When the Chicago Cubs claimed the National Championship, fans around the world erupted in elation. On Catalina Island, cheers could be heard echoing from bars, restaurants and nearly every home. Above the cacophony of celebration, Take Me Out to the Ballgame rang out from Chimes Tower.
Catalina’s connection to the Chicago Cubs runs deep. Both were once owned by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. and the brilliant businessman frequently used one to promote the other. For three decades, the Chicago Cubs left Wrigley Field for spring training on Catalina Island. From 1921 to 1951, each spring the Cubs arrived in Avalon to great fanfare, thrilling residents and visitors alike.
While here, they worked and played hard, their exploits documented in carefree photos designed to promote the things to do on Catalina Island. The Cubbies’ home base on Catalina Island was the Catalina Country Club, now an exclusive events venue. They played – and fans watched – in a ballfield built for them in Avalon Canyon. Now an empty field behind the Avalon Fire Station, that ballfield cemented a relationship that exists to this day, built on memories of the time when America’s favorite pastime was played by America’s favorite team on Santa Catalina Island.
Want to learn more about the Chicago Cubs on Catalina Island? Visit the Catalina Island Museum.