This West Coast version of Wrigley Field only lasted one year in MLB, but it was often used for TV and film.
by Rich Watson
This post is for the Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon, another long-running blog event—this year marks the eighth annual edition. I think the premise is self-explanatory. At the end I’ll tell you where and when you can read more entries in this vein.
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Chicago’s Wrigley Field, the home of the Cubs for over a century, is one of Major League Baseball’s oldest and greatest ballparks. Named for owner William Wrigley, the chewing gum manufacturer, he also owned the Cubs’ old farm team, the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League.
In 1925, he commissioned a new ballpark for the Angels and moved them there, on 425 East 42nd Place. It was called Wrigley Field before the one in Chicago. It also received lights long before its namesake.
Very interesting post, Rich. I was unaware of the history of "Wrigley West" and its place in film and TV. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThanks. The parts about Paul Douglas surprised me. I never saw ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD but I could picture him in this role.
DeleteThis is a great "tour" of a forgotten ballpark and era of west coast professional baseball. Very nicely researched! I dimly remember this particular episode of the Twilight Zone. As you say, the Serling-written comic episodes are not among the series' best, as they tend to be saccharine and overtly sentimental. On the other hand, any fictional treatment of baseball is interesting to me. :)
ReplyDeleteFrom the bits I read about it for this post, the Pacific Coast League had a pretty good thing going on. Joe DiMaggio and lots of other future stars played in it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking part in the blogathon! I knew about Wrigley Field West from my dear friend Vanessa, who knew all about the history of baseball in LA, but I didn't know a lot of the history behind it or that it was used so often in movies and TV shows! I have to agree with your assessment of "The Mighty Casey." Comedy was not Rod Serling's strong point. As a work of science fiction it does bring up some interesting questions though, questions that are more pertinent now than in 1960. Anyway, a great and well-researched post!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot. Most of this was new to me as well. I knew there was a ballpark in LA before Dodger Stadium but I didn’t know its history, especially as a movie setting.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! It's too bad LA is so cavalier about its history.
ReplyDeleteIf you say so. I’ve never been there.
ReplyDeleteI saw JACK WARDEN in two TV series. First THE BAD NEWS BEARS (a comedy) and then CRAZY LIKE A FOX (a detective show that had some comedy in it). Both shows aired on CBS. I have never seen any of the BAD NEWS BEARS movies, only the show. Two of the kids later were on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. TRICIA CAST (the only girl on BEARS) played NINA on Y & R for fifteen years as a regular and still returns for visits. KRISTOFF ST. JOHN played NEIL and was on the show for more than twenty years until his passing. CLASSIC TV FAN
ReplyDeleteI neglected to mention that Warden made several sports movies. He was in BRIAN’S SONG, his Emmy winner, the Warren Beatty HEAVEN CAN WAIT, the Jon Voight CHAMP, a bowling movie called DREAMER, plus ED and THE REPLACEMENTS.
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