At 1060 W. Addison, in Chicago, Illinois, sits a landmark stadium. Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs since 1916 and professional baseball since 1914, is widely considered one of the greatest sports stadiums in the United States. Its legendary ivy-covered outfield wall and tomato-red marquee have witnessed the comings and goings of dozens of Cubs teams and generations of fans. Though the teams have often lacked talent, and the fans bragging rights, today the Cubs and Wrigley Field boast unprecedented levels of popularity and attention. The building at the corner of Clark and Addison is rightly considered a crown jewel of Chicago's North Side.
A mere ten miles due south, in the heart of the South Side's Bridgeport neighborhood, lies U.S. Cellular field. The home ballpark of the Chicago White Sox, opened in 1991 as the new Comiskey Park, has endured withering criticism over its looks, seating, and sterile atmosphere. Though the teams populating its environs hardly bettered the on-field records of their popular neighbor to the north, U.S. Cellular field has managed to improve its reputation through significant renovations, the adoration of its loyal, working class customers, and a recent renaissance following the team's World Series-winning 2005 season. These two teams have plied their trade in Chicago for over a hundred years each, yet their defining characteristics - lovable losers versus hardscrabble winners, big-money versus medium-money, Bleacher Bums versus chip on their shoulders - have diverged wildly and in unpredictable ways.
Somehow, just about the only thing these two franchises have in common is that between them lies a ten mile divide.
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