A Tornado Delay at Wrigley Field
Act 1: It had all the makings of a peaceful evening at Wrigley Field – an early 6:05 pm start followed by a BBQ at home. However, as the game continued, the skies over Wrigley Field became darker and darker. We knew a thunderstorm was approaching. What we did not know was the wild evening the weather would provide us.
After Alfonso Soriano grounded out to end the 5th inning (making the game official), it started to downpour and the game was immediately postponed at 7:39 pm. We thought we were in for a regular rain delay so we did what any rain delayed baseball fan should do – we bought some Old Styles and chatted with the other fans through the delay.
At 8:06 pm the tornado sirens sounded (the first time I have ever heard the sirens not being tested) and Nicole and I scurried down from the upper deck to the lower level concourse as the winds and rain began to pick up. While standing on the lower level concourse with the rest of the fans at Wrigley, we realized the Houston Astros were walking between their dugout and the clubhouse on a ramp that was above the lower level concourse. Everyone was surprised they did not have an underground passageway, but it made for an entertaining rain delay. Carlos Lee, former Chicago White Sox, continued to poke his head out of the tarp which was supposed to hide the players and waived a sign “White Sox Rule!” to the Wrigley faithful. Cubs’ fans booed while Astros’ fans worshipped.
At 9:00 pm, even though espn.com was reporting the game was still delayed, the security guards stated the game had been called and the Cubs took the loss. Thus, Nicole and I headed home to eat dinner (inside of course).
Act 2: While we were eating, we were watching the news and heard the Cubs game would be starting back up at 10:20 pm. Since the Cubs have a strict no re-entry policy we thought there was no way to get back into Wrigley. However, we decided that since the Cubs had told us the game was over, they would have to let us back in. If they did not, we planned to watch the game from the knothole on Sheffield Ave.
Act 3: As we approached the gate, security was letting fans back in the park. We showed our tickets stubs and walked back in. One security guard commented they never should have told the fans the game was over, because now they needed to let people back in the park. It was the first time, Nicole and I had been able to go home during a rain delay and come back to the park when play re-started.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, after Soriano struck out for the first out of the inning, we heard one of the loudest thunder cracks we had ever heard. In fact, it must have been the loudest Lance Berkman had heard as well since he immediately ran off the field before the umpires waived all of the players off the field for the second time at 11:12 pm.
Nicole and I again went into the lower concourse as the rain drenched Wrigley Field. We were debating whether or not to head home, when Wrigley crowd management officially said the game was over at 11:51 pm – making last night’s game the second rain shortened game I have ever attended – the first occurring on September 19, 1997.
After Alfonso Soriano grounded out to end the 5th inning (making the game official), it started to downpour and the game was immediately postponed at 7:39 pm. We thought we were in for a regular rain delay so we did what any rain delayed baseball fan should do – we bought some Old Styles and chatted with the other fans through the delay.
At 8:06 pm the tornado sirens sounded (the first time I have ever heard the sirens not being tested) and Nicole and I scurried down from the upper deck to the lower level concourse as the winds and rain began to pick up. While standing on the lower level concourse with the rest of the fans at Wrigley, we realized the Houston Astros were walking between their dugout and the clubhouse on a ramp that was above the lower level concourse. Everyone was surprised they did not have an underground passageway, but it made for an entertaining rain delay. Carlos Lee, former Chicago White Sox, continued to poke his head out of the tarp which was supposed to hide the players and waived a sign “White Sox Rule!” to the Wrigley faithful. Cubs’ fans booed while Astros’ fans worshipped.
At 9:00 pm, even though espn.com was reporting the game was still delayed, the security guards stated the game had been called and the Cubs took the loss. Thus, Nicole and I headed home to eat dinner (inside of course).
Act 2: While we were eating, we were watching the news and heard the Cubs game would be starting back up at 10:20 pm. Since the Cubs have a strict no re-entry policy we thought there was no way to get back into Wrigley. However, we decided that since the Cubs had told us the game was over, they would have to let us back in. If they did not, we planned to watch the game from the knothole on Sheffield Ave.
Act 3: As we approached the gate, security was letting fans back in the park. We showed our tickets stubs and walked back in. One security guard commented they never should have told the fans the game was over, because now they needed to let people back in the park. It was the first time, Nicole and I had been able to go home during a rain delay and come back to the park when play re-started.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, after Soriano struck out for the first out of the inning, we heard one of the loudest thunder cracks we had ever heard. In fact, it must have been the loudest Lance Berkman had heard as well since he immediately ran off the field before the umpires waived all of the players off the field for the second time at 11:12 pm.
Nicole and I again went into the lower concourse as the rain drenched Wrigley Field. We were debating whether or not to head home, when Wrigley crowd management officially said the game was over at 11:51 pm – making last night’s game the second rain shortened game I have ever attended – the first occurring on September 19, 1997.
Labels: Chicago Cubs
posted by Ultimate Sports Fan, Andrew @ 12:35 PM
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