Wrigley Field: A Celebration of the Friendly Confines

by Mark Jacob (Text), Stephen Green (Photographs), Ernie Banks (Foreword)

Created in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs, a unique tribute to baseball's most beloved landmark

"Wrigley Field "brings to life and pays tribute to one of baseball's greatest ballparks. The story of this revered park, from its opening in 1914 through today, this revered park's story is gloriously depicted in picture and in word. This up-close-and personal record, proves why Wrigley is sacred ground to millions, from its manually operated scoreboard and the climbing green ivy of its outfield walls, to the raucous bleacher bums and bright days bathed in sunlight, massaged by Lake Michigan's soothing breezes. It is a refuge, it is a haven, it is an escape--from the workweek or from homework. Produced with the full cooperation of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field pays fitting tribute to the ballpark's extraordinary nine decades-its history and unique features, its vitality, its people, and its greatest moments--through intimate, enthralling perspectives from the team's official photographer, Stephen Green, as well asteam and private archives. Wrigley Field is the most stunningly visual and complete book ever on this beloved park that is like no other.

Genres: Baseball, Sports

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2002

About the author

Author of books on photography, baseball, Chicago history, and the American Revolution. Longtime Chicago journalist is deputy metro editor at the Chicago Tribune, where he is co-author of the popular feature "10 Things You Might Not Know."

Reviews

[Andy Littleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outdated now, but a simple and intimate look at the history of one of America’s treasures.

[Matt Ely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth it for the pictures of a Wrigley that, even now, looks unfamiliar. The book celebrates the lovable loser Cubs of yesteryear, paying homage to the mystique of the park and the annual sameness of its rhythms. Many sections are outdated and skim-worthy, mostly enjoyable as a coffee table book.

[Walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great photos of a true gem of a baseball diamond.

A fond memory from the halcyon days of youth was going to Wrigley. It was right before the last baseball strike in ’94 and they were debating on what day to call it. The day was in doubt, as was the game. But they pushed back the strike a day and I saw the last game of that year in middle of the summer. On another note, maybe this was a Cubby fans talking the talk, but I learned that the new Comiskey Park, where the White Sox play, is shaped the way it is, and in a different direction than most MLB parks so people from high rises around it couldn’t shoot in it. I just looked this up on Google Maps and compared it to some other MLB stadiums, and it is facing in different direction…people have always during my life, random people I don't really know, told me odd truths about life, maybe that’s why I’m facing a different direction.

All I can say to that is: Cubs win! Cubs win!