The Birds Flock to Wrigley

Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

After sweeping the White Sox in a three game series to improve their overall record to 73-52, the Baltimore Orioles now have a short drive to West Addison Street to take on the Cubs in the historic ballpark of Wrigley Field.

Although the Cubs have had bad luck rain and pour on them since 1908, this ballpark has stood the test of time and remains one of the most iconic ballparks in all of baseball.

Do not let the name “Friendly Confines” confuse you. This team’s fan base wants their team to win just as badly as any other in the Majors. This was made evident in the 2003 playoffs when a Cubs fan reached out to get a foul ball, but what he grabbed was more than just a baseball.

Being that he refused left fielder, Moises Alou, a chance to catch the ball for the second out of the eighth inning with the Cubs leading 3-0, the entire crowd’s demeanor went from friendly to hostile as they booed and hollered at the fan for simply doing what any fan at a game would do when they saw a foul ball flying in their direction– which is try to catch the ball.

This was the one time that Wrigley Field went to a really dark place. Luckily for the Orioles, all three of their games played this weekend will be during the day  with lots of sunlight.

This will be an enjoyable and surely rare series to watch if you are an Orioles fan. The reason why I say rare is because these two teams have only played each other six times in each of their ball club’s history. The first time these two teams played came in 2003 during the Cubs’ magical season. The series was played in Baltimore at Camden Yards and the Orioles lost the series two games to one. Luckily, the Orioles got some revenge five years later.

The Birds played the Cubs in another three game series in 2008. This was the first time the Orioles played in Wrigley Field. Baltimore made sure they left their mark on Wrigley Field when they outscored the Cubs 22-16 over the three games in a 2-1 series win.

With the teams’ third series kicking off on Friday, hopefully the Orioles will “flock together,” follow their captain Adam Jones, and continue their winning ways right through Wrigley Field.