10 of the best non-baseball moments at Wrigley Field since the Cubs' last World Series
When the Indians and Cubs square off at Wrigley Field for Game 3 on Friday night, it will be the first time Wrigley has hosted a World Series game since Game 7 of the 1945 World Series. While the ivy-covered walls haven't seen a Fall Classic in 71 years, they have been home to plenty of memorable moments.
Before you watch the Cubs try to make history, here are 10 of the best non-baseball moments at Wrigley Field since 1945:
10. The Harlem Globetrotters play under the lights
Thirty-four years before the Cubs played a home game at night, Wrigley Field hosted an evening game when the Harlem Globetrotters came to town on Aug. 21, 1954. With portable lights illuminating the temporary court, the Globetrotters defeated George Mikan's U.S. Stars, 57-51.
Of course, that's not the only Globetrotters connection: Ferguson Jenkins, who pitched for the Cubs from 1966-73, also played with the traveling basketball superstars.
9. Sam Snead goes deep
Before the Cubs took on the Reds to open the season in 1951, pro golfer Sam Snead showed up and smashed a golf ball over the center-field scoreboard. While it was a golf ball and not a baseball, it was the first time it had ever happened (perhaps
Reds manager Luke Sewell wasn't impressed, though. "Yeah, but can he hit a curveball?" the manager asked.
8. Northwestern plays the first football game at Wrigley in 40 years
When Northwestern played Illinois on Nov. 20, 2010, it was the first time a football game was played there since the Bears' final Wrigley Field game on Dec. 13, 1970. It was a a perfect choice of teams, too, as Northwestern and Illinois played the first Wrigley Field football game back in 1923.
This time, though, there were a few modifications. Because of how the football field was angled, the teams played toward one end zone, flipping sides whenever possession changed.
Illinois would win the game, 48-27, thanks to a school-record 330 yards rushing from Mikel Leshoure.
7. The Cubs win the division with Henry Rowengartner
For many young fans, "Rookie of the Year" was an early introduction to baseball and the North Siders. Filming scenes in Wrigley Field helped make the film feel real, which may be why you can say the name "Chet Steadman" to someone born after 1980, and they probably have feelings for him about as deep as they do for Ryne Sandberg or Sammy Sosa.
Plus, thanks to Rowengartner's underhanded pitching, the Cubs would go on to win the World Series. Which is no small feat.
6. The Blackhawks and Red Wings play the first hockey game at Wrigley Field
While the stadium had played host to football and basketball games in the past, the 2009 Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Red Wings was the first time a hockey game was played there. Unfortunately for Chicago fans, there was no Chicago home-ice advantage. The Red Wings turned around a 3-1 deficit to win, 6-4.
5. Michael Jordan makes his baseball debut
OK, so this one was baseball, but it wasn't a Major League game. On April 7, 1994, the Cubs and White Sox played in the Windy City Classic, a Spring Training matchup between the city rivals. That in itself isn't notable, but when it marked the return of NBA legend and Chicago demigod Michael Jordan, it certainly did become memorable. While Jordan committed an error in right field, he also went 2-for-5 at the plate. Not bad for a former basketball player.
4. Gale Sayers scores six touchdowns
The Bears played at Wrigley Field before it was even called Wrigley Field -- hosting games there from 1921 (when it was Cubs Park) until 1970. There may have been no better performance than the day that Gale Sayers scored six touchdowns in the team's 61-20 win against the 49ers on Dec. 12, 1965.
Sayers scored on an 80-yard reception, an 85-yard punt return, and four rushing touchdowns, including a 50-yard sprint. Oh yeah, he was also a rookie.
3. Ferris Bueller takes in a Cubs game
Not only has "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" become one of the most iconic movies, but a scene at Wrigley Field is one of its highlights. And it's all capped off with a fantastic barehanded grab.
Perhaps even better is that the film used footage from a real Cubs game. Larry Granillo discovered that the game in the film was the Cubs' 4-2 loss to the Braves on June 5, 1985, and the one they filmed was on Sept. 24, 1985. They picked a good one to shoot at. Though the Cubs lost to the Expos (the final score was 17-15), the Cubs scored a whopping 12 runs in the final three innings.
2. Pearl Jam plays with Ernie Banks
While Jimmy Buffett was the first to play a concert at Wrigley Field in 2005 -- kicking off a popular series of performances at the park -- it's Cubs fan Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam that set records. During Pearl Jam's 2013 Lightning Bolt Tour, they sold out Wrigley Field faster than any other concert.
Far better than the ticket sales was the special guest that the band brought on stage: None other than Cubs legend Ernie Banks. The Hall of Fame shortstop came out to help the band sing the Cubs anthem "All the Way" -- a pretty fitting tribute for the fans and the band.
1. The Bears win the final championship at Wrigley Field
While the Bears had won the NFL championship at Wrigley before 1945, they did it only once (at Wrigley) after the Cubs' final World Series appearance. Facing the Giants in frigid eight-degree temperatures on Dec. 29, 1963, the Bears won, 14-10, thanks to a quarterback sneak from Bill Wade.
The footage may be old, but it's so cold, you can clearly see the condensation from players breathing:
Can the Cubs bring a championship back to Wrigley in 2016? Tune in to watch Game 3 on Friday, with air time at 7:30 p.m. ET l game time at 8 p.m. on FOX.
