Cubs to celebrate 1920s with throwback homestand

CHICAGO -- The 1920s marked the Cubs debut of players such as Hack Wilson, Kiki Cuyler, Rogers Hornsby, Charlie Root, Gabby Hartnett and Charlie Grimm. On Friday, Wrigley Field's 100th birthday party continues with a celebration of the 1920s at the Cubs' home ballpark.

The Cubs face the Cardinals in a three-game series starting Friday, and then meet their intracity rivals, the White Sox, for two games at Wrigley Field starting Monday.

On Sunday, the Cubs will wear throwback 1929 uniforms in honor of the National League championship team, which finished 98-54 under Hall of Fame manager Joe McCarthy and played the first World Series games at Wrigley Field. The Cubs lost the first two home contests to the Philadelphia Athletics, and they won Game 3 at Shibe Park behind pitcher Guy Bush. Chicago lost the next two games.

The Cardinals will wear a 1929-inspired retro uniform on Sunday as well.

As for those Cubs players in the 1920s, Root won 19 games in 1929, and he threw 19 complete games out of his 31 starts. Starter Pat Malone won 22 games that year, and he also threw 19 complete games, including five shutouts. Cubs fans had to wait until 1930 for Wilson, a Hall of Famer, to set the single-season RBI record of 191. That mark still stands.

Back to the '20s. On Friday, the Cubs' historic bobblehead series will feature Red Grange, the University of Illinois running back who ran for three touchdowns as a sophomore in a 29-0 win over Northwestern on Oct. 27, 1923.

On Saturday, the first 10,000 adults 21 and over to enter Wrigley will receive a Cubs fedora hat presented by Budweiser. On Sunday, the first 5,000 kids 13 and under will receive a Cubs yo-yo.

The 1920s homestand concludes Tuesday against the White Sox when Cubs Charities team up with Advocate Health Care to "Pink Out" the Budweiser Bleachers. This is the Cubs' last home game before Mother's Day on May 11, and each fan attending in the bleachers will receive a Cubs Charities "Save 2nd Base" shirt to promote breast cancer awareness and celebrate moms and women everywhere who are cancer survivors. T-shirts will be distributed at the gates by the wives of Cubs players and coaches.

Fans throughout the ballpark are encouraged to wear pink on Tuesday. The Cubs Store, located across from Wrigley Field at the corner of Clark and Addison Streets, will display a "Pink Out" section, with pink Cubs merchandise and a 10 percent discount on engraved pink bats.

All fans in attendance on Tuesday are encouraged to participate in the Cubs Charities 50/50 raffle, because proceeds will benefit mammograms for underinsured and uninsured women through Advocate Charitable Foundation. For tickets and information, visit cubs.com/pink.

If you're craving some 1920s-inspired eats, check out the Decade Diner, located inside Gate D near section 142. The 1920s homestand specials include a Kraft Italian Grinder sandwich with sliced capicola, salami, mortadella, ham and Kraft provolone cheese served on a garlic-butter toasted hoagie roll. There also will be a Po Boy sandwich with crispy chicken tenders on a toasted hoagie with shredded lettuce, tomato and Cajun aioli.

The Decade Dogs stand near section 123 will serve the classic Chicago Dog, representing the 1920s. The Chicago Dog is available all season long and features a Vienna Beef hot dog, tomato wedges, pickle spears, sport peppers, diced onions, mustard, neon relish and celery salt, served on a poppy-seed bun.

Adults 21 and over can enjoy a 1920s Upper Deck Gin Rickey, a cocktail made with Tanqueray Gin, lime juice and basil-infused club soda, served in limited-edition souvenir glasses Friday through Tuesday on the main concourse at section 109 and the bleacher patio in left field.

On Saturday, three nieces of Margaret Donahue, a pioneer female executive who was hired by William Veeck in 1919 and retired in '59, will sing during the seventh-inning stretch. Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould will throw Monday's ceremonial first pitch and sing to mark the start of the Crosstown Cup battle against the White Sox.

What happened at Wrigley in the 1920s? On Oct. 10, 1920, the Chicago Tigers played the Racine Cardinals for the first professional football game at then-Cubs Park. In 1921, the Chicago Staleys (now Bears) made Cubs Park their new home. Cubs Park would be renamed Wrigley Field in 1926 and would host its first World Series game in 1929. To learn more about the historic moments that took place at Wrigley Field, visit wrigleyfield100.com.

Tickets for both the Cardinals series and the two-game Interleague series against the White Sox remain available at cubs.com or 800-THE-CUBS (800-843-2827).