No one can question or belittle the history shared by these two teams and one ancient ballpark. They are some of the most poignant bullet points in their baseball history.
Between monumental hits for Stan Musial, incomparable performances by Ryne Sandberg and improbable heroes such as So Taguchi, there has been triumph, tragedy and lots of amusing trinkets at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
That said, let’s be real for a moment: The romantic qualities assigned to games between the Cardinals and the Cubs, particularly games in mid-May, are mostly instigated and propagated by the media and fans. And there’s no harm, no foul in that. But if you talk to baseball players about a series at Wrigley Field, you are more likely to get the kind of enthusiasm normally reserved for a trip to the laundromat. Again, understandably so.
Updates, video and live scoring on our Cardinals app. Text CARDS to 46275 to download.
Fans might love the antiquated environment and baseball retrospective Wrigley provides. But the 97-year-old ballyard is no day at the park for visiting players, acclimated as they are to more modern facilities.
They have walk-in closets at home that are bigger than the visiting clubhouse at Wrigley. There are no video rooms, no indoor batting cages. Indoor plumbing is about as fancy as it gets. And while a Cubs-Cardinals series inspires revelry about rivalry from fans and reporters, players don’t necessarily get the same adrenaline rush. There are some 30 teams on the schedule, 4½ months still to cover.
Make no mistake. Frank Sinatra wasn’t alone when it comes to enjoying Chicago’s “razzmatazz.” Chicago is everyone’s “kind of town” to visit. But players don’t get any more jazzed up about competing in the Baby Bears’ den than they might about competing anywhere else during an 81-game travel itinerary.
Why would they?
The Cardinals batted .274 at Wrigley last season but hit higher at five other opposing parks. They clouted nine home runs at Wrigley — and hit that many or more in three other “away” stadiums. They also struck out 66 times at Wrigley last season, easily their largest collection of K-cups at an opposing park, and bounced into 11 double plays, five more than anywhere else.
A NEWCOMER TO RIVALRY
Lance Berkman, who is in his first season with the Redbirds, will dip his toes in the Cards-Cubs competition for the first time when the teams meet tonight. While with New York last season, Berkman experienced the celebrated contentiousness between the Yankees and Red Sox. But if you’re looking for fightin’ words or inflammatory insights, you’d do better to interview an Addison Street parking attendant.
“The fans and the media are the ones that really get that fired up about it,” Berkman said. “I mean for us, obviously we want to win, they’re a tough team. But it’s not like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is a blood match.’”
The truth will set you free, and Cardinals fans only hope that’s the case for the switch-hitting “Puma.” Berkman’s been a .220 hitter at Wrigley through his career, with more strikeouts (77 in 268 at-bats) than at any other opposing park.
He might get more blubbery about Milwaukee, Pittburgh, Arizona and Cincinnati — all places where he has been more productive.
“I’m not a huge fan of Wrigley,” he added. “Chicago’s great and it’s a festive atmosphere … but it’s a tough place to play.”
Matt Holliday can commiserate. Holliday has won a batting title and is widely respected as one of baseball’s dynamic sticks. But the Cards left fielder has a higher batting average at 25 major-league fields other than Wrigley, including US Cellular Park across town. In 22 career games, at the “Friendly Confines,” Holliday is batting .264 with one home run and five runs batted in.
“I mean, I enjoy the atmosphere once the game starts and I enjoy the city,” Holliday said. “But I’m not crazy about the stadium. The clubhouse is really small, there’s no hitting cages where you can warm up … so, you know, it’s not a place you necessarily get excited about.”
As for hitting: “If the wind is blowing out, it’s great. But if it’s blowing in … And the grass is usually high, it slows down the ball. It can be a tough place to play.”
For the record, the wind normally comes off Lake Michigan (less than a mile east of the ballpark) during April and May, translating into a northeast wind, i.e. one that is “blowing in.” Potential home runs become much ado about nothing. The amusement park can turn quiet as a church.
THERIOT’S HOMECOMING
That’s not to say there isn’t clubhouse excitement imbedded in this season’s first trip to the House that Chewing Gum built. The series represents a reunion for Cardinals second baseman Ryan Theriot, who will know the Cards-Cubs experience from both sides now. Drafted by the Cubs, Theriot cut his teeth at Wrigley where he was a popular player through his initial six seasons. He has not returned since being traded to Los Angeles last July.
In the meantime, Theriot might have wrinkled a few brows in Wrigleyville after being acquired by the Cardinals last winter. He went on a St. Louis radio station and pronounced he was “finally on the right side” of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.
Theriot was referring to matters of the postseason, not matters of the heart. But he realizes, in the minds of those who promote the “rivalry,” perception is reality.
“What kind of reception do you think I’ll get?” he wondered aloud. “I don’t know; I hope it’s good. I’m definitely looking forward to getting back over there. That was home for a long time for me, I’m excited about going back.”
Theriot has practical reasons for Wrigley Field fondness. He is a .297 career batsman in Chicago, where he has clubbed 12 of 16 career homers. As for the Cards-Cubs schmaltz, the combative emotion is mostly outsourced.
“I always enjoyed it because it was always two top-of-the-division teams playing each other, and really meaningful games,” Theriot added. “So there’s a little bit extra” for that reason.
At least one other Cardinal is anticipating the series. Twenty-four-year-old lefthander Jaime Garcia never has started a game at Wrigley. His only start against the Cubs — a loss — was last season at Busch Stadium. Garcia figures to get the ball for Thursday afternoon’s game.
“It’s always exciting because of the fans,” Garcia said. “I’m looking forward to it. I mean, I’m going to treat it like I treat any other start, like I would pitching anywhere. But I know it’s a great atmosphere and it will be fun.”
THE BOTTOM LINE
In summation, the rivalry ingredients will be in the eye of the beholder at Wrigley Field this week.
The players simply don’t place more emphasis on three days in May, vs. three days in August, September or October.
But a Cards-Cubs series at Wrigley promises to be “fun,” which is something everyone might agree on.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Earlier versions of this story contained an incorrect age for 97-year-old Wrigley Field.
