It is hard to believe it has been 20 years since Opening Night at Wrigley Field. On August 8, 1988 the Chicago Cubs played the first ever night game at Wrigley against the Philadelphia Phillies and while the game was rained out and the lasting images are that of a young Greg Maddux and Les Lancaster sliding across the rain soaked tarp covering the infield. The game started by Rick Sutcliffe and featured a home run by Ryne Sandberg was called in the 4th inning.... and many claimed that was the Baseball Gods way of saying that baseball at Wrigley was to be played only during the day.
On August 9th, the first official night game was played between the Cubs and the Mets. Frank DiPino picked up the win in relief of Mike Bielecki and beat Sid Fernandez while Rich 'Goose' Gossage picked up his 12th save of the season in a 6-4 Cubs' victory.
A reader of the CCO, Jane Knoche, sent a poem with her memories of two decades ago and the Daily Herald put together an impressive video clip full of images from that Monday night 20 years ago, so take time to relive not just a part of the Cubs' storied past but one of the many chapters Baseball history....
Wrigley Lights
Jane Knoche
I stand at the corner
Sheffield and Addison
August 9, 1988
One of some 39,000
Waiting
For something that would later
Be taken for granted
It was suppose to have happened already
They were even purchased
Summer of 1941
Never installed though
Donated
For the war effort
Against Japan
It was scheduled for yesterday
Rain poured
Three and a half innings
Forgetting to put an end
On the 5687th day
Here I am
August 9, 1988
7:22 P.M.
Surrounded
Surrounded by
Waveland, Seminary, Clark
Addison, Sheffield
Surrounded by
Japanese Bittersweet, Boston ivy
Surrounded by
Light
Man, it is hard to believe that was 20 years ago. Remember the tuxedos the tv announcers were wearing that night? But of course, the remaining memory is Maddux and Lancaster sliding to the crowd's cheers.
20 years ago already.....good memories.
However, these days of this season is producing some good memories as well.
I remember this game like it was yesterday, mostly the Cubs entertaining the crowd by sliding across the tarp. I've looked for videos of the Cubs on the tarp, but come up empty :(