pixel
Cubs News

Wrigley Field has officially reached Landmark status

3 years agoTony Andracki

Wrigley Field has long been a must-visit destination for people around the world — even those who aren’t baseball fans.

“The Friendly Confines” has now officially been named a National Historic Landmark, as the U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt designated Thursday.

Places and objects classified as National Historic Landmarks are determined by the Secretary of the Interior as significant in American history and culture.

The are about 2,600 National Historic Landmarks in the U.S. Other Illinois Landmarks include the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, Starved Rock and Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace.

“Wrigley Field is a special place in the hearts of generations of fans,” Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. “That’s why, from our first day as owners, we committed to preserving Wrigley, which will now take its well-earned place in the lineup of American history and culture as a national treasure.”

Wrigley Field is the second oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball, only two years younger than Boston’s Fenway Park.

Wrigley Field Ivy With Scoreboard Background

From the ivy to the outfield baskets to the scoreboard to the marquee out front, Wrigley Field is filled with iconic parts and its charm is not lost on the players.

During the MLB shutdown earlier this year, Anthony Rizzo came back to Chicago and felt compelled to drive down the corner of Clark and Addison to see the beautiful venue he missed so much.

When the Cubs resumed team activities in July, they were grateful to be back at Wrigley Field and to use the venue as their workout facility. During a team meeting, Rizzo found himself in awe of his view.

“Whatever that section was where we had our meeting, I’m going to apply for season tickets there, ASAP,” Rizzo said then. “That view of Wrigley Field, I’ve never seen the view from that angle before, and I was just blown away. You have the home dugout right there, just the whole vantage point of the game, I was just like, ‘Wow.'”

45 Cubs Win 3

Then in summer camp, Rizzo was sidelined with back tightness during an intrasquad scrimmage and decided to take in every possible angle of Wrigley Field, including in the bleachers.

His manager loved it.

“You know, that’s a really good idea — you get a chance to take in this beautiful venue and see a game,” David Ross said. “We’re never in the stands as players. When I got to come back after retiring and watch a game even from the [press] box and some different areas — I did a game out in left field with ESPN and then being in the bleachers in right as well — it’s a cool perspective, a cool different way to see the park.

“[Rizzo] was talking about how he could see the skyline from left field in a couple seats and how beautiful it was.”

 

Don’t Miss Out On The Action!

Sign up for the Marquee Sports Network Newsletter today for all the latest Cubs news, plus upcoming Marquee programming and much more!

Newsletter Signup
Consent *
Opt-in
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.