No lights at Wrigley - yet

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - A Cook County Judge ruled on this date in 1985 that the Chicago Cubs had gone without lights their entire history, so there was no need to change now. The Cubs had held out decades longer than any other team in playing all their games during the day, but then they made it to the postseason in 1984, something they hadn't done since 1945. Major League Baseball had been scheduling night games in the post-season for years. Since Wrigley Field didn't have lights the Cubs had to give up a home game in the National League Championship Series in ‘84.

The shoe was now on the other foot. The Cubs wanted lights. Former general manager Dallas Green first proposed them in 1982. The neighborhood and the city (the mayor being a lifelong White Sox fan) didn't, so the Cubs sued. A judge ruled on March 25, 1985 that the ban on lights at Wrigley was constitutional - no night games at Wrigley.

It took a few more years of political cajoling and maneuvering for an ordinance to finally be passed allowing night games at Wrigley, but no more than 18 per season.* The first night game at Wrigley was played on August 8, 1988 - 8/8/88, but it was called due to rain before it became official (maybe mother nature didn't want lights either).

*According to the March 25, 2009 Chicago Tribune, the Cubs are now allowed to schedule 30 night games annually.

Contributing sources:
MLB.com: 20 years of night baseball at Wrigley Field
August 8, 1988

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