MomsTribute
Chicago has two professional baseball teams based in the city. The Chicago Cubs team plays its home games at Wrigley Field, located on the city's north side, and compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League, Central division. The other team, The Chicago White Sox, is a member of the American League, Central division. The White Sox play their home games at Guaranteed Rate Field, located on the city's south side.
Lois Walker grew up on the north side in the early 1930s. Back then most, if not all, north side families were Chicago Cub fans. South side families were avid Chicago White Sox fans. This north-south rivalry was passed on from generation to generation. Baseball was in the family blood!
On October 14th, 1908, the Chicago Cubs beat the Detroit Tigers 4-1 and won the World Series. Over the following one hundred and eight years, Chicago was to see many achievements, but, sadly, not another championship. Thus, the team came to be known as the ‘Lovable Losers.’ This phrase was a testament to fans’ loyalty during the enduring hardship they shared with their favorite team. ‘Lovable Losers’ was to be forever attached to the Chicago Cubs when America’s foremost illustrator, Norman Rockwell, captured the essence of its meaning in 1948 when he painted The Dugout. The painting expresses the anguish the Chicago Cubs were feeling during the 1948 season.
In 2016, all that loyalty paid off when the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. It was a joyous moment, not just for Cub fans present, but also for those Cub fans who lived and died during that one hundred and eight-year dry spell – they had the greatest seats to the game. There are so many stories about the love of this team and how its monumental win corresponded to family.
"Family is who you stay with through thick and thin, and, in Chicago, you do the same with your baseball team - whether it is the Cubs or the Chicago Sox."
Tom Henn, CEO MomsTribute.com
Lois’s dad, Clarence, taught her all there was to know about baseball. He umpired local games and Lois, as a young girl, would join him and help him keep score. Clarence was a practice pitcher for the Cubs at warm ups in the 1930s, as he lived nearby and was able to get to the ballpark with only a short streetcar ride. Clarence’s nephew, Kevin Hoolehan, remembers sitting in front row box seats with him as the players came by to thank him.
When Lois began dating her future husband, Bill, many of those dates involved going to Cub games. To Lois, Wrigley Field was a special place. One of a kind.
“Back then it was common for those dating or married, young or old, to have a date at the ball-park.” her son, Tom, recalls. “They were common kindred souls who loved their team. Over the years at Wrigley Field, the tradition has continued with engagements and weddings. You see, it is a structure representing family, community and baseball. Many even consider it a cathedral. I brought my young children to a game when they were 12, 8 and 4. Afterwards, one of them said, “Dad, this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen!”
Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, described it as the “Friendly Confines”. When Lois would visit the Friendly Confines and watch her Chicago Cubs with her dad or with her future husband, she understood all aspects of the game and had many favorite Cubs players over the years, whom she knew in great detail.
As the next generation followed with their own passion for the Cubs, Lois was more than happy to support it. Tom recounts the story of him and his brother, Tim, with other friends planning to skip school and go to Chicago Cub’s opening day. In order to avoid trouble, they would need a signed note to present to the school principal. So they forged their mom’s signature. Tom, thinking ahead, decided to write some extra notes for future games but Lois found them. Tom told her the truth. “Next time” she said, “just tell me, and I’ll write the note.”
To say that Wrigley Field is a Kid Friendly Venue is an understatement. It represents all that is safe, memorable and inspiring for any young child. Our KidFriendlyVenues app on our website momstribute.com has all the details for you to need for your next family day out.
Amenities at Wrigley Field for children include:
Barbara B
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