Wrigley Field

  Built originally for the Chicago Whales of the Federal League in 1914, Wrigley Field (then known as “Weeghman Park”) didn’t begin to resemble its current day form until 1938. That was the point at which the oddly off-center bleachers were added to the outfield, along with the taller-than-average brick walls covered with ivy. Wrigley Field is no doubt a classic one-of-a-kind stadium with a rich history rivaled only by Fenway Park among active venues. But as much as it’s appreciated historically, Wrigley is just as interesting for how it influences the game on the field.

  Perhaps its most notable in-play feature is how receptive it is to the strong winds that blow into and out of nearby Lake Michigan. Average wind speed is about 10 mph (2nd highest in MLB) and its strong effect on fly ball distance is not closely matched by any other park. Ballpark Pal estimates the difference between an in-blowing 10-mph wind and an out-blowing one to be 5.2% or about 21 feet of carry for a 400-foot fly ball (the next closest is Citizens Bank Park at 3.9%).

  Although wind direction is highly variable from day-to-day, it tends to blow from the right (44%) more often than from the left (20%), and it blows in (45%) slightly more than it does out (38%). Temperature also tends to vary a decent amount over the course of a season as games below 60 degrees are just as common as those played in 80 and above. While Wrigley Field’s central tendency is to play as a pitchers park, it can just as easily set up as the most favorable park for hitters on a given day. Overall, the North Side Chicago venue ranks #1 in all of MLB in variability and it isn’t particularly close.

  Also unmatched by any other is its peculiar shape. Wrigley has the deepest foul pole measurements in MLB (354 to left, 355 to right) and the corners of the field are guarded by 16-foot tall walls on each side. As difficult as it is to hit a home run down the line, the types of fly balls that make it into the left field bleachers can sometimes be considered criminal. Although the fence is about 3 feet taller than average, the ‘368’ sign in shallow left-center field marks one of the top HR spots that exist among active stadiums.