they would build a new park to resemble the old one in a lot of ways. Keep the brick wall with the ivy covering - that's key to Wrigley.

That is pretty much my feeling as well.

 

[YosemiteSam]

As hard as it is to think of another part of baseballs history being torn down, every structure runs its course. I would like to think they would build a new park to resemble the old one in a lot of ways. Keep the brick wall with the ivy covering - that's key to Wrigley.

That is what they did with Yankee stadium and IMO it was a fail. The new Yankee Stadium deserves better than ugly cinder block walls. What I find really ignorant is the fact that it has beautiful marble in the outer halls only to turn to that ugly dull cinder block once you get in the seating area.

The past is nice, but don't live there forever. The right thing is to create new history for both the club and the game.

 

[Stautner]

That is what they did with Yankee stadium and IMO it was a fail. The new Yankee Stadium deserves better than ugly cinder block walls. What I find really ignorant is the fact that it has beautiful marble in the outer halls only to turn to that ugly dull cinder block once you get in the seating area.

The past is nice, but don't live there forever. The right thing is to create new history for both the club and the game.

Cinder Block doesn't do anythnig for me. I understand that complaint. But brick and Ivy is something different altogether. That adds color and distinction, whereas cinder block sucks out color and is about a generic as it gets.

There has to be some common sense. If something about the old ballpark is drab, then don't add that to the new one, But when you have things that are recognizeable and admired elements of a park - like ivy covered brick walls or the green monster - those are things to duplicate.

 

[YosemiteSam]

But brick and Ivy is something different altogether. That adds color and distinction, whereas cinder block sucks out color and is about a generic as it gets.

I'm good with still having brick and Ivy, just don't make a carbon copy of the last ballpark the way the Yankees did. Let the new park build it's own legacy.

 

[Stautner]

I'm good with still having brick and Ivy, just don't make a carbon copy of the last ballpark the way the Yankees did. Let the new park build it's own legacy.

I agree. The problem with Wrigley isn't just wear and tear, it's also comfort and convenience, and they need to come into modern times with those things. I'm just thinking they should try to build in the same basic feel of baseball history, at least to whatever degree you can with a modern park, with modern upgrades. I hope they will keep the outfield wall and not enclose the park with multiple tiers in the outfield. The aspect of being able to hit the ball out onto Waveland Avenue, and the tradition of fans standing out there waiting to catch a HR ball carries it's own charm.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I agree. The problem with Wrigley isn't just wear and tear, it's also comfort and convenience, and they need to come into modern times with those things. I'm just thinking they should try to build in the same basic feel of baseball history, at least to whatever degree you can with a modern park, with modern upgrades. I hope they will keep the outfield wall and not enclose the park with multiple tiers in the outfield. The aspect of being able to hit the ball out onto Waveland Avenue, and the tradition of fans standing out there waiting to catch a HR ball carries it's own charm.

If and when they build a new one, it will have to be somewhere else which is probably a good thing. Wrigley is smashed into such a small foot print.

 

[Stautner]

If and when they build a new one, it will have to be somewhere else which is probably a good thing. Wrigley is smashed into such a small foot print.

That crossed my mind too when I mentioned Waveland Ave. Obviously they can't build in the same location, and I assume they are pretty well landlocked, so they may have to move to a completely different area. Maybe they could buy up th surrounding neighborhood.