And you thought the Cubs have always played at Wrigley Field…

Before the ivy-covered walls and iconic marquee of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs played their home games at a legendary but often overlooked ballpark: West Side Grounds. Located at Polk and Wolcott Streets in Chicago’s Near West Side neighborhood, the West Side Grounds was more than just a field—it was the site of some of baseball’s earliest triumphs and home to the Cubs’ first World Series championship teams.

Opened in 1893, West Side Grounds became the third home of the Cubs (then known as the Chicago Colts) and served as their primary ballpark until 1915, when the team moved to what would become Wrigley Field. Built during a time when ballparks were crafted almost entirely of wood, the West Side Grounds eventually saw upgrades that made it a state-of-the-art facility for its time.

With a seating capacity of roughly 16,000, the stadium was considered one of the finest in the National League. Its strategic location near Chicago’s bustling West Side drew thousands of working-class fans who flocked to the stands to see legends of the diamond.

While Wrigley Field is synonymous with the modern-day Cubs, it was the West Side Grounds that witnessed the team’s first golden era. Under the leadership of manager Frank Chance and players like Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, Tinker to Evers to Chance, and Johnny Kling, the Cubs became a powerhouse in the early 20th century.

The Cubs won back-to-back World Series titles in 1907 and 1908 at West Side Grounds—titles that would remain their last for over a century until their historic 2016 win. The park was also the site of many memorable matchups and helped solidify the Cubs as one of baseball’s original dynasties.

The last Cubs game at West Side Grounds took place in October 1915, after which the team moved north to Weeghman Park (later renamed Wrigley Field). Though the ballpark was eventually demolished, its memory lives on in baseball lore and in the hearts of diehard Cubs fans.

Today, the site is occupied by the University of Illinois Medical Center, but a historical marker at the corner of Polk and Wolcott commemorates the importance of the location to Chicago’s sports history.

In a city steeped in sports tradition, West Side Grounds remains a crucial chapter in the story of the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. It was where the Cubs became champions, where rivalries were born, and where fans first fell in love with the game.

Baseball historians and Cubs loyalists continue to honor the site’s legacy, recognizing it as a foundation that paved the way for over a century of baseball in Chicago.

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