“Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field” (was Ebbets Field first)

The Chicago Cubs celebrate "the friendly confines of Wrigley Field." "Mr. Cub" -- baseball player Ernie Banks (1931-2015) -- would welcome people there, and many people believe that he coined the term.

However, Ebbets Field (home of the Brooklyn Dodgers/Robins) had the phrase first, in 1922. Yankee Stadium was called the "friendly confines" in 1934.

"The friendly confines of Wrigley Field" was printed in the Los Angeles (CA) Times in 1935.


19 May 1922, New York (NY) Times, "Double by Olson Wins for Robins,"ipg. 13, col. 2:
It was only the second victory for the Brooklyn players since leaving the friendly confines of Ebbets Field some ten days ago.

3 July 1922, New York (NY) Times, "Pop Bottles Fly; Robins Win Twice," pg. 9, col. 3:
Following an extended visit to Boston, the Robins returned to the friendly confines of Ebbets Field yesterday.

15 July 1922, Brooklyn (NY) Citizen, "Robins and Pirates to Return Here for a Game To-morrow," pg. 3, col. 1:
Hope in the Pirates' camp ran high, while on the other hand the helpless Brooklyn crew appeared anxious to get back to the friendly confines of Ebbets Field where, before they started this disastrous trip, they had great success and climbed to third place.

21 April 1923, Brooklyn (NY) Daily Times, pg. 12, col. 2:
The Robins will leave the friendly confines of Ebbets Field after the series with the Giants that closes Tuesday.

27 April 1934, Daily News (New York, NY), "Braves Tally 2 in 1st To Whip Dodgers, 2-0" by George Kenney, pg. 70, col. 1:
It was the third straight defeat for the boys from Brooklyn since they left the friendly confines of Ebbets Field for this chilly, blustery, cloudy seaport.

27 July 1934, New York (NY) Times, pg. 11:
But they are again on top, headed back to the friendly confines of the stadium in the Bronx, and this is something.

8 May 1935, Los Angeles (CA) Times, pg. A13:
Buoyed up by home cooking and the will to win, Mr. J. Lelivelt's Angels celebrated their return to the friendly confines of Wrigley Field yesterday by nosing out the second-place San Francisco Seals, 4-3.

27 May 1954, Register-Star-News (Sandusky, OH), pg. 31, col. 6:
Redlegs Hit Road
CINCINNATI, May 27 (INS) -- The Cincinnati Redlegs leave the not-too friendly confines of Crosley Field today to try their luck on a road tour.

14 November 1955, Chicago (IL) Daily Tribune, pg. 1
Chicago's barly Bears flexed their muscles in the friendly confines of Wrigley field again yesterday,

21 May 1967, Los Angeles (CA) Times, pg. C4:
Banks' stock greeting to visitors here is, "welcome to the friendly confines of Wrigley Field."

2 February 1969, New York (NY) Times, pg. 52:
"Ah. The friendly confines of beautiful, ivy-covered Wrigley Field where you play ball under the world's best lights, the solar system."
(Spoken by Ernie Banks - ed.)

(Trademark)
Word Mark THE FRIENDLY CONFINES
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 041. US 107. G & S: ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES IN THE NATURE OF BASEBALL EXHIBITIONS. FIRST USE: 19830400. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19830400
(ABANDONED) IC 042. US 100. G & S: RESTAURANT SERVICES. FIRST USE: 19830600. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19830600
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 73762766
Filing Date November 9, 1988
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) CHICAGO NATIONAL LEAGUE BALL CLUB, INC. CORPORATION DELAWARE 1060 WEST ADDISON STREET CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60613
Attorney of Record KAREN G. BENDER
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date September 5, 1989