Chicago through the years: Wrigley Field

There’s nothing like looking into the past through the lens of excellent photography.

“Chicago through the years” will highlight some of the best history in the city through photography.

WGN News is thankful for the help of the Chicago History Museum’s photo archive to showcase fabulous collection images from the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Daily News and others throughout the years.

First up in “Chicago through the years” is Wrigley Field.

1910’s and the 20’s

Wrigley Field officially opened up as Weeghman Park on April 23, 1914 and hosted the Chi-Feds of the Federal League until the Cubbies took over in 1916.

During the 1910s and 20s, the club lost two World Series — in 1918 against Boston and in 1929 against the Philadelphia Athletics.

Wrigley Field hasn’t just hosted the Cubs and Chi-Feds — The Chicago Bears began their 50-year run on the North Side in 1921.

The 30’s and 40’s

The North Siders were pretty good through the 30s into World War II, but failed to cash in.

The Cubs lost four World Series; to the Yankees in 1932, to Detroit in 1935, to the Yankees in 1938 and to the Tigers in 1945 — in which the “curse of the Billy Goat” was born.

One of the coolest photos from the collection is Gabby Hartnett’s famed “Homer in the Gloamin’. Fifty years before lights were installed, the hall of fame catcher hit a walk off home run minutes before umpires were likely going to suspend the game for darkness.

50’s and 60’s

The 1950s weren’t the best record wise for the Cubs, but they signed a 22-year-old from the Negro Leagues named Ernie Banks. “Mr. Cub” debuted on Sept. 17, 1953 and the rest was history.

Banks, along with Santo, Fergie, Kessinger, Williams and many others, brought so much joy during the summer of 1969 where they dominated the National League until collapsing to the Mets. It was 1969 the mystique of “bleacher bum” was born.

70’s and 80’s

The 70’s weren’t the best for Cubs but they started expanded their fan base nationally when WGN became a superstation in 1978.

A year after the infamous Lee Elia speech, magic hit the North Side in 1984 with the club winning their first playoff game since 1945.

They sadly failed to make it to the World Series after winning the first two games of the NLCS against the Padres.

90’s and 2000’s

The club wasn’t the best in the early 90s but made one of their best trades in history on March 30, 1992 by trading for Sammy Sosa from the White Sox.

That paid off dividends in 1998 when Sosa, along with Mark McGwire, brought back interest in baseball during the great home run race.

Look away in the slideshow if you still have PTSD from the 2003 Marlins NLCS.

The archive ends before 2016, but of course the Cubs ended their 108-year drought against Cleveland.