These are Wrigley's greatest moments

These are Wrigley's greatest moments

January 25th, 2021

CHICAGO -- The ballpark at the corner of Clark and Addison opened its doors more than a century ago. With its ivy-covered walls and manual scoreboard, Wrigley Field has become a beloved piece of baseball's landscape and the game's history.

Designated as a National Historic Landmark last year, Wrigley Field has hosted three All-Star Games (1947, '67 and '90) and five NFL championships (1933, '37, '41, '43 and '63). The ballpark has been the site for eight no-hitters, including the legendary "double no-no" between Hippo Vaughn and Fred Toney in 1917 and the first by an African-American pitcher (Sam Jones in '55).

• Everything you need to know about Wrigley Field

The old stadium has seen milestones not only for Cubs, but rivals. It was the location for Tom Glavine's 300th win (Aug. 5, 2007), a four-homer game by Mike Schmidt (April 17, 1976) and Stan Musial's 3,000th hit (May 13, 1958).

There has been so much history that has taken place at the Friendly Confines that it is nearly an impossible task to narrow it to a short list. Incredible moments like David Bote's ultimate slam in 2018 or Tuffy Rhodes' three Opening Day homers off hit the cutting-room floor.

There have also been infamous moments that will not make this list -- moments like calling his shot in the 1932 World Series, local tavern owner William Sianis not being permitted to bring his pet goat into the 1945 World Series (resulting in the supposed "Billy Goat's Curse") or The Bartman Game in the 2003 National League Championship Series.

With all of that in mind, here are our picks for the Top 10 moments in Wrigley Field history:

1. Reversing the curse
Date: Oct. 30, 2016

The first two World Series games at the Friendly Confines since 1945 did not go according to plan for the Cubs, who dropped Games 3 and 4 to Cleveland to fall into a 3-1 series hole. Then, 's fourth-inning shot to left-center field off in Game 5 woke up the Wrigley crowd and the Cubs. It sparked a three-run outburst that proved to be enough to support a solid outing. then recorded the final eight outs, sending the World Series back to Cleveland.

The Cubs routed the Tribe in Game 6 and then emerged victorious in a Game 7 for the ages. When the Cubs returned to Chicago, it was for a parade that was more than a century in the making. That is why the momentum swing in the historic Game 5 finds its way to the top slot on this list of all-time Wrigley moments.

2. Wood K's 20
Date: May 6, 1998

It was one of the great singular performances in baseball history. Facing a Houston lineup that included a few future Hall of Famers, a 21-year-old Kerry Wood carved his name into the record books with an unbelievable, 20-strikeout showing in only his fifth career outing. At the time, Wood joined Roger Clemens as only the second pitcher to reach 20 K's in a nine-inning game. Wood's 105 Game Score is the highest in history for a nine-inning contest.

3. Clinching '16 pennant
Date: Oct. 22, 2016

The Cubs had not reached a World Series since '45. They had not won one since 1908. So, emotions were understandably overflowing -- around Chicago, in the Wrigley Field stands and on the field -- when the Cubs clinched the pennant in Game 6 of the National League Championship against the Dodgers. Chicago won the final three games, culminating in out-dueling in the clinching victory. The rest, as they say, was history.

4. Slammin' 61 and 62
Date: Sept. 13, 1998

The '98 home run chase between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire captivated the nation. Sosa's 20-homer June thrust him into the spotlight and suddenly both he and St. Louis' slugger were in pursuit of Roger Maris' record of 61 shots in '61. In a wild game against Milwaukee on Sept. 13, Sosa launched Nos. 61 and 62, and broadcaster Chip Caray proclaimed: "Move over, Big Mac! You've got company!" McGwire ended the year with 70, while Slammin' Sammy belted 66 and took home the NL MVP Award.

5. Mr. Cub joins 500 club
Date: May 12, 1970

Already a sure-fire Hall of Famer, was 39 years old and nearing the end of an historic career when he stepped to the plate on this date in '70. When he smacked a high-and-tight fastball from Atlanta's Pat Jarvis just over the left-field wall, Mr. Cub became the ninth player to reach 500 career home runs. Broadcaster Jack Brickhouse blared: "That's it! That's it! Hey, hey! He did it! Ernie Banks gets number 500!" It was a joyous moment one year after the Cubs' collapse of '69. And it was fitting that Banks achieved the feat on May 12, as he ended with 512 career blasts.

6. Homer in the Gloamin'
Date: Sept. 28, 1938

The skies were darkening over Wrigley Field with the Cubs and Pirates caught in a 5-5 deadlock. Chicago was a half-game behind the Pittsburgh in the chase for the NL pennant, following an incredible, steady, month-long climb up the standings. The umpires huddled and talked things over, deciding to proceed with the home half of the ninth. With two outs, drilled an 0-2 pitch from Mace Brown out to left for a game-winning homer. One of the great homers in Cubs history, it pushed the North Siders into first, where they stayed en route to a trip to the World Series.

7. The Sandberg Game
Date: June 23, 1984

In an unforgettable, 12-11 win over the rival Cardinals, launched not one, but two late game-tying homers off Hall of Fame closer . He pulled the game into a 9-9 tie with a leadoff blast in the ninth and hit a two-run shot in the 10th that evened things, 11-11. Sandberg's five-hit, seven-RBI showing set things up for Dave Owen to deliver a walk-off single in the 11th inning. It was the signature game of Sandberg's '84 NL MVP season and Hall of Fame career.

8. The slam that shook Wrigley
Date: Oct. 15, 2016

One year after being swept in the '15 NLCS, the Cubs made a powerful statement in Game 1 of the '16 NLCS against the Dodgers. With the score knotted, 3-3, in the eighth inning, manager Joe Maddon turned to veteran as a pinch-hitter to face . Montero delivered, crushing an 0-2, two-out pitch deep into the left-field seats for a pinch-hit, go-ahead grand slam that had the Friendly Confines quaking. It was the first time in MLB history that a pinch-hit slam provided the go-ahead run in a playoff game. Three wins later, and the Cubs had punched their ticket to the World Series.

9. Beating Cards in October
Date: Oct. 13, 2015

The Cubs and Cardinals have one of the oldest and most famous rivalries not only in baseball, but across all sports. In 2015, they met in the postseason for the first time. In Game 4, Chicago launched three homers -- one each for , and -- and clinched a spot in the NLCS. Rizzo's was a go-ahead blast in the sixth. Schwarber followed with a towering shot in the seventh that became a part of Cubs lore. The baseball came to rest atop the scoreboard in right field and, for a time, was encased where it landed.

10. Let there be lights
Date: Aug. 8-9, 1988

The Cubs were the last MLB team to install lights at their ballpark and planned to flip the official switch on 8/8/88. Unfortunately, the baseball gods brought rain and the Aug. 8 contest was washed away. Notable moments from that first night were Ernie Banks throwing the first pitch, and doing tarp slides with a few teammates. On Aug. 9, the lights came on for a 6-4 victory against the Mets.

Other notable moments in Wrigley Field history:

• July 26, 2005: Greg Maddux records 3,000th strikeout.

• Sept. 28, 1998: Game 163 win over Giants.

• April 7, 1994: Michael Jordan faces Cubs in exhibition game.

• Oct. 2, 1984: Rout of Padres in Game 1 of NLCS.

• June 29, 1969: Billy Williams sets NL consecutive games record.

• Oct. 8, 1945: Stan Hack's 12th-inning walk-off in Game 6 of World Series.

• September of 1937: The Clavey family plants Wrigley's famous ivy.

• August 25, 1922: Phillies beat Cubs, 26-23, in MLB's highest-scoring game.

• April 20, 1916: The Cubs play their first NL game at the ballpark.

• April 23, 1914: First-ever MLB game played at the stadium.