Behind the Scoreboard: A Little MilCarb at Wrigley Field
As the Social Media Manager for MilCarb, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to tell the story behind what our products do. Sometimes, that story takes us to some pretty unexpected places.
This time, it took us to Wrigley Field.
Walking into Wrigley is an experience in itself. The ivy, the brick, the bleachers, the history. There’s something about the ballpark that feels like you're stepping into another era of baseball. But for me, one of the most interesting parts of the visit was looking up at the iconic scoreboard in center field and realizing that there was a little bit of MilCarb technology behind it.
A Scoreboard That Has Been Telling the Story Since 1937
The famous center-field scoreboard was installed in 1937 as part of a major renovation of Wrigley Field. The bleachers and scoreboard were both constructed that year, and remarkably, the original scoreboard is still standing today.
It has become one of the defining features of Wrigley Field — and one of the last examples of a manually operated scoreboard in Major League Baseball. In fact, Wrigley Field and Fenway Park are the only two MLB ballparks still operating vintage manual scoreboards.
And "manual" really is the key word.
While modern stadiums rely heavily on massive digital displays, much of the information on the Wrigley scoreboard is still updated the old-fashioned way. Workers inside the scoreboard physically change the plates that display scores and other game information. The scoreboard contains hundreds of individual steel plates, some weighing several pounds. They are heavier than I thought.
But there's a little bit of modern technology tucked inside this very old-school system.
Here Is Where The MilCarb Magic Comes In
The MilCarb N2U nitrogen generator provides the nitrogen that powers the actuators responsible for flipping the balls, strikes and outs on the scoreboard.
Think about that for a second.
A scoreboard that has been a part of Wrigley Field since 1937 is still doing its job today with a combination of hands-on craftsmanship and modern pneumatic technology.
The N2U generates nitrogen on demand using advanced fiber membrane air separation technology, eliminating the need for traditional nitrogen tank deliveries and providing a reliable, on-demand supply of nitrogen.
So while most fans are watching the game, there's another story happening behind the scenes: people are still doing much of the scoreboard work by hand, while a MilCarb N2U is quietly helping power one of the board's most important functions.
That combination of old and new is what made seeing it in person so memorable.
The Details You Don't See From the Stands
At Wrigley, the scoreboard crew is responsible for keeping information moving throughout the game. Scores for games around the league are updated manually, with workers changing individual steel plates as scores change. On busy game days, that can mean a lot of movement inside the scoreboard.
Even the balls-and-strikes system has its own fascinating history. The mechanism dates back to the 1930s and uses an electrical control panel to trigger the scoreboard's targets. When an operator presses a button, the corresponding targets flip almost instantly.
Today, our N2U nitrogen generator is part of that process, supplying the nitrogen used by the actuators that make those flips happen.
It's a pretty great example of how technology doesn't always have to replace tradition. Sometimes, it simply helps keep tradition going.
A Piece of Baseball History. Where Old Meets New.
Inside the scoreboard, people are still doing things by hand.
Outside, tens of thousands of fans are watching a Major League Baseball game unfold in one of the most historic stadiums in the country. Drinking beers, eating a Chicago style hot dog with NO ketchup, and just enjoying the day.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that is a MilCarb N2U quietly supplying nitrogen to help make those little numbers flip.
It's a pretty perfect example of how old and new don't always have to compete with each other.
Sometimes, the best technology is the technology that allows something with history to keep doing what it has always done.
The scoreboard doesn't need to become a giant digital display to remain relevant. It doesn't need to lose the character that makes it special. It just needs to keep working and we are so honored to help be part of the history.
Looking at Wrigley a Little Differently.
I left Wrigley with a completely different appreciation for that scoreboard.
Before the trip, I saw it as an iconic part of the ballpark. Something instantly recognizable and synonymous with Chicago Cubs baseball. After seeing what happens behind it, I started seeing it differently.
I saw the people who keep it running. I saw the craftsmanship and tradition built into every part of it. And I saw how a piece of technology like the MilCarb N2U can quietly play a role in keeping a piece of baseball history alive.
Being able to experience that firsthand was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
As someone who gets to tell the MilCarb story every day, it's pretty special to have a story like this to tell. We don't always get the opportunity to see our equipment in a place with this much history and meaning. To stand inside Wrigley Field and see a MilCarb N2U helping operate one of the most recognizable scoreboards in baseball was something I won't soon forget.
A huge thank you to the Chicago Cubs for allowing us to experience this incredible piece of Wrigley Field history up close. There's so much that goes into making Wrigley what it is, and getting a behind-the-scenes look gave me an even greater appreciation for the people, traditions and attention to detail that have kept this ballpark so special for generations.
And of course, thank you to Scott for letting me tag along and outwardly freak out the whole time. There was no way I was gonna be 'playing it cool'!
I'm grateful for the opportunity to see it, experience it and, most importantly, share the story of what happens behind the scoreboard.
Some experiences are cool.
Getting to stand inside the Wrigley Field Scoreboard and see MilCarb technology helping keep a piece of its history alive?
That's once in a lifetime. And one i'll never forget.
Written by Lindsey White - Social Media Manager for MilCarb
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