I will be the first to admit that I am not the biggest Chicago Cubs fan in the world. Due to such opinion, I can also say that I wasn't really in any real rush to eventually make my way up to Wrigley Field, to see the home of the Cubs, despite knowing that eventually I'd have to, if I wanted to actually reach my goal of getting to all 30 ballparks for this little personal pet project.

My remorse is based on the behavior of Cubs fans that pervaded into the parks of opponents; these Cubs fans were loud, drunk, obnoxious, and in such copious amounts, that they essentially took over opposition territory. And the worst part is that so many of them weren't so much actual Cubs fans as they were fairweather fans, simply picking the Cubs, because the Cubs are a popular team to root for. Far too many times I have seen these Cubs fans invade Atlanta on more than one occasion, and on one poor stretch where the Cubs swept a depleted Braves squad in Atlanta, my disdain reached an all-time high when I saw a Cubs fan brandishing a sign that read "Turner Field = Wrigley South."

However, I will also be the first to admit that after (re)visiting (I once visited when I was five) Wrigley Field, some of my opinions have changed a little bit, and likely for the better.

Panoramic photo edited by Danny Hong, July 2010

"The Friendly Confines," is a pretty sufficient way to describe my experience in visiting Wrigley Field. Where I was used to crass, obnoxious Cubs fans when on the road, they're actually quite tame, polite, and fairly pleasant to be around on their home grounds. Now there is question to the legitimacy of “true fans” to those who are actually at Wrigley as opposed to people being there because it's the hip place to be for Chicagoans. Regardless though, it's a difficult ticket to get, and I'm pretty sure I overpaid for the tickets that got me into the park.

On a little side note, the game I went to was the Cubs hosting none other than their arch-nemesis St. Louis Cardinals. This is arguably the premiere rivalry in the National League, to counter the hijinks of New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox rivalry. However, that being said, unlike the latter matchup, and maybe it was just my isolated experience, but I found the rivalry to be quite tame, and not nearly as big as I thought it would be. Cardinal fans showed up in droves to cheer for the Cards, and stood in the stands in their bright red shirts, jerseys and caps, standing out like a red rash amongst the seas of Cubbie Blue. But despite their players getting booed and rooted against, Cards fans and Cubs fans got along plenty, and there weren't any fights or scared people about. It's still a rivalry, of course, but one of a friendlier, and polite nature.

Anyway, as for Wrigley Field as a whole, I have to say that all the hype and the good things that people say about the park are pretty much all true. It might be the second-oldest park in baseball, but it's still one of the nicest. From the moment you get off the train and walk to the corner of Clark and Addison, Wrigley Field is a classy-looking, clearly-a-ballpark venue that sits in the heart of a neighborhood that supports their home park. Walking around the park in the heart of Wrigleyville, there are numerous restaurants, shops, and bars that are all meant for those going to Cubs games, those who can't quite get in, and great places to indulge after a game, whether the home team wins or loses. The atmosphere, both inside and outside the park is festive, lively, and something I enjoyed a lot. As much as Wrigley Field is a staple to the fans, Wrigley Field without the people is really incomplete.

Inside the park is as expectantly cramped as a park of its age would be. With un-level asphalt floors and slightly dated ramps and stairs, maneuvering around the park in between innings, and even during innings is somewhat of a chore, since the food and drink vendors are pretty much slammed on a daily basis; but when the average attendance of Cubs games is basically sold out (est. 41,000) every game, then it's not really much of a surprise that general movement can get cumbersome. But I'm never going to fault a park for having too dedicated patrons.

As lame as it sounds, Wrigley Field is a purist's ideal. The seats are still fairly spacey and comfortable. There aren't a whole lot of annoying in-between inning promotions and campy games, and players do not have professional wrestling-like entrance themes and elaborate walk-ups, just a PA announcer and a genuine organist. An attendee might not be showing up just for the baseball, but it's fairly safe to say what they are showing up for is roughly the same things that people were showing up to the park for back in like 1920. Except maybe the public smoking.

Overall, I have to say that Wrigley Field is my favorite ballpark in the National League at the time of me writing this. For what it lacks in modern aesthetics and renovations, they have history, and classy, charming appeal about it that I cannot ignore as positive aspects. And I cannot get over the concept of the neighboring rooftop seating. I mean I knew it was always there, but from previous photos, I don't remember there being that much seating available, but regardless, I think it is cool, and charming.

Noteable performance(s):   The Cubs' youth movement stole the show on this day, with Tyler Colvin leading off the game with a homer, en route to scoring two of the Cubs' runs. But it was shortstop, Starlin Castro who had the better day, who had three hits, with one of them being a homer, driving in two RBI while being brought home twice. Tom Gorzelanny, whom I see as nothing but a poor man's fifth starter made me eat my words by delivering a solid seven-inning performance.

Game Result:   The Cubs fend of late-inning efforts by the Cardinals and Carlos Marmol slams the door shut, and prevail by a score of Cubs 6, Cardinals 5, proving that no matter the records, as long as I am in attendance, the home team will likely win.

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