Jack Ruby, the man who gunned down Lee Harvey Oswald after Oswald shot President John F Kennedy, was once a vendor at the stadium, according to a new book on Wrigley Field called A Nice Little Place on the North Side, by George Will.
A ticket costs less than US$20 and the various fast-food treats, including pizza slices and jumbo pretzels, form part of the American baseball experience.
Taking a glove to the game is encouraged, especially if you're sitting close enough to the action that a ball might land in your lap.
A crowd of just over 35,000 attended this match in mid-May, when the Cubs lost 4-3 and neither side scored a run after the third innings.
And while getting close to the action is all part of fun, being over the road doesn't have to count you out of the equation either.
The rooftops of some residential buildings offer views of the game and feature game-style bleacher seating for fans, at a cost.
Wrigleyfieldrooftopclub.com boasts it offers fans a closer view of the action than many of the seats inside the field.
Owners of 15 rooftop venues have a deal that expires in 2023, which includes the owners paying 17 per cent of their gross annual revenue to the clubs.
However, it was reported in May that the building owners were locked in a bitter dispute with the Cubs, whose plans for renovation include erecting a new video scoreboard in the outfield.
Left Field rooftops on Waveland Ave offer fans the chance to view the game while feeling like you're at a private party. Photo / Creative Commons image by Flickr user Wally Gobetz
Wrigley Field, an historic old beauty at a time when baseball stadiums across the US are shining examples of modern amenities, offers a step back in time and is famous for its ivy-covered wall. The stadium is celebrating its 100th year in 2014.
Tales of days gone by, including the great Babe Ruth's exploits, are recounted all game long over the public address system.
"The Chicago Cubs welcome you to Wrigley Field, the greatest ball park on Earth," the announcer says proudly.
For fans of the Cubs, who last won the world series in 1908, the game seems to take more than it gives.
In 1945 in the duel between the Cubs and the Detroit Tigers, William "Billy Goat" Sianis wanted to take his goat to Wrigley Field.
The goat was refused, and Billy Goat Tavern owner Sianis announced the Cubs were cursed and would never win a world series for as long as the goat wasn't allowed to go to Wrigley Field.
Wrigley Field is an historic beauty. Photo / Creative Commons image by Flickr user Ron Cogswell
These days you can still go to Billy Goat Tavern, try the famous "triple cheezeborger" and talk about the curse, or just watch the game on TV and take in the emotions of the media types who work nearby and pop in for a beer on match day.
It seems the pain of being a Cubs fan is only made worse by seeing those around you head to the dark side: the Chicago White Sox. One T-shirt slogan outside the stadium read: "Friends don't let friends be Sox fans."
CHECKLIST
Getting there: Air New Zealand flies twice daily to Los Angeles from Auckland, increasing to three daily services from December to March. From there, US domestic carriers continue to Illinois.
Further information: The Chicago Cubs play at Wrigley Field, at 1060 West Addison St, Chicago.
Tickets: A ticket from the stubhub.com website can cost under US$20.
Where to eat: The Billy Goat Tavern is at 430 North Michigan Avenue. A Triple Cheezeborger costs US$6.85. Don't get the double or the chef will be offended.
- AAP
