1937 Wrigley Field Planting the Ivy

Planting the ivy at Wrigley Field takes place in 1937. It’s reportedly the idea of a young Bill Veeck Jr., whose pop was president of the North Siders until his death in 1933. Veeck has workers plant the famed Bittersweet and Boston ivy along Wrigley Field’s outfield wall. The vines comes from Fred Clavey’s nursery near Vernon Hills, Illinois. Planting the ivy is an idea Veeck supposedly concocts at the age of 13, after seeing ivy on the walls of the Indianapolis Indians’ Perry Stadium – at least that’s what Veeck says in his autobiography.

Today, when a ball gets lost in the Wrigley Field ivy, it’s ruled a double — but if and only if the fielder remembers to raise a hand, signaling “Doh! I’ve lost the ball!” If the outfielder forgets to signal, the baserunners can keep running. It’s one of those quirky “Wrigley Field only” rules! But that’s what makes the stadium so special. Learn more about this print in About and Frequently Asked Questions. Or visit the Shop for more ideas.