Chicagoland Unite For The Crosstown Classic!

Today the White Sox head north to Wrigley Field for Chicago’s first of two annual intra-city series. As a two-baseball team town, never more than during these two annual intercity series does it become more apparent of the existence of the massive cultural baseball-divide in Chicago.

I must ask then, what makes our city unique in its baseball culture?  Do Yankees and Mets fans jibe each other at every chance?  Probably.  Do the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim get made fun of for their lame attempt to be included as part of LA proper?  Do LA Dodgers fans even care?   Chicago, more than these other two-team baseball cities, fan bases are connected to geography and history.

The White Sox and Cubs are charter members of their respective leagues, both with more than a 100 years of history in Chicago (far more than either New York or LA) and over 90 years in their respective geographic locations.  The longevity of these franchises has created in some instances up to 5 continuous generations of fans.  Typically, if you live south of Roosevelt Road, more often than not you are a White Sox fan and vise versa for the Cubs.  While there certainly are many exceptions, geography more than anything else has the deepest roots in this divide among Chicago baseball fans.  A mere 11 miles separates each team’s respective home stadiums and as any Chicagoan knows, it can feel like a hundred.

Chicago real estate has differences too as the value of what you can buy on the south side of town versus the north is sometimes staggering.  In the recent decades the Northside surrounding Wrigley Field, known as Wrigleyville, has become a destination of many yuppie couples and single professionals.    The Southside neighborhood of Bridgeport where U.S. Cellular Field resides, has remained somewhat static over the years with some new development and urban renewal.  The neighborhood is very beautiful with classic Chicago architecture, safe and home to Mayor Daley.  Bridgeport is a great value to new home shoppers as well.  Still woefully lacking in the entertainment category, Bridgeport has remained a sleepy working-class area no where near the Mardi Gras atmosphere of its northern counterpart.

The upside to seeing a White Sox game?  Parking, parking, parking should you drive.  In fact, many Sox fans partake in tailgaiting before the games which is a highlight expressed by many Sox fans perceive this as an advantage to Wrigleyville.  I on the other hand, as a Northsider and Cubs fan, enjoy the ability to walk, take public transportation or even ride my bike to the games.  If I do end up riding my bike to the game, it’s great motivation to behave as I know I’ll have to ride home.