On This Date in Sports August 8, 1988: Wrigley Nights

After over 70 years, Wrigley Field turns on the lights for the first time as the Chicago Cubs host the Philadelphia Phillies. A 91-year-old fan Harry Grossman turns on the lights in a pregame ceremony. Phil Bradley led off with a home run as the Cubs rallied to take a 3-1 lead before rain halted the game in the fourth inning, washing away the game.

Wrigley Field on the Northside of Chicago opened in 1914 as Weegham Park, home to the Chicago Whales of the Federal League. After the Federal League folded, the Cubs took ownership of the stadium and have played there since 1916. The stadium was renamed Cubs Park and eventually became Wrigley Field in 1926. Ivy was planted in the brick outfield walls in 1937 at the suggestion of team President Bill Veeck. The Ivy-covered walls would become the signature feature at Wrigley Field.

One reason that lights were never added to Wrigley Field was that the people who lived near the stadium were opposed to night games, fearing the brightness of the lights and the crowd noise would hurt property values. When the Cubs began exploring the addition of lights, they had to get these hurdles out of the way. As the debate raged, the MLB dangled a carrot for Chicago, allowing Wrigley Field to host an All-Star Game soon after lights were installed. The Cubs even threatened to build a new ballpark if they could not add lights. Finally, a compromise was established limiting the number of night games the Cubs could play in a season as they were given the right to host the 1990 All-Star Game.  Still, people were unhappy and protested as the Cubs prepared to turn on the lights.

The Cubs held a public workout under lights to get a feel of drawing a sellout crowd. When the night finally came, Wrigley Field was packed with celebrities, press, and baseball dignitaries despite both the Cubs, managed by Don Zimmer, and Phillies, led by Lee Elia, being far out in the playoff chase. Elia had once controlled the Cubs and ripped the fans who did not have jobs and could come out for day baseball.  A 91-year-old fan named Harry Grossman, who attended his first game in 1906, hit a button that turned on the lights. The Cubs, with a record of 53-56, had their Rick Sutcliffe on the mound, while the Phillies, at 48-62, had Kevin Gross making the start. The Phillies did not take long to get the first run as Phil Bradley hit a home run on the third pitch of the game. Mitch Webster led off the bottom of the inning with a single as Chicago looked to strike back quickly. The next batter was Ryne Sandberg, but before he could step into the box, there was a commotion as Morgana, the kissing bandit, came onto the field looking to give a peck to the Cubs' second baseman. However, the big bosomed fan who famously ran on the field kissing baseball players for more than two decades was stopped by security. Sandberg then hit a two-run shot to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead. 

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Each side wasted a chance to score in the second as the skies began to turn ominous, as a hot day in Chicago had led to the threat of thunderstorms.  In the third inning, Sandberg sparked another Cubs rally with a leadoff walk as he scored on an RBI single from Rafael Palmeiro after a steal of second and advanced to third on a bunt by Mark Grace. Sutcliffe was settling in meanwhile and retired the Phillies in order in the fourth. However, before the Cubs came to bat, the skies opened, leading to a rain delay. As the night wore on and the rain continued, four Cubs, Les Lancaster, Jody Davis, Al Nipper, and Greg Maddux, began using the tarp covering the infield as a slip n slide. This amused their teammates and the Phillies, but not Don Zimmer, who fined each player $500. Eventually, the umpires decided to call the game, wiping out all the stats, as somebody up above disapproved of the Cubs playing a night.

With the rainout, the Cubs' first official night game would be played in a Nationally Televised game on NBC against the first-place New York Mets. The Cubs had Mike Bielecki on the mound while Sid Fernandez got the start for Davey Johnson and the Mets. The two pitchers were in control early, as neither team scored in the first four innings. In the fifth inning, the Mets scored first as Wally Backman led off with a single and scored in front of Lenny Dykstra’s home run, the first official night home run at Wrigley Field. The Cubs got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a triple by Rafael Palmeiro. They would tie the game an inning later as Shawon Dunston singled, stole second, and scored on a grounder by Andre Dawson. While Frank Dipino silenced the Mets bats, the Cubs took the lead after the seventh-inning stretch as Jody Davis got an RBI double with two outs to knock Fernandez out of the game. Roger McDowell came in relief but failed to get an out as Dunston, Ryne Sandberg, Mark Grace, and Dawson all singled to make it 6-2. Terry Leach came on and retired Vance Law end of the inning. The Mets got a run back in the eighth as Howard Johnson homered off Pat Perry. In the ninth, the Mets tried to rally as Gary Carter, in the middle of a frustrating three-month drought looking for his 300th career home run, led off with a double against Goose Gossage. Dave Magadan followed with an RBI single, but Tim Teufel and Lee Mazzilli popped up, while Dykstra grounded out to end the game with a 6-4 Cubs win.