Manual Scoreboard

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Installed to maintain a connection with baseball's earlier eras, the scoreboard reflects the stadium's identity as the oldest park in the National League and the second-oldest in the majors. Wrigley was the last Major League Baseball park to have lights installed for night games in 1988, yet it retained this manual scoring method. Unlike the video scoreboards added during the "1060 Project" renovations—a 3,990 sq ft Jumbotron in left field and a 2,400 sq ft screen in right field—the original center field board remains. Its presence underscores the park's designation as a National Historic Landmark in 2020, ensuring that the "historical significance of Wrigley Field" remains interwoven with the game's presentation.

In Their Own Story

The manual scoreboard has witnessed decades of history since Bill Veeck planted ivy vines against the outfield walls in 1937. While the source does not narrate specific moments of operators flipping tiles, it confirms the board's enduring presence through major eras: from the Chicago Whales' championship in 1915 to the Cubs' first playoff series win at home on October 13, 2015. During that historic victory against the Philadelphia Phillies, Kyle Schwarber hit a home run that landed on top of the right-field scoreboard, but the center field manual board continued its steady work. The board survived the massive "1060 Project" renovations between 2014 and 2019, which added new video screens and expanded bleachers, proving its resilience as a static icon amidst modernization.

Reader's Guide

Fans visiting Wrigley Field can find the hand-turned scoreboard in center field, distinct from the electronic additions made during recent renovations. To view it, spectators should look beyond the bleachers where the red marquee and ivy-covered brick walls frame the scene. The source highlights that the stadium offers unique views from rooftops behind the outfield, providing a vantage point to observe the scoreboard's operation in the context of the surrounding residential neighborhood. Unlike the new Jumbotrons used for replays, this board serves a singular purpose: displaying the game's status manually. It remains active today, standing as one of the few remaining Federal League park features and a testament to the 600-foot elevation of the playing field.

Did You Know?

• Wrigley Field is the only remaining park from the Federal League.
• The stadium was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2020.
• Bill Veeck planted ivy vines against the outfield walls in 1937.
• Wrigley Field was the last MLB park to install lights for night games, which happened in 1988.