The name Wrigley Field comes from chewing gum magnate and Chicago Cubs owner William Wrigley Jr., who bought control of the baseball franchise in the early 1920s. Before it bore the famous family name, the iconic ballpark on Chicago's North Side went through two other distinct titles and was originally constructed for an entirely different baseball league.
Understanding the backstory requires looking back at the stadium's construction in 1914. It wasn't built for the Cubs at all, and its eventual naming involved a curious piece of sports history that also connected to a forgotten ballpark in California.
From Weeghman Park to Cubs Park
In 1914, an adman and restaurant owner named Charles Weeghman financed the construction of a steel-and-concrete ballpark at the corner of Clark and Addison streets in Chicago. He built it to house his Chicago Whales, a franchise in the upstart Federal League. At its inception, the venue was officially called Weeghman Park.
The Federal League lasted for only two seasons before folding in late 1915. Left with a vacant, modern stadium and a desire to stay in baseball, Weeghman formed a financial syndicate. Crucially, this group included chewing gum manufacturer William Wrigley Jr. Together, they purchased the Chicago Cubs from Charles P. Taft and moved the team out of their old, deteriorating venue (the West Side Grounds) into Weeghman Park in 1916.
Weeghman's financial luck ran out shortly after due to outside business losses. By 1918, Wrigley had acquired a controlling interest in the Cubs, eventually buying out the remaining partners. With Weeghman completely out of the picture, the stadium was officially renamed Cubs Park in 1920.
The Official Shift to Wrigley Field
The name Cubs Park lasted for seven seasons. On November 23, 1926, club officials announced that the stadium would henceforth be known as Wrigley Field to honor the team's primary owner and his growing imprint on the franchise.
By late 1926, William Wrigley Jr. wasn't just a wealthy owner lending his name to a team asset; he had become a dominant figure in American sports and business. Naming the ballpark after him aligned with similar branding strategies he used across his commercial enterprises, cementing his family legacy directly into the bricks and ivy of the North Side.
- 1914–1915: Known as Weeghman Park, home of the Federal League Chicago Whales.
- 1916–1919: Home of the Cubs, still operating under the Weeghman Park moniker for a time.
- 1920–1926: Renamed Cubs Park.
- 1927–Present: Officially renamed Wrigley Field.
The Curious Case of the First Wrigley Field
A fascinating historical footnote often surprises fans: the Chicago landmark wasn't actually the first stadium to carry the Wrigley name.
In 1925, William Wrigley Jr. built a brand-new minor league ballpark in Los Angeles, California, for his Pacific Coast League team, the Los Angeles Angels. He named that venue Wrigley Field nearly thirteen months before the Chicago home received its famous moniker.
The Los Angeles version featured a distinctive Spanish Renaissance style clubhouse and even served as a filming location for early television shows and movies before it was demolished in 1961. Therefore, while Chicago's stadium is much older in terms of structural foundation, the West Coast park held the literal title first.
How William Wrigley Jr. Built His Empire
The name on the stadium evokes more than just baseball; it represents a towering commercial empire. William Wrigley Jr. arrived in Chicago in 1891 with very little capital, initially selling soap and offering baking powder as a promotional incentive.
When he noticed that his customers valued the free baking powder more than the soap, he shifted his entire business model. Later, he began packing chewing gum as a free bonus with the baking powder. Once again, consumer demand dictated his next pivot: the gum eclipsed the baking powder in popularity. That entrepreneurial instinct led to the creation of Wrigley's Spearmint and Juicy Fruit, transforming him into one of the wealthiest industrialists of his era and funding his eventual purchase of the Cubs.
You can read more about the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Chicago Cubs Official Site to explore how early twentieth-century ownership shaped modern sports branding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the Chicago Cubs always play at Wrigley Field?
No. Before moving to the site in 1916, the franchise played at several other locations across Chicago, most notably the West Side Grounds from 1893 through 1915.
Was Wrigley Field ever used for sports other than baseball?
Yes. For decades, it served as the primary home field for the Chicago Bears football team, from 1921 until 1970, when the team moved to Soldier Field to accommodate larger crowds.
Why is Wrigley Field called The Friendly Confines?
Hall of Fame Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks coined the famous nickname ("Let's play two today, in these friendly confines") due to the welcoming, intimate atmosphere of the neighborhood ballpark.
Does the Wrigley family still own the stadium?
No. The Wrigley family sold the team and the ballpark to the Tribune Company in 1981. The Ricketts family purchased the franchise and stadium operations in 2009 and has since overseen massive multi-million-dollar modernizations while preserving the historic structure.
