In 1984, Steve Goodman, a Grammy award-winning artist and Chicago Native, was asked by WGN to write a song about the Chicago Cubs. He had previously written a song called A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request, about how the Cubs were failures for a long time, but that song was understandably banned from Wrigley Field.
His next song about the team would not be, though. He wrote Go Cubs Go, which had a much better narrative about the franchise. Goodman recorded the song in Chicago and even had team members help him with the chorus. The song was played at Wrigley Field during the 1984 season when the Cubs won the NL East. It was the first time they had clinched a playoff spot since 1945.
Goodman died of leukemia in September of 1984. His song would remain part of the Wrigley Field experience through 1987 when it was replaced by The Beach Boys’ Here Come The Cubs. However, in 2007, the Cubs brought Go, Cubs, Go back to Wrigley Field and played it after each game the Cubs won. They won their division in 2007 and 2008, so the song stayed.
It’s now a massive part of the Wrigley Field experience to watch the Cubs win, sing Go Cubs Go, and watch the “W” flag rise high on the old scoreboard. It’s a timeless tradition that shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. But after the first win in 2024, it’s going to get wild.
The lights atop Wrigley Field got a significant update after the 2022 season when they changed to LED. They are now more energy efficient and brighter, which the players say dramatically helps them. It’s especially effective for Cubs outfielders, who have no lights coming from behind them.
After wins, the Cubs also coordinated the lights along with the playing of Go, Cubs, Go to put on a light show for the fans. They even lit up and put a “W” figure in them. Some fans switched from saying “Fly the W” to “Light the W.” Well, it’s about to get crazier at Wrigley Field because they now have a new feature – changing colors.
Remember, Wrigley Field is 110 years old this year. It’s the second-oldest stadium in the league. But the Ricketts have done a remarkable job renovating the stadium and area to make it feel almost as new as the most updated parks today. This is the latest way Wrigley Field can still stand toe-to-toe with the new parks.
Last year, the Cubs did nothing with the lights except for before the beginning of the game and after it was completed. Other parks do it constantly, like when the home team hits a home run or during pitching changes. Personally, I’m a traditional guy. I don’t need wild lights to get me interested in the game. So I hope it’s not during the game. But I also understand this is the way of the times. I won’t be a boomer about it. Maybe this will help them finally land an All-Star Game.
