Editing Wrigley Field (section)

===Ivy-covered outfield walls===
[[File:Wrigley Field 400 sign.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Wrigley's distinctive ivy-covered outfield walls in [[2006 Chicago Cubs season|2006]]]]
{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage = [[File:Bleacher Bums.jpg|210px]] | video1 = [http://fuzzymemories.tv/#videoclip-3631  ''Bleacher Bums'' (Part 1, 1984)], [[WTTW]] - Channel 11, the play ''[[Bleacher Bums]]'' with [[Dennis Franz]] and [[Joe Mantegna]]<ref name="fuzzy">{{cite web |title=Bleacher Bums (Part 1, 1984)|publisher=The Museum of Classic Chicago Television|date=1984|url=http://fuzzymemories.tv/#videoclip-3631|access-date=October 3, 2016}}</ref> }}

The ballpark's outfield walls are covered by [[Parthenocissus tricuspidata|ivy]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ivy Thief Apprehended at Wrigley Field|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/01/03/ivy-thief-apprehended-at-wrigley-field/|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=January 3, 2012|access-date=January 3, 2012|archive-date=January 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105121548/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-01-03/news/ct-met-wrigley-theft-0103-20120103_1_wrigley-field-ivy-security-officer|url-status=live}}</ref> In the first weeks of the baseball season, the ivy has not leafed out, and all that is visible are the vines on which it grows. However, as the baseball season progresses further into spring, the ivy grows thick and green, disguising the hard brick surface of the outfield wall. In the autumn, generally during postseason, the ivy turns red.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cubs Selling 2,016 Leaves from Wrigley Field Ivy at $200 Apiece|first=Darren|last=Rovell|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19628916/chicago-cubs-selling-leaves-2016-wrigley-field-ivy|work=[[ESPN]]|date=June 13, 2017|access-date=May 23, 2018}}</ref> On April 7, 2013, Total Pro Sports named Wrigley Field the "Best Place to Catch a Game in 2013", owing the award primarily to its architecture and ivy-coated fields.<ref>{{cite web|title=MLB Ballpark Rankings: The Best Places to Catch a Game in 2013|first=Esteban|last=On|url=http://www.totalprosports.com/2013/04/07/mlb-ballpark-rankings-the-best-places-to-catch-a-game/#31|work=Total Pro Sports|date=April 7, 2013|access-date=May 23, 2014|archive-date=May 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513014213/http://www.totalprosports.com/2013/04/07/mlb-ballpark-rankings-the-best-places-to-catch-a-game/#31|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1937, the stadium was renovated and P. K. Wrigley discussed beautification with then-Cubs President [[Bill Veeck]], who suggested planting ivy on the outfield walls.<ref name=indy>{{cite news |title=Ivy at Wrigley Field? It Was Snatched from Indy|first=Dana|last=Hunsinger–Benbow|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2016/10/27/ivy-wrigley-field-snatched-indy/92709344/|newspaper=[[The Indianapolis Star]]|date=October 27, 2016|access-date=February 27, 2017}}</ref> The ivy was originally [[English ivy]] (''Hedera helix''), but was later changed to ''[[Parthenocissus tricuspidata]]'', commonly called Boston ivy or Japanese ivy, which can endure the harsh Chicago winters better than the former species.<ref>{{cite web|title=What Kind of Ivy Grows at Wrigley Field?|url=http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-garden/2009/07/what-kind-of-ivy-grows-at-wrigley-field/|work=[[ChicagoNow]]|date=July 19, 2009|access-date=May 23, 2014|archive-date=April 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414044539/http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-garden/2009/07/what-kind-of-ivy-grows-at-wrigley-field/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Cuttings from the ivy were sold by local vendors. The Cubs attempted to grow the ivy on the outside of Wrigley Field as well, but the plantings were often stolen, so the Cubs abandoned the plans.<ref name=si />

Following a later change in MLB rules, which requires all outfield walls to be padded, Wrigley Field was [[grandfather clause|grandfathered]] into the rules, meaning it is the only stadium in the league without padded walls because of the ivy.<ref name=indy /> In 2004, the ivy was specifically included in Wrigley Field's Landmark Designation by the [[Chicago City Council]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Wrigley Field Owners Pursue Federal Landmark Status for Tax Breaks|first=Ameet|last=Sachdev|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/04/18/wrigley-field-owners-pursue-federal-landmark-status-for-tax-breaks/|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=April 18, 2013|access-date=February 27, 2017|archive-date=February 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227231830/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-04-18/business/ct-biz-0418-wrigley-landmark-20130418_1_tax-breaks-wrigley-field-tax-incentives|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Wrigley is now the only professional ballpark with an ivy-covered outfield wall. Several now-demolished ballparks featured ivy in the playing area, including [[Forbes Field]], [[Wrigley Field (Los Angeles)|Wrigley Field's namesake]] in Los Angeles, and [[Bush Stadium]] (formerly Perry Stadium) in Indianapolis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lofts Give New Life to Historic Bush Stadium|first=T. J.|last=Banes|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/life/home-garden/2013/12/01/lofts-give-new-life-to-historic-bush-stadium/3799605/|newspaper=[[The Indianapolis Star]]|date=December 1, 2013|access-date=October 17, 2016}}</ref> [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]]'s [[Rosenblatt Stadium]], the former home of the [[College World Series]] as well as minor league baseball, had an ivy-covered brick wall that was replaced with a padded wall. Some ballparks feature ivy on out-of-play walls, especially as a covering for the [[batter's eye]] behind the center field fence.}} Although the ivy appears to "pad" the bricks, it is of little practical use in this regard. There have been occasions of fielders being injured when slamming into the wall while pursuing a fly ball.

Under the [[ground rules]] of Wrigley Field, if a baseball gets into the ivy and gets stuck, the batter is awarded a [[ground rule double]]. Outfielders often raise their arms up when the ball goes into the ivy, signaling to an umpire to go out and rule on the play.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ballpark Quirks at Their Best|first=Rob|last=Neyer|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?id=1794568&columnist=neyer_rob|work=[[ESPN]]|date=May 3, 2004|access-date=February 27, 2017}}</ref> However, if the ball becomes dislodged or the fielder reaches into the vines to try and retrieve it, it is considered in play and the runners can advance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wrigley Field Ivy Has an Appetite for Baseballs|first=Paul|last=Sullivan|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-wrigley-field-ivy-appetite-for-baseballs-20151021-column.html|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=October 21, 2015|access-date=February 27, 2017}}</ref>