One For The Road: The First Cubs Game At Wrigley Field

By Samantha Abernethy in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 20, 2012 10:30PM

Chicago Daily News photograph of a marching band followed by the Chicago Cubs baseball team walking on the field on opening day of the 1916 season at Weeghman Park, known as Wrigley Field since 1926, located at 1060 West Addison Street. Spectators standing in the grandstands are visible in the background. Chicago History Museum.

On this day in 1916, the Chicago Cubs played their first game at Weeghman Park, which would later be called Wrigley Field. Charles Weeghman built the stadium in 1914 for Federal League team the Whales. When that team failed, he made the moves to put the Cubs at 1060 W. Addison, where they've stayed ever since. The name changed in 1926.

Today the Cubs lost to the Cincinnati Reds 9-4 at Wrigley Field. Coincidentally, they were playing the Reds at Wrigley on this date in 1916, but that time they won, beating the Reds 7-6 in 11 innings.

From a 1986 Chicago Tribune article:

Two days before the gala opener, Cubs Manager Joe Tinker brought his team into town "under cover of darkness," in the words of Tribune sportswriter James Crusinberry, after a road trip marred by four losses in six games, the seventh, capped by a rain-out in St. Louis.

The players spent Wednesday becoming familiar with their new park, which would be their home for at least the next 70 years.

Festivities began at 1 p.m. Thursday, when a parade led by a 10-motorcycle police honor guard stepped off from Grant Park. The mile-long, banner-bedecked procession featured six brass bands and cars packed with Cubs and Reds players, team officials and politicians, including Mayor William "Big Bill" Thompson and Illinois Gov. Edward F. Dunne.

Head to the Tribune to read the full article.