Known as “America’s favorite pastime”, baseball season is upon us once again! For those who have been eagerly anticipating the opening day, you’ll be happy to know that March 30 is Opening Day for the Chicago Cubs, as announced by Major League Baseball (MLB). Opening day is a big day at Wrigley, as all the stars and even hall of famers like Ryne Sandburg, Andre Dawson, Fergie Jenkins, Billy Williams and Lee Smith come out to visit with fans and cheer the Cubs on to victory! Each of the 30 teams is set to play 15 games on the same day This is a first since 1968 when every team is playing its first game on the same day.
Th White Sox home opener is on Monday April 3rd and it will surely be a packed house to see the home team! Come out and cheer the Sox on to victory!
Whether you’re a fervent baseball fan from Chicago or a tourist who wants to immerse yourself in the exciting and fun-filled atmosphere at the stadium, there are a few things you should know. Apart from giving you the low-down on everything related to the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox for the upcoming season, you’ll also read about a banned Billy goat and the curse that followed and how to have the best time at one of the live, at-home games.
So, without further ado, let’s jump right in!
The Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have been playing baseball even before the MLB was formed. It started all the way back in 1867 when the Chicago Baseball Club was formed as America’s first professional sports club. It would be several years later when the MLB was formed in 1876. Despite being given different names over the years, the Chicago Cubs officially rebranded to their current name in the 1907 season.
Their endeavors have been marked by both successes and hardships. For example, they had a smashing episode in 1907-1908, winning back-to-back championships. But they had bad luck after the “goat curse” that was allegedly put on the team by a fan, owner of the now famous Billy Goat Tavern, Bill Sianis, who brought his pet billy goat to the stadium and when asked to leave because the billy goat was disturbing some of the spectators, put a curse on the team saying they would not win the championship for the rest of his life. With this, the curse remained for the next 108 years until 2016 when the Cubs eventually won the World Series against the Cleveland Indians, ending the “longest sports drought in American history”. Yes, the drought is over!
During that time, the team was known as the “Loveable Losers” but today, it’s anything but that. In fact, if you want to watch some of the talented players’ at-home games at their Northside stadium, Wrigley field, you should definitely note the following dates this April and attend a Cubs game at beautiful Wrigley Field!
- 03/30, 04/01 – 04/2: vs Milwaukee Brewers
- 04/07 – 04/09: vs Rangers
- 04/10 – 04/12: vs Mariners
- 04/20 – 04/23: vs Dodgers
- 04/25 – 04/27: vs Padres
The Chicago White Sox
Chicago’s south-side and much-loved baseball team is the White Sox. Initially called the White Stockings when they were founded in 1900, shortly after which they joined the American League. Despite the fact that the team had the worst batting average in the League, they still made it to the World Series where they faced off against the Cubs. To this day, this was the one and only time that the two teams have played against each other in a championship. Despite the Cubs being favored to win, the Sox took home the win in just six games.
During the 1920s, the team faced allegations of match-fixing and worked incredibly hard to fix their reputation over the next 88 years, during which time they did not win any championships. It was in 2005 when the drought finally ended. The team won 99 games during the regular season. Then, at the World Series Championship, they faced the Houston Astros and won in just four games!
To catch this much-loved team live, you don’t want to miss their at-home games in Chicago either. Here is their schedule line-up for April 2023:
- 04/03, 04/05 – 04/06: vs Giants
- 04/14 – 04/16: vs Orioles
- 04/17 – 04/19: vs Phillies
- 04/27 – 04/30: vs Rays
What to do inside the stadium
For those of you who are planning not to miss the absolutely electric atmosphere at the stadium, it’s vital you know what to expect during the at-home games if it’s your first time going there. Firstly, there are many vendors selling drinks and food throughout the hall park. The tradition is that if you’re sitting somewhere in the middle of the stand, you’d have to pass your money to strangers and similarly receive your hot dog or beverage with the help of the same strangers who passed your money to the vendor. Don’t worry though, your hot dog is unlikely to disappear!
White Sox games are totally different but a crazy fun experience as well, with plenty of activities during the games, tailgating before and after games, and tons of great food! Sox games are famous for great giveaways before and during the games as well!
Another excellent way to enjoy the start of baseball season at the stadium is to take part in the festivities before the game begins and during game breaks. Of course, there are also team mascots who will energize you with their exciting team spirit and lead the way to many memorable chants, songs, and dances. Kids of all ages will love both Clark the Cub and Southpaw the White Sox Mascot. In fact Clark was voted the number 1 mascot in MLB!
What to do outside the stadium
The Wrigley Field stadium is located in the Wrigleyville neighborhood all around1060 W Addison St, Chicago. The area is popular with locals and tourists alike because it has so many opportunities for taking Instagrammable photos and an abundance of bars and restaurants including Murphy’s Bleachers and the Cubbie Bear, to name just a few. There are plenty of restaurants, shops and even ice cream spots to enjoy,mas well as the famous Gallagher way, which is great for family time before, during and after the game, surrounded by Statue Row. Statue Row is a place to honor the legendary Cubs Players, like Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, and the latest addition, the famous Fergie Jenkins, who pitched more complete games than any pitcher in modern MLB history and has many records and accolades. This season the Cubs will unveil their newest addition to statue row. A statue of Ryne Sandburg! Come and enjoy the rich history of Wrigley.
How to get there hassle-free
At Bus Connection, we completely understand that the last thing you want to think about is getting to and back from a game at the stadium on D-day. This is why we’ve made it easy for you to not worry about finding parking, paying parking fees, or foregoing a drink just so you can drive there. Both the White Sox and Cubbies have great selections of food, beverages and even bars around the parks to have a great time. Even if you aren’t a baseball fanatic, come out to the ball park and party with friends at one of the fine watering holes or experience a day at the park getting some sun writhe the wild bleacher bums!
With our range of buses and SUVs, we can take you and your group of friends to any of the games you’d like to cheer for. All that you need to do is simply get in touch with us to create the perfect transportation solution to meet your needs. Don’t hesitate! Our friendly team is just a phone call or a click away and ready to make your ideal baseball day a reality.