When you think of the really fan based baseball cities and franchises, it’s almost natural (especially if you’ve been there) to think as well of the street addresses of each ballpark. Last night, we witnessed a frenzied demonstration of fan loyalty and joy for the Chicago Cubs from outside Wrigley at the corner of Addison and Clark Streets on the South side of Chicago that was remarkable. Sad to say though, the neighborhood is being threatened………
You’ll only find what we saw last night in the last vestiges of inner city ballparks, because when they build ’em today they stick them out in the suburbs where the grass is supposedly greener. Not in places like New York, Boston, and of course Chicago though.
When they built the new Yankee Stadium, it was placed directly across from the old one at 161st and River Avenue in the Bronx where you can hear the screech of the subway overhead and if you arrive early to stop in Stan’s Sports Bar for a beer and to soak up the atmosphere. In fact, Derek Jeter knew about the culture and tradition of Stan’s and he made it a point to stop by in the days just before his retirement.
And when you go to see the Red Sox play at Fenway, you always make time for the traditional street party on Yawkey Way before every home game. But if you go, be sure you arrive there hungry to enjoy the unmatched blend of ethnic foods (another thing by the way you don’t find in the suburbs).
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Murphy’s Bleachers And Wrigleyville
And then of course, there’s Wrigley Field, which seems like it’s tucked snugly into a small piece of the earth between Addison and Clark Street where you have to mortgage your home to find a place to park. But it all becomes worth it when you walk 100 feet from the entrance to Wrigley and find Murphy’s Bleachers which became the legend it is today when Chicago Police Detective Jim Murphy took over. Jim had a vision that transformed an entire neighborhood. He understood the draw of historic Wrigley Field and allure of cold beer on a sunny day.
Sadly though, there’s something going on called the Wrigleyville Project that threatens to upend the entire neighborhood. It’s one of those $140 million “urban renewal” things that at one time included plans to – get this- build a “boutique” hotel in the area. Now understand, there is nothing boutique about the South Side of Chicago and Cubs fans wouldn’t have it any other way. That plan was put aside when the Chicago Cubs said they would build their own hotel, but the stench of doing anything in the immediate vicinity of Wrigley is (at least to this writer) appalling.
To put this in some kind of perspective, just imagine the tears of joy and excitement, both during and following the game last night, taking place at Dodger Stadium. Heck, half of their fans would have been on the freeway heading to their next diner party before the game was half over.
Addison and Clark…….it has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Like Lewis and Clark. But seriously, we’re not only witnessing something that is special for baseball. Because as many of the players attested to last night, and they weren’t just mouthing the words, this is really about the fans who come to watch the Cubs play in a cramped and uncomfortable ballpark, that’s located in a neighborhood that’s on the verge of extinction……….. and they always go home happy.
Next: 108 years and 108 outs to go
And last night, they went home especially happy. And maybe that’s something the citizens of Chicago should think about……..