Cubs Win Flag
The Cubs Win Flag is a victory flag that is flown at Wrigley Field after every Chicago Cubs home win.[1] The flag is variously referred to by approximately a dozen names, combining: either Cubs or Chicago Cubs; Win, W, White, White W, or W Win; and flag, banner or banner flag. Other common names for the symbol include Chicago Cubs W Flag and Chicago Cubs Win Banner Flag.[2][3] It has become an important symbol for fans, and tradition of flying a win or loss flag over the stadium began soon after the construction of the scoreboard in 1937.[4]
The flag has used two different color schemes with the letter "W" on a solid background, and there is a loss indicator flag with a letter "L". Additionally, the flags have been complemented by different color schemes of indicator lights.[4] The flag is also changed after each Cubs win.[5] The flag has become a very symbolic emblem for devout Cubs fans. Some retailers sell slightly different versions that also have the Cubs logo at the bottom.[6]
Detail
Flying a flag over Wrigley Field to denote wins and losses is a longstanding tradition.[7][8] Currently, the Win Flag is composed of a large blue letter "W" on a white background while the Loss Flag is a large white letter "L" on a blue background.[9] Early in the 21st century, the phrase "White flag time at Wrigley!" was used to explain that the Cubs had just won that day's home game.[10] More recently, at least as early as the 2015 season, the Cubs have used the phrase "Fly the W!"; an accompanying social media hashtag "#FlyTheW" has been heavily promoted by the team and its fans.[11] The flag is raised by a scoreboard crew member immediately after the completion of a game,[12] and in the case of a doubleheader split, both flags are flown.[10]
It is customary to fly flags from
The symbolism of the flag now serves a wide variety of purposes. It is commonly reproduced in 3-by-5-foot (0.91 by 1.52 m) dimensions,
While not having the popularity of the Win Flag, the Loss Flag has become increasingly popular with clubs who traditionally have rivalries with the Cubs, such as the St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, or Chicago White Sox. Fans of those teams wave the blue flag after their team defeats the Cubs at Busch Stadium or Guaranteed Rate Field. However, because of the enormous fan base that the Cubs hold, it is not uncommon to see fans at games on the road waving their "W" flags during Cubs wins on the road.[citation needed] Another of the Cubs' rivals, the Pittsburgh Pirates, actually co-opted the Cubs Win Flag for themselves by waving a Jolly Roger pirate flag after each Pirates win.[20]
The flag is known by many names, with none being more prevalent than the rest, and may often be referred to by more than one name by the same manufacturer. "Chicago Cubs W Win Flag" is the name used on
History
The Cubs' then-owner Philip K. Wrigley ordered the reconstruction of the bleachers and the building of the manually operated scoreboard in 1937.[30] The scoreboard's "masthead" was in place by 1938, displaying the American flag at the top and flags representing the eight clubs of the National League on the left and right strands of the masthead, four apiece.[31] In the 1940s, the practice of raising the Win/Loss flags was begun.[4]
The flags were originally a white "W" on a blue flag and a blue "L" on a white flag.
In addition to the flags, Wrigley authorized
On April 23, 2008, the Cubs won for the 10,000th time in the history of the franchise on the road against the Colorado Rockies.[33] Like the 9,000th win, the 10,000th win came in a 7–6 victory at Coors Field.[33] The Cubs were the second franchise to achieve 10,000 regular season wins; the San Francisco Giants/New York Giants were the first.[33] The franchise flew a special 10,000th win flag along with a Cubs Win flag to commemorate the landmark achievement for the franchise. This was unusual not just for the 10,000th win, but also for flying the flag in reference to a road game. The special flag flew from the afternoon of April 24, 2008, until immediately prior to the next home game on April 29, 2008, at 7:05pm against the Milwaukee Brewers. After the flag was taken down, it was autographed by all members of the 2008 Chicago Cubs and auctioned off for charity.[34]
Sources
- Shea, Stuart (2006). Wrigley Field: The Unauthorized Biography. Potomac Books Inc. ISBN 1-57488-941-9.
- Snyder, John (2005). Cubs Journal. Emmis Books. ISBN 1-57860-192-4.
References
- ^ a b "Chicago Cubs 'W' Banner Flag - Cubs Win! Cubs Win!". CubWorld.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2008. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
- ^ Amazon.com, Inc.Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ Amazon.com, Inc.Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ ISBN 1-57488-941-9.
- ^ "Inbox: Why stick with Johnson?". Cubs.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
- ^ a b "Banner Flag - MLB - Chicago Cubs Win W Banner-27x37". Heartland Flagpoles & Custom Flags. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ "Wrigley Field History". Official Site of the Chicago Cubs. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
- ^ "Wrigley Field: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois". National Park Service. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
- ^ 1997 Chicago Cubs Information Guide. Chicago National League Ball Club, Inc. 1997. p. 6.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Chicago Cubs". ShortPorch.com. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
- ^ Curtis, Charles (October 22, 2015). "Mets' Noah Syndergaard mocks Cubs' 'Fly the W' on Twitter after NLCS win". The Star-Ledger.
- ISBN 1-58479-499-2.
- ^ "Flag Rules and Regulations". USHistory.org. Independence Hall Association. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ ISBN 0-8065-2193-7.
Wrigley Field flagpole national league.
- ^ a b "Wincraft Chicago Cubs Win 3' x 5' Flag". The Official Online Shop of the Chicago Cubs. MLB.com. October 8, 2015. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs Car Flag - Win". Baseball Flags and Pennants Company and State Street Products, LLC. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs 2' x 3' 'W' Banner Flag - Cubs Win! Cubs Win!". CubWorld.com. Retrieved October 1, 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Telander, Rick (September 21, 2008). "Foam rules at Wrigley - Cubs, euphoric fans are bubbling over as they soak in 2nd straight division title". Chicago Sun-Times. Newsbank. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
- ^ "Cubs Win Flag makes my day". The Baseball Zealot. May 10, 2008. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
- ^ "Pirates ditch Jolly Roger logo in favor of 'P'". January 9, 2014.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs 'W' Banner Flag". CubWorld.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ "Cubs - Win W Flag". Flags Unlimited, Inc. Archived from the original on October 19, 2007. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- Modell's. Archived from the originalon July 14, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ "Wincraft Chicago Cubs Win 3' x 5' Flag". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 1, 2008.[dead link]
- ^ "Wincraft Chicago Cubs Win 3' x 5' Flag". Teamstore.com. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ "Cubs W Flag". Baseball Flags and Pennants Company and State Street Products, LLC. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs 3x5 Flag - W Flag". sportsfanwarehouse.com. Sports Fan Warehouse, LLC. Archived from the original on December 2, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs W Fan Banner". BiggSports. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ "Grommets - MLB - Chicago Cubs Win W Flag-3x5". Heartland Flagpoles & Custom Flags. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
- ISBN 978-1-885758-03-3.
- ^ a b Snyder. "Cubs Journal".
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(help) - ^ a b c "Theriot lifts Cubs in 10 for franchise's 10,000th win". ESPN Internet Ventures. April 23, 2008. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
- ^ "Cubs to raise flag in honor of 10,000th franchise win: Flag commemorating historic win to be signed and auctioned to benefit Cubs Care". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. April 24, 2008. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
External links
- Media related to Cubs Win Flag at Wikimedia Commons