DanMargarita.com

The last time the teams met in meaningful competition, the 1918 World Series, the Sox star player was a lean, left-handed pitcher-outfielder named Ruth. The Babe never actually played at Wrigley though, since the Cubs decided to play their home games at the more spacious Comiskey Park across town. Even in 1918 baseball club owners were intent on raking in every last buck.

For me, the Friday game could only be witnessed from afar, as my plane was delayed and I sat in the Manchester Airport while Sox pitchers were pulverized by Cub hitters, but Saturday was a hot, humid day (remember those?) designed for baseball.

Built in 1914, just two years after Fenway was erected, Wrigley is a double-decked version of our hometown ballpark without all of the garish signage. The only concession to modern commercialism is the rotating advertising sign behind home plate that can be seen from the centerfield TV camera.

Unlike Fenway, there seems to be no shortage legroom at Wrigley for patrons. Sox fans are fond of explaining that their discomfort is due to the fact that fans just weren’t as big in 1912, when Fenway Park was built. If this were true, there must have been some sort of government-induced genetic expansion of Americans between 1912 and 1914 for Wrigley’s opening.

The atmosphere at the ballpark was electric. With the stadium filled to capacity, there were seemingly almost as many Red Sox fans as Cubs fans. The arrival of Beantowners seemed to spark some antagonism from the locals, though as usual it was done with typical Midwestern politeness, not generally seen at Fenway.

One newly-scrawled men’s room graffiti message read “Cubs rule! Sox fans, go home and screw your mother, love, Drew Pesman.”

Sox fans certainly felt at home with the “Here we go Red Sox, here we go” chant, which drew boos from Cubs fans in response.

Unlike any modern ballpark, Wrigley has no giant video screen to watch replays, but the posts supporting the upper deck all have video monitors, and have since my first visit there in 1985. This was long before the Red Sox did the same thing.

One unfortunate throw-back to pre-World War I though, is the “trough” style men’s room, making peeing a communal experience. Even Fenway hasn’t had that in about 20 years.

Chicago is a pretty good drinking town, and the authorities seem to feel that Cubs fans are responsible enough that beer may be sold right from the can in the stands, notwithstanding the fan who stole a Dodger’s pitcher’s cap, causing a brawl with fans and players in 2000.

The Sox lost the game, but that didn’t stop hundreds of Boston fans from doing what Cubs fans do when their team loses, and what Sox fans do regardless of outcome---drink. Nestled in a neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side, the area is filled with bars and taverns and the neighborhood buzzes before and after games.

There are plenty of entertainment options in Chicago, which on this particular weekend is hosting the Chicago Blues Festival, which seems appropriate for any city containing the Cubs and their tortured history.

Having had my blues fix the night before at Buddy Guy’s Legends club, I headed to the ESPN Zone after the game. Sure, it’s an expensive tourist trap, but is has a multitude of TV’s to watch games from all over the country.

My next experience wasn’t something you’d find in any tourist guide book. Upon leaving the ESPN Zone, I approached Michigan Ave and saw several bicyclists peddling by. People were whooping cheering and taking photos of them. As I got closer I realized why. Many of the cyclists were scantily clad while the majority of them were completely unclad, except for helmets, which is ironic in that they would find that the most important part of the body to protect. Suddenly, I felt like I was in a bizarre version of the movie The Sixth Sense.

“I see nude people.”

Yup, naked people riding bikes down Michigan Ave (hopefully, on non-rented bikes). I later found out that the day was “World Naked Bike Ride Day” which was celebrated in several cities around the globe. The point was to protest cars, oil companies and quite possibly, clothing.

The Sunday game was at night for broadcast on ESPN. While the late starting time whittled away some Bostonians who had to be back for work on Monday, a surprising number stayed to cheer on their Beantown boys.

With their team holding a lead late in the game, some well-lubricated Sox fans began the “Yankees Suck” chant. As moronic as it is at Fenway, this mantra made less sense at a game in Chicago with the Yankees nowhere in sight.

The Sox were able to finally win a game against the Cubs before returning home and briefly brought that hot, summer weather with them.

Perhaps we should just think of our cold summer as “World Series” weather.