20 Years Under the Lights

Tonight's Cubs game marks the 20th full season of night baseball at Wrigley Field. The lights were installed in 1988, with the first official game occurring on August 9 vs. the New York Mets. According to the Medill News Services' Anthony Pura, 1989 marked the first full year with lights at Wrigley, when 17 games were played at night. "Currently, a city ordinance restricts the Cubs to playing only 30 night games per season at home.  Most teams in the National Baseball League have more than 50." While fans have warmed to the idea of night games at Wrigley, neighborhood residents haven't. "Residents in Wrigleyville and the surrounding area are concerned about the amount of traffic, noise and crowds of thousands that likely would disturb the neighborhood at late hours," according to Pura.