Untapped Ivy: The Brief History of the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Field

[David Youngs]

There are few things that widen the eyes of a baseball fan more than the essence of the Friendly Confines. And while some of the most notorious games in baseball history have taken place on the corner of W Addison Street, very few of those have involved the Minnesota Twins. As the Twins head to the North Side of town this weekend let’s look at the club’s brief history at one of the game’s last treasures.The Marquee. The Ivy. The Billy Goat, you name it. Whether it’s a season ticket holder or a fair-weathered fan, Wrigley Field has touched the lives’ of all baseball fans in some way, shape, or form. A bucket-list destination for many, the mystical palace came to fruition in 1914 and is one of the last ‘vintage ballparks’ in the game (alongside Fenway Park).

 

Since the Cubs started play at Wrigley in 1916 the Twins have only played 15 games at the Friendly Confines (yes I know, the franchise didn’t come to Minnesota until 1961). In fact, the teams have only played each other 30 times in league history, never in the postseason.

 

Why so few? Major League Baseball didn’t institute Interleague play until 1997. And while the number thirty seems small there are actually a good number of National League teams that the Twins have played less. They’ve faced the Reds 24 times, the Mets 22 times, and the Padres 20.

 

And while there are indeed teams that the Twins have played less than the Cubbies, there is a certain novelty for Twins fans in watching their team play at Wrigley Field. Not Petco Park.

 

Oh the 90’s (and early 2000’s)

The first ever matchup between the Twins and Cubs took place at Wrigley Field on a crisp September 1st afternoon in 1997. The Twins walked away on top with a 7-6 win thanks to a four RBI game from shortstop Pat Meares. Despite the win the Twins would end up losing the three game series, dropping the next two games by scores of 9-3 (Sammy Sosa homered and doubled) and 10-6 (Mark Grace homered).

 

Following the 1997 season the Twins and Cubs would play each other yearly in a three game series through 2001, alternating locations each year. In the Twins' 1999 and 2001 trips to Wrigley they went a combined 1-5, including a July 16th, 1999 shootout that the Twins lost 11-10 despite home runs from Torii Hunter, Ron Coomer, and Chad Allen.

 

The 'L' is full (until 2006)

Following the 2001 season the Twins wouldn’t see the Cubs on their schedule for four years. That changed in 2006 when the Cubs returned to the Metrodome and were swept by the Twins in a three game series.

 

The 2006 matchup would begin a three year rotation between the teams that would last until 2018. When the Twins returned to Wrigley in June of 2009 they took two of three from the Cubs thanks to strong pitching performances from Kevin Slowey and Anthony Swarzak.

The Twins wouldn’t return to the Friendly Confines again until 2018 where they were swept by the Cubs in a three-game series that saw Chicago plate 35 runs.

 

Looking Forward

In their 30 game relationship with the Cubs the Twins are 13-17 all time and 4-11 at Wrigley Field. Obviously those aren’t great numbers but it’s a small sample size and a majority of those matchups featured at least one of the two teams having a rocky season (if not both). That is different this year, with both the Twins and Cubs vying for playoff positioning in their respective leagues as the 2020 season winds down.

 

Regardless of the outcome of this weekend’s series it is always a luxury to watch the Twins play at Wrigley Field. There is nothing more pure than watching baseball at a ballpark that has simple concessions, ivy on the outfield fence, and seats with viewing obstructed by beams (unless you're actually sitting in one of those seats). Just remember, when Target Field was built in 2010 the price of gas was $2.79 per gallon. When the Cubs started playing at Wrigley Field in 1916 it was 22 cents.

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Oh, and hopefully there's a pizza ad or something else on the Marquee after this weekend's games.

 

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[mikelink45]

If the Twins lose the series even the ivy will not make me feel good.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Saw plenty of losses in 1997 and 2001, but enjoyed Wrigley and The City with Big Shoulders.