A Day at the Park

Description

"Ballplayers come and go, but Wrigley Field endures. As long as Cub fans take their kids out to the Friendly Confines and show them where baseball should be played, the chain will be unbroken."-Ernie Banks, "Mr. Cub" Friday, June 18, 1993 was a perfect day for baseball at Chicago's Wrigley Field. It seemed as though the sun never shined brighter, the sky was never bluer, and the grass was never greener. A standing-room-only crowd of more than 38,000 packed the stands for the Cubs' battle against their traditional rival, the St. Louis Cardinals. Also at the park that day was a team of 15 photographers who captured this beautiful summer day on film. From before daybreak to well after sunset, more than 5,000 photographs were taken in and around the ballpark. A Day at the Park: In Celebration of Wrigley Field is a collection of the best of these unique photos, accompanied by original essays from some of baseball's most celebrated writers, and the personal reflections on Wrigley by those who played the game. Wrigley Field celebrated its 80th anniversary in 1994. Fans of all ages can now celebrate this occasion with the first book to feature the ballpark that the Cubs, and their fans, call home. A Day at the Park not only contains more than 200 of the most beautiful, vivid color photographs ever taken of Wrigley Field, but also includes numerous rare and historic photographs from the National Baseball Library and Archive, The Sporting News archives, and the Chicago Historical Society. Along with the stunning photographs of Wrigley Field and its surrounding neighborhood, A Day at the Park contains the original writings of some of baseball's most famous fans and participants. Syndicated columnist George Will reflects in the book's foreword on the legacy of Wrigley Field and the importance of preserving its heritage. Roger Kahn, author of the most popular baseball book of all time, The Boys of Summer, and Hall of Fame journalist Jerome Holtzman share their thoughts on the historic ballpark. Hank Sauer, who was known as "the mayor of Wrigley Field" during his years as a Cubs outfielder, and former National League umpires Doug Harvey and "Dutch" Rennert also offer their perspectives on the Friendly Confines. Excerpts form other sources on Wrigley Field, including works from such varied publications as The New York Times, Audubon, and Sports Illustrated are included to give the reader the full experience of attending a game at beautiful Wrigley Field. Popular baseball writer Roger Nagell has contributed previously published material to the effort, along with author Ed Linn, and Mary Francis Veeck, wife of the late Bill Veeck, Jr., the man who planted the famous outfield ivy. A Day at the Park is a fond look at a beloved ballpark and its neighborhood...a tribute to its 80 years, and a celebration of its fans, its field, and its feelings. As you turn the pages, you can almost hear the crowd, smell the popcorn and peanuts, and feel the famous wind.

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