Cubs batters will finally have walk-up music at Wrigley Field
Welcome to the future at Wrigley Field, which is the same as the present at the 29 other major league ballparks, only it’s a few years behind.
No, we’re not specifically talking about the massive Jumbotron in the left field, although apparently that new high-tech structure is serving as the catalyst for another technological advancement in Cubs history: walk-up music.
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According to the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs are the only team in baseball that doesn’t play walk-up music over the PA for their batters. Instead, fans have been treated to over 100 years of classic ballpark organ music to greet batters and fill in the lulls in the action. The only exception came in 2010 when the Cubs briefly experimented with walk-up music, but that was completely abandoned by the following season.
Now, with Wrigley Field undergoing phase one of a four-year renovation plan, the Cubs are ready to fully embrace changes to the entire ballpark experience, which according to senior marketing director Alison Miller includes reintroducing walk-up music for every batter.
“Tom (Ricketts) and Crane (Kenney) ask players for feedback at the end of every season, and this was at the top of their list,” Cubs senior marketing director Alison Miller told the Tribune on Friday. “We felt the introduction of the video board is a chance to revisit walk-up music. Players are submitting their songs right now. (Joe) Maddon has already told us a lot of his favorite songs.” Miller said the organ music will continue at Wrigley, especially before games.
Joe Maddon gets music too? This could be epic.
We can already imagine the many different songs for bringing out the lineup card, mound meetings, arguments and maybe even ejections. Knowing Maddon, he might even bring his own DJ and just let him play out from the dugout. Hey, it’s 2015 at Wrigley Field. It’s a new era. Anything is possible.
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Well, except for one distinct brand of videoboard activities.
Miller said they’ll show fans on the video board, but there will be no Kiss Cam or Limbo Cam or any other “Cam.” “We respect Wrigley, and this is a different place than an arena or a newer ballpark where you might see more creative things,” Miller said. “We think we have great stories to tell about our players and our history, and (will be showing) stats. That’s what our fans told us, and we’re going to stick with that as our content.”
Honestly, that’s a good call on the Cubs part. Modernizing Wrigley Field is one thing. Going over the top to catch up with new age ballparks is another thing, and it’s completely unnecessary. There’s much more appeal in preserving an old school or basic feel on some levels. If and when the time comes to advance again, they’ll know, because the fans will tell them they’re ready. For now, absorbing the scoreboard and in-game music will be quite enough.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
