Trying to date some photos of Wrigley Field

[ZachS]

I know someone that bought these prints and he's trying to figure out approximate years that the photos would have been taken. I'm not sure if there is anything that may stand out to narrow it down but I figure this is the best place to ask.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjgw/z/dQsAAOxyi-ZTX9Pj/$_57.JPG

https://img1.etsystatic.com/025/0/7724935/il_570xN.601294961_ebwu.jpg

[Cozumeleno]

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/5/19/5731066/another-wrigley-field-mural-mistake

[Beatles Guy]

I love the detective work that goes into identifying photo timelines.

[shernan30]

Some neat photos. Sometimes I wish I lived in those days where everything was a little less fast paced. No internet, video games, 24/7 TV shows... It just seams so much calmer.


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[brian1961]

Judging by the cars...

Top photo--about 1932-33

Bottom photo---the curved body sedan half-way up the left side of the picture is an indication this shot may have been a bit later, say 35 or 36. Since the other cars in the bottom photo mostly match the top, the shots may very well have been taken the same day.

The Wrigley Field sign has "PLAYING HERE" and beneath that looks like it says "New York". The massive crowds might indicate Opening Day, or, some holiday such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, or Labor Day. There's a lot of short-sleeved guys and boys, though a social custom of the time period had men wearing long sleeves even in the summer.

A stretch might be the World Series versus the New York Yankees in 1938.

---Brian Powell

Just read some of the LINK Cozumeleno provided. Guess I wasn't that far off. They were very rough times. The Dow Jones Industrial 30 hit its bottom during the rotten days of The Great Depression in 1932, ending at around 39 or 40 one day. Considering its been above 17,000 in recent days, we've come quite some ways, at least in this regard.

[ZachS]

Good info, everyone. I was able to find a little more but it's always fun watching the detective work here.

[trdcrdkid]

On the marquee in the second photo, under "Playing Here" it does say New York, and then "July" followed by what looks like "19-21", though the resolution isn't good enough to tell for sure. In 1935, the Cubs played the New York Giants at home on Friday July 19, Saturday July 20, and a doubleheader on Sunday, July 21. The only other year in the 1930s when the Cubs were hosting the Giants around those dates was 1932, when they played them at home on July 18, 19, and 20. But that was a Monday through Wednesday, and anyway I'm thinking that the second date on the marquee looks more like 21 than 20. Given the size of the crowd, I'm going to say that this picture was taken on Sunday, July 21, 1935, either before or after that doubleheader against the Giants.

[mattsey9]

On the marquee in the second photo, under "Playing Here" it does say New York, and then "July" followed by what looks like "19-21", though the resolution isn't good enough to tell for sure. In 1935, the Cubs played the New York Giants at home on Friday July 19, Saturday July 20, and a doubleheader on Sunday, July 21. The only other year in the 1930s when the Cubs were hosting the Giants around those dates was 1932, when they played them at home on July 18, 19, and 20. But that was a Monday through Wednesday, and anyway I'm thinking that the second date on the marquee looks more like 21 than 20. Given the size of the crowd, I'm going to say that this picture was taken on Sunday, July 21, 1935, either before or after that doubleheader against the Giants.

I agree with this date. Retrosheet shows that the Cubs took both games of the doubleheader and finished a four-game sweep of the Giants that day. The Northsiders were well on their way to a 100-win season and the pennant.