A Little Bit Of Wrigley In Northwest Indiana

By Michael Puente
Cubs fans get together to watch a game at John Salzeider ‘Little Wrigley.‘
Cubs fans get together to watch a game at John Salzeider's 'Little Wrigley.' Salzieder installed bleachers, bunting and fake brick to make his backyard feel like the real deal.
Cubs fans get together to watch a game at John Salzeider ‘Little Wrigley.‘
Cubs fans get together to watch a game at John Salzeider's 'Little Wrigley.' Salzieder installed bleachers, bunting and fake brick to make his backyard feel like the real deal.

A Little Bit Of Wrigley In Northwest Indiana

By Michael Puente
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Buying a ticket to a Cubs World Series game could cost fans thousands of dollars.

Knowing this, a Northwest Indiana man brought a little bit of Wrigley Field to his house. 

Before Tuesday night’s Cubs game, John Salzeider walked passed Clark and Waveland street signs, pushed through a turnstile and to his seat.

But he wasn’t actually at Wrigley Field — he was in his backyard.

“This is what we call our Little Wrigley,” Salzeider said. “We do try to make it a little bit like that with the bleachers and the rest.” 

Salzeider, an attorney from Highland, Ind., installed the bleachers in his backyard to watch the Cubs playoff games. 

In addition to the bleachers, Salzeider installed red, white and blue bunting and even fake brick work.

And the weather isn’t a problem either. 

“We bring the heaters out so we have that,” Salzeider said. “I think it is a little bit better when it’s a little bit chilly.”

Salzeider’s daughter, Samantha, a marketing coordinator with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, says her father’s set-up is like being at a real game.

“I love it. I figure if I can’t go to Wrigley and watch the Cubs, this is the next best thing,” Samantha Salzeider said.

Michael Puente is WBEZ’s Northwest Indiana Studio Reporter. Follow him @MikePuenteNews.