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US Cellular Field/
Wrigley Field Experience
Chicago, IL - 5/23/2003 - 5/26/2003
by: Anthony Lorenzo

After spending the past 4 years in college, Mike and I decided to celebrate our graduation by taking a 4-day trip to the Windy City.  We where lucky to find a weekend when the Cubs and White Sox played games at home. As an added bonus we had enough time to catch a Brewers game in nearby Milwaukee.  I was looking forward to visiting Chicago because it was the second largest city in the country.  Chicago is the home of world-renowned architecture, the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright designed buildings reside in Oak Park, and a unique baseball tradition. Our trip to Chicago would be the first that required flying. It was an exciting time in Chicago.  Memorial Day weekend brought many events to the city.  The Navy Pier held a fireworks display, the Baseball as America exhibit was in town, and the House of Blues was hosting DMX.  With so many choices Mike and I had to stay focused and experience as much of Chi town as we could.  We spent the time in between ballgames visiting Michael’s cousin in Oak Park.  He was a great tour guy, showing us the home Earnest Hemingway was born in, also located in Oak Park. He introduced us to the midwestern version of a Philly cheese steak: Italian Beef, which was delicious!  We walked off our lunch as we wandered downtown Chicago. We had time to kill before dinner, so we decided to visit the Sears Tower.  Although I am a New Yorker, I must admit being impressed with the Sears Tower. The Sears Tower stands 1,450 feet, 110 stories above the great city of Chicago.  It offers a view of four states, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin, from the Sky Deck’s four corners. Standing over 1,300 feet above one of the greatest cities in the world, was an empowering experience. 

I was happy that we visited both Chicago ballparks during the same weekend.  U.S. Cellular Field is located on the South Side of Chicago.  There is no ballpark scene and very few vendors.  Mike and I had purchased Upper Reserve tickets online before hearing that visitors with Upper Reserve tickets where unable to visit the rest of the ballpark.  This was in response to fans running on the field and attacking baseball personnel, TWICE!  Mike and I had come all the way from New York to visit the entire ballpark.  Improvements where made to U.S. Cellular Field prior to the 2003 season for the All-Star game was scheduled for July.  Two high-tech video boards where installed and a fan deck was created in dead center field.  With all of this, as well as the White Sox Hall of Fame on the Lower Concourse, Mike and I where determined to visit the field level.  We introduced ourselves to the White Sox Head of Guest Services, James, and after telling him our story he went above and beyond our expectations by trading our Upper Deck Reserve tickets for Club Level Seats with full access to U.S. Cellular Field.  It was great to see someone who appreciated our interest in seeing the ballpark as well as the trust that we weren’t going to run on the field and beat up a first base coach. We were thankful for our seat upgrade because, Mike and I, as well as the other 15, 067 in attendance, where treated to a poorly played game.  The Tigers, lead by Dmitri Young’s game winning hit, gave previously winless Mike Maroth, 7 innings 3 hits, his first win of the season. White Sox starter Jon Garland pitched 6 strong innings, but the Chi Sox bullpen could no preserve the lead, losing to the Detroit Tigers 3-2.

The second leg of the Windy City Ballpark Tour took place on Memorial Day and was a day I will never forget.  Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, is one of the three crown jewels left in Major League Baseball, along with Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium.  Wrigley Field is like no other modern day ballpark; there is no advertising on the playing field, or a video scoreboard in the outfield.  Spending a day, you have to attend a day game, in the Friendly Confines bleachers, you have to sit in the bleachers, was taking a baseball time machine back to when it was just a game.  Mike and I arrived at Wrigley over 3 hours before the first pitch.  We waited on line to enter the bleachers, which is first come, first serve.  We where lucky enough to sit in the front row, close enough to touch the famous green ivy first planted by Bill Veeck.  I caught my first baseball at a game, EVER!!!, when Pirates relief pitcher Solomon Torres threw one up to the screen during batting practice.  I had to fight off a few fans for the ball, but it was worth the effort.  While waiting for the game to begin Mike and I made friends with the security guard, Matt.  He was a fun guy who told us many great stories about the ballpark, the Cubs and their Hall of Fame announcer Harry Caray.  The game was a sellout, 40,225, fans where treated to a pitching duel between Cubs Kerry Wood and Pittsburgh Pirate Josh Fogg.  The Cubs where coming off a 13 game road trip and did not bring their bats with them.  Wood kept the Cubbies in the game through 7 by striking out 10 and allowing only 1 hit, but Josh Fogg matched Wood with 7 innings of shut out ball.  The Pirates exploded for 9 runs in the 8^th inning to put the game away 10-0.

Our trip to Chicago could not have been any better.  It was the first time I ever visited a city that had as much to offer as New York.  It provided me with perspective.  I realized that there was more to the world than New York.  Traveling to Chicago was a catapult to taking an interest in other cities throughout the country.  It reinforced the fact that the Ballpark Tour was more that just seeing baseball games.  It was about seeing America through the eyes of a baseball fan.  This tour has allowed Mike and I to experience things that few others have.  It has created a unique place in my heart and my mind that has enabled me to grow as an individual. When I tell friends and colleagues about the Ballpark Tour none can comprehend what it means. These reactions only enforce the fact that Mike and I are sharing something special, something that we will never forget.

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