User:The C of E/wfi

The Wrigley Field ivy is the ivy that covers the outfield walls of the playing field of Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It was installed in 1937 at the behest of Chicago Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley based upon the ivy on the walls at Perry Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

History
Wrigley Field was opened in 1914. In 1937, it was renovated and P. K. Wrigley discussed with the Chicago Cubs President Bill Veeck how to beautify the stadium. Veeck suggested planting ivy on the outfield walls, similar to Perry Stadium, which was done. The ivy was originally English ivy but was later changed to Parthenocissus tricuspidata. Cuttings from the ivy were sold by local vendors. The Chicago Cubs attempted to grow the ivy on the outside of Wrigley Field as well, but the plantings were often stolen so the Cubs abandoned the plans.

Following a later change in Major League Baseball (MLB) rules which requires all outfield walls to be padded, Wrigley Field has been grandfathered into the rules, meaning it is the only MLB stadium without padded walls because of the ivy. In 2004, the ivy was specifically included in Wrigley Field's Landmark Designation by the Chicago City Council.

In 2012 and 2013, a number of people were arrested after breaking into the stadium and attempting to steal parts of the ivy.

Description
At the start of the baseball season in April, the ivy is brown. Around the middle of May, it turns to green, before turning red in October. It is maintained by the Wrigley Field grounds crew using hand shears. The grounds crew has to do little maintenance, besides pruning and replacing parts of it that get pulled down or have beer spilled on it by fans during games, because of the hardiness of the ivy. In 2009, the History Channel documentary Life After People stated that without pruning, the ivy would cover the stands within five years.

Owing to the ivy covering the outfield walls, the Chicago Cubs can't display advertising on the outfield walls as other MLB ballparks do. In 2007, the Cubs made a deal with Under Armour to place advertising on access doors in the walls amidst the ivy.

In 2014, the Chicago Cubs had plans to renovate Wrigley Field and move their bullpens from inside foul ground to under the stands. This would have necessitated removal of some of the ivy. However, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks refused consent for the plans because of the proposed "significant removal of ivy and bricks".

Ground rules
Under the ground rules of Wrigley Field, if a baseball gets into the ivy and gets stuck, the fielder is entitled to raise his arms to signify that the ball is unplayable (even if he can see it in the vines), and the batter is awarded a ground rule double by the umpires; runners can only move up on forces. However, if the ball becomes dislodged or the fielder reaches into the vines to try and get the ball, it is considered in play and the runners can advance.