0106 - Brian Bernardoni
Brian Bernardoni is the Official Historian of Wrigley Field, and has been a tour guide at the park since 1998. During our conversation, he referenced a handful of things and people upon which you may want to do more research. Consider this page to be your “liner notes” for the episode so you can follow along.
Me and Brian Bernardoni (showing off his 2016 World Series ring) standing in front of an original newspaper from his personal collection which documents the opening of Weeghman Park in 1914.
Jack and Pat Brickhouse
Pictured here, with President Gerald Ford (center), Jack and Pat Brickhouse played a huge role in Brian’s life.
Dave Kingman
Brian’s “Number 10” was Dave Kingman, who hit 442 home runs over the course of his 16-year career.
The Cubs on WGN
In April of 1948, WGN broadcast their first Cubs baseball game. The relationship lasted 72 years, and was a major factor in the Cubs’ popularity nationwide, despite being a losing team for much of that stretch.
Billy Crystal in City Slickers, describing the best day of his life.
Dave Kingman Day
The Cubs made August 7, 1980 Dave Kingman Day at Wrigley Field. The problem was, Kingman was on the DL and decided he’d rather spend the day on a boat than being honored at the park.
Section 420
Upper deck, first base side. Brian’s favorite view in the stadium.
Wrigley Waking Up
Brian posts pictures of the ballpark when he gets there, while it is still relatively empty, and they’re some of my favorite posts by anyone I follow. This is one such photo.
2003 NLCS Game 6
There are some instances when the air gets heavy inside Wrigley Field. Like the one pictured here, which happened October 14, 2003.
1932 World Series Game 3
Did Babe Ruth really “call his shot”? There have been a number of conflicting stories over the years about one of baseball’s most famous moments.
Billy Jurges
Billy was shot by Violet Popovich at the Hotel Carlos in 1932. Violet said she loved “Bill Jurges for himself - and not for his place in the public eye or his popularity.” Love hurts, apparently.
SABR Bio by Paul Geisler Jr.
Mark Koenig
A former teammate on the Yankees of Babe Ruth, Koenig replaced the injured Jurges on the Cubs roster.
SABR Bio by Daniel Shirley
Charlie Root
Perhaps unfairly, Charlie Root’s name and legacy are indelibly intertwined with one of baseball’s most enduring and intriguing legends.
SABR Bio by Gregory H. Wolf
Fans of Wrigley Field, Itself
Not too many stadiums across the globe have their own fan base, or a profitable line of merchandise specifically referencing the building, and not the team which plays there. Wrigley Field has both.
Ed Hartig
Official Cubs Historian Ed Hartig holds up the famed W Flag in honor of a Cubs victory.
The War Kept Wrigley Without Lights
In 1942, P.K. Wrigley had Wrigley Field wired for lights. The materials were delivered, and the lights were ready to be installed. But Wrigley felt those materials could better serve the nation by being donated to the war effort, so he scrapped the plans for night games and gave the 165 tons of steel to Great Lakes Naval Base.
Charles Weeghman
The December 30, 1915, Sporting News said of Weeghman, “He is a man who has made himself, having started as a waiter in a restaurant, and now he owns a dozen or so of his own.”
Weeghman parlayed his fortune into the ownership of the Federal League’s Chi-Feds, and in 1914 he built Weeghman Park on the corner of Clark and Addison streets for them.
Chicago’s West Side Grounds
Chicago’s Federal League Park
Chi-Feds
Chicago’s Federal League Team was known as the Chi-Feds in 1914.
Chicago Whales
In 1915, the team was re-named the Whales after a public name-the-team contest whose results, in typical Chicago political fashion, were maybe kinda sorta absolutely rigged.
The team went on to win the Federal League Championship with an 86-66 record.
Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis
While many baseball fans are generally aware that Landis heard a case involving Major League Baseball prior to becoming the game’s first commissioner, relatively little was known about the lawsuit - until recently.
The lawsuit involved allegations by the Federal League which contended that the two major leagues (the American League and the National League) had illegally monopolized the baseball industry.
Charles P. Taft Sells The Team
On January 20, 1916, Charles Weeghman and his associates turned over $500,000 to Charles P. Taft in exchange for ownership of the Chicago Cubs.
William Howard Taft Throws Out The First Pitch
William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States, threw out the first first ball on April 14, 1910, from a box seat before the then-Washington Nationals played the Philadelphia Athletics.
He was the first President to ever throw out a first pitch, but nearly every one since has followed in his footsteps.
Jimmy Carter
President Carter loved playing softball so much that he actually had a field installed on the White House grounds.
Cubs Opening Day, 1916
While Weeghman Park had been around for a couple years, April 20, 1916 was the first time the Cubs played a game there. They’ve played (almost all of) their home games at that location ever since.
The Marquee
A very early iteration of the famous marquee promotes the 1935 World Series between the Cubs and the Tigers.
Minor Changes
By 1945, the marquee had already seen some changes to its look.
Building The Scoreboard
Another iconic part of the Wrigley aesthetic is the scoreboard, which was installed in 1937.
The Scoreboard
It’s rare to see a picture of the scoreboard this early, or from this angle, but here it is in 1939.
Inside the Scoreboard
It’s not a very luxurious space, but man, is it awesome.
Brian in the Scoreboard
Sometimes if you know a guy, you get access to things, places, or people someone else might not otherwise get. Brian not only knows a guy; sometimes he IS the guy.
View From the Scoreboard
Bring your binoculars, because it’s a long shot from home plate.
Sam Snead
The only person to ever hit the scoreboard with a struck ball from home plate was the original Slammin’ Sammy, who did so with a golf ball during a Father’s Day exhibition in 1951.
The Clock
The clock above the scoreboard wasn’t installed until 1941. It originally had a white face, but has since been painted green to match the scoreboard.
Bleacher Walls
Notice how there are no baskets hanging over the playing field from the top of the bleacher wall in this photo. Notice how the top of the wall is flat, instead of pointed, like it is today. Both of those features were changed to prevent the “Bum Races” (depicted here), and kept drunk Cubs fans from falling 12’ onto the unforgiving crushed brick of the warning track on the field of play.
So, no, the baskets weren’t installed to help Ernie Banks get to 500 home runs. They were installed to catch drunks.
The Bleachers
Originally built in 1937, the bleachers are home to Wrigley Field’s “Bleacher Bums.” Playful chants during the game of “Left Field Sucks!” and “Right Field Sucks!” make the bleachers an endearing place for a child to take in a game.
Installing the Ivy
Once the permanent bleacher walls were installed in 1937, it made it possible for the ivy to be installed later that same year.
1943 AAGPBL All-Star Game
The first night game to be held at Wrigley wasn’t 8/8/88, and it wasn’t 8/9/88 either. It was 7/1/43, when the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League played their All-Star Game under temporary, portable lights.
September 12, 1946
Jake LaMotta knocks out Bob Satterfield under temporary portable lights at Wrigley Field.
August 21, 1954
14,000 fans showed up to see the Harlem Globetrotters beat George Mikan’s US All-Stars under the lights at Wrigley.
The court was set up between the pitcher’s mound and second base, with temporary lights surrounding the court only, so the fans in the bleachers were sitting in the dark watching the game.
The 7th Inning Stretch
Harry Caray actually made singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the 7th Inning Stretch famous over on the South Side, when he would do it as the White Sox broadcaster along with organist Nancy Faust.
The Cubs’ uniform progression over time
353’ To Right
Every good Cubs fan knows the dimensions by heart.
1933 International Softball Tournament
Held during the Century of Progress, it was the first international tournament of its kind, and was the seed that grew into the idea for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
Soccer at Wrigley
Wrigley Field is, and always has been, a multi-sport facility.
Wrestling at Wrigley
On more than just one occasion, too.
Ski Jumping at Wrigley
I swear I didn’t photoshop this picture, and that it actually happened.
Hockey at Wrigley
The Winter Classic has been held at Wrigley.
Political Rallies at Wrigley
Click THIS LINK for a truly insane list of many of the wild non-baseball events that have happened in Wrigley’s history. From a rodeo to a car dealership, and everything in between.
Concerts at Wrigley
Here is Ernie Banks up on stage with Eddie Vedder during Pearl Jam’s 2013 concert at Wrigley.
Football at Wrigley
The Bears actually played their home games at Wrigley Field from 1921 to 1970, meaning Gale Sayers’ famed 6-TD performance (pictured here) happened at Wrigley, not at Soldier Field.
Auto Racing at Soldier Field
The past was weird. And like, trust me, I fully understand that the present is weird, too. But, man.
Ernie and the Bernardois
I bet if you asked Brian, he would play in a band with this name.
Let’s Play Two
Ron Rapoport’s book about Ernie Banks
Buy It HERE
Brian and his Daughter
Standing near the same spot where she took her first steps, which is roughly where Brian’s grandmother played softball during the 1933 International Softball Tournament.
Brian’s Wedding
Also at Wrigley. It’s almost like this place is kind of important to him, or something.
Brian’s Corner at Yak-Zies
Where Brian and I first met while I was a bartender at the Wrigleyville location of Yak-Zies.
My Cubs Security Guard Friends
My favorite regulars were always the Cubs security guards who would come in after nearly every game for a quick drink or twelve.
When You’re Here, You’re Family
Wait. Is that Olive Garden’s slogan? I don’t care, it fits here, too. These guys truly did become family to me over the years, and they’re what I miss most about being in Chicago.
Brian’s World Series Ring
There aren’t too many people who have an official World Series ring from the Chicago Cubs. Brian is one of them.
Brian Getting His Ring
Tom Ricketts, himself, presented Brian with his World Series ring. Can you even imagine?
West Side Grounds Plaque
Along with Mike Reischl, Brian was instrumental in getting a plaque put in place at the location of the West Side Grounds.
Oldest Ballparks in America
Wrigley is the second oldest Major League ballpark still in existence.
Marcus Aurelius
Brian named his company, Aurelius Public Affairs, after Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius.
Svengoolie
The character, portrayed by Rich Koz, is the host of a long-running local program in the Chicagoland area, and in recent years has expanded nationally. The show features low-budget and classic horror and sci-fi movies.
Cap Anson
While Cap Anson may have been a brutal racist who singlehandedly instituted the color barrier into Major League baseball, this card from the 1888 Goodwin Champions N162 set may be one of the most beautiful baseball cards ever made. He was still a racist, though.
A timeline of defunct Chicago newspapers. And, hoo boy, are there a lot of them!
Watch Brian give a Wrigley Field tour! (this is only 1 of 5 parts total)
Some other websites I accessed while doing research for this interview with Brian Bernardoni:
https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/ski-jumping-in-wrigley-believe-it/c-477521
http://apps.chicagotribune.com/sports/wrigley-field-100-greatest-moments/
https://amp.mlb.com/71241044-marquee-at-wrigley-field-a-beloved-relic.amp.html
http://desplainesvalleynews.com/cubs-fan-justice-man-gets-world-series-ring-of-his-own-p4058-90.htm