RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Wrigley Field, located in the 44'" Ward, in Chicago will mark the historic occasion of its 100 1 anniversary; and,
WHEREAS, Alderman Thomas M. Tunney has been made aware of this remarkable event; and,
WHEREAS, the first baseball game at Wrigley Field was played on April 26, 1914, making April 26, 2014, the l()0lh anniversary of this historic ballpark; and,
WHEREAS, Wrigley Field is one of the two oldest active ballparks built for major league baseball in the United States and the oldest professional sports facility in Chicago; and,
WHEREAS, Wrigley Field is one of the cultural icons of Chicago, both in its physical form and through its traditions and legendary events; and,
WHEREAS, since 1916 Wrigley Field has been the home to the Chicago Cubs, the city's oldest professional sports franchise and the oldest continuously-operating "National League charter franchise in the same city, dating to I 876: and,
WHEREAS, Wrigley Field is known as the Friendly Confines for its warm environment, supportive fans and tremendous connection between the City of Chicago, Cubs fans and the Chicago Cubs team, players and ownership; and,
WHEREAS, Wrigley Field is the only remaining ball park connected to the Federal Baseball League, having been constructed and occupied by the league's Chicago franchise from 1914 to 1916, and as such is significant in American history: and,
WHEREAS. Wrigley Field has played an important role in the development of professional baseball, including the first ballpark to have a permanent concession stand (1914), the first ball club to allow fans to keep balls hit into the stands (1916), the first National League sports team to pass one million in attendance (1927), the first organist (1941), and the first center field television camera (1954); and,
WHEREAS, from 1921 to 1970, Wrigley Field was the home of the Chicago Bears, one of the original franchises in the National Football League and, as such, is significant in the history of professional football in the United States, and,
WHEREAS, Wrigley Field has been the site of several legendary events in American sports history, including baseball's" only "Double "No-Hitter" (1917), Babe Ruth's purported "Called Shot" during the 1932 World Series and Gabby Hartnctt's "Horner in the Gloamin', which clinched the 1938 National League pennant; and,
WHEREAS, Wrigley Field has been the site of numerous important events in baseball history, including: Hack Wilson's major league record 191st run-batted-in (1930), Stan Musial's 3,000th hit (1958); Ernie Banks' 500th home run (1970): Pete Rose's hit to tie Ty Cobb's all-time hits record (1985); All Star Games in 1947, 1962 and 1990; and World Series games in 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938 and 1945;and,
WHEREAS, Wrigley Field is significant in the history of American women's sports as the location, in March 1943, of the first tryouts and organization of the All-American Girls Professional
Page I of 2
Baseball League, the first major women's professional sports league in the United States and an important forerunner for women's sports nationwide, and one of whose founders and promoters was Phillip Wrigley, then-owner of Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs; and,
WHEREAS, Wrigley Field is the only remaining major league baseball park where Jackie Robinson, major-league baseball's first African-American player and a nationally significant figure in the African-American struggle for civil rights, played during regular season play; and,
WHEREAS, As the long time home of the Chicago Bears, Wrigley Field also has been the location for important events in the history of professional football, including the professional debut of Red Grange, whose popularity ensured the success of the Bears and professional football during the 1930s, the location in 1933 of the first National Football League championship, the forerunner to today's Super Bowl, and several other important professional football games and records, including the 1963National Football League championship; and,
WHEREAS, hundreds of notable sportsmen have performed at Wrigley Field, including: baseball Hall of Famers Henry Aaron, Ernie Banks, Roberto Clemente, Dizzy Dean, Hank Grecnberg, Sandy Koufax, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Warren Spahn and Casey Stengel; football notables Dick Butkus, Red Grange, George Flalas and Bronco Nagursky; Olympian Jim Thorpe; boxer Jake LaMotta (1946); golfer Sam Snead (1951); basketballers George Mikan and the Harlem Globetrotters (1954): and,
WHEREAS, Hall of Fame broadcasters Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray broadcast from and were, closely associated with Wrigley Field during their careers: and,
WHEREAS. Wrigley Field is one of the most recognizable structures in Chicago and ranks as one of the most readily identifiable ballparks in the United States; and,
WHEREAS, it is altogether fitting for this Chamber to recognize Wrigley Field on the occasion of its 100lh birthday on April 26, 2014, at the same time the Chicago Cubs will celebrate at Wrigley Field, 1060 West Addison Street, in the 44lh Ward, and where Cubs fans around the country will gather year-round to pay tribute to this great ballpark; and,
WHEREAS, we congratulate the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field on reaching this milestone and share with all of Chicago in the pride of knowing this ballpark stands as a lasting tribute and a modern day facility; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this 2nd day of April, 2014, do hereby congratulate Wrigley Field on its lOO'1' birthday and hereby declare April 26, 2014, to be Wrigley Field Day in the City of Chicago; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, those suitable copies of this resolution to the Ricketts family as a sign of our congratulations and good wishes, and to the Chicago Cubs.
Page 2 of2