August 8, 1988: Lights at Wrigley Field

Well, let me steal an idea from The Beatles and the first line of “Sgt Pepper’s“: “It was 33 years ago today that Wrigley turned the lights to play … “

Like many pre-woke baseball fans, I got ready to watch the national broadcast.  Our second son was two weeks old, and the first one had a baseball jersey on, and our family was ready for a night game in famous Wrigley.  How could my young sons miss history being made in Chicago?  Such was the passion for baseball before the commissioner decided to go woke and turn off millions of us.

As I recall, the game was rained out, but the lights went on before the summer showers came. 

It all started at 6:05 P.M.., when 91-year-old Cubs fan Harry Grossman began the countdown.  ”Three…two…one…let there be lights!”

Grossman pressed a button, and light towers were on.  Wonder if Mr. Grossman was around for the 2016 World Series title?  Hopefully yes, but I don’t know for sure.  Millions around the country were probably caught up in the whole thing.

For years, Cubs fans were raised on day baseball.  It was charming, especially for kids off from school.  One of my first summer memories in the U.S. was walking to a park and seeing this older couple listening to the Cubs on their front porch.  As I recall, the lady was keeping score because she was holding a book and a pencil.

During my time in Mexico, one of my neighbors had an early version of a satellite antenna, and we would often light up the grill and catch the Cubs on TV.

It made afternoon rush-hour traffic a bit interesting listening to WGN radio and driving home.  It brought morning baseball to West Coast fans.  It allowed the players to play ball and have dinner with their families.

Eventually, economics caught up with the Cubs.  It’s hard to play daytime baseball when TV viewership is crucial to pro sports.  It was fun while it lasted.