Wrigley Field A Celebration of the Friendly Confines

'The park is one of the wonders of the world, like the Taj Mahal and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon' - Ernie Banks, from the foreword. To Cubs fans, 'Wrigley Field' is many things: a museum and a hot dog stand; a day at the beach and a night in the rain; a national monument and a neighborhood hangout; a circus and a timeless 'edifice of beauty'. Simply put, it is a delightful contradiction. Shoehorned into a city showered by sleet and battered by winds, 'Wrigley Field' is an oasis, a refuge from the demands of the workweek, where homework doesn't exist and you can boo, scream, heckle, groan, high-five a complete stranger, eat popcorn, and drink beer - until the balmy days of summer give way to the chill of autumn. Through glorious photography and evocative essays, this unique pictorial tribute pays homage to the Friendly Confines, chronicling the saga of one of America's most beloved ballparks, from its opening day in 1914 to the present. Here, on this lush field of green, where the winds blowing toward Lake Michigan carry home runs over the ivy-covered bleacher walls and the hand-operated scoreboard (which no batted ball has hit) racks up another one, the past comes alive. This is hallowed ground, where Babe Ruth made his legendary 'called shot' home run in the 1932 World Series, where Gabby Hartnett hit his famous 'Homer in the Gloamin', and where the Cubs - baseball's lovable losers - have yet to win a World Series title. But Wrigley Field's appeal runs deeper than nostalgia. Indeed, there is an unmatched intimacy among the fans, the field, the players, and the city that makes the park a sacred icon to millions. Produced with the full cooperation of the Chicago Cubs, "Wrigley Field" pays fitting tribute to the ballpark's extraordinary nine decades - from the vines and the bleachers to the players and the fans - through intimate, enthralling perspectives from the team's official photographer, Stephen Green, as well as team and private archives. "Wrigley Field" is a resplendent volume, showcasing the history, vitality, and greatest moments of this national monument of sport. 'To me there's always been something magical about Wrigley Field. I refer to the ballpark as the dowager queen of the National League. I refer to the lights as a lady in black in evening, wearing pearls. Every time I come to this ballpark, I seem to feel and see another image and, above all, the enthusiasm of the crowd. It's just a very special place' - broadcaster Vin Scully. 'An afternoon at Wrigley is the greatest buy in the country. It's sitting in the sun, drinking a few beers, and telling a few lies. You can't beat the price for entertainment' - Bill Veeck. This lavishly illustrated volume brings to life and pays tribute to one of baseball's greatest ballparks. Filled with original pictures from the Chicago Cubs' official photographer as well as team and private archives, and coupled with lively essays, Wrigley Field is the most stunningly visual and complete book ever published on this beloved park. From its opening day in 1914 to the present, from its manually operated scoreboard to the climbing green ivy of its outfield walls, and from the raucous bleacher bums to bright afternoons bathed in sunlight, this story of the Friendly Confines shows why Wrigley is sacred ground to millions. 'This place is like a cathedral...the baseball version of St. Patrick's Cathedral. It's something people have seen and been to and have been associated with for not only their lifetime but their parents' lifetimes, too. You just cannot replace this type of ballpark' - Ed Lynch, former general manager of the Chicago Cubs. 'Will the last person to leave the stadium please turn out the lights' - Sign held by a fan at Wrigley Field at the end of the first complete night game.

Stephen Green began photographing Wrigley Field under an Illinois Arts Council grant in 1981. The next year, he became the Cubs' official photographer, a position he has held ever since. Before joining the Cubs full time, he was a staff photographer for the "The Oprah Winfrey Show." He lives in Oak Park, Illinois.

Mark Jacob is an assistant news editor at the Chicago Tribune and coauthor of The Game That Was. He lives in Skokie, Illinois.