when did they put lights in wrigley field

They installed permanent lights at Wrigley Field in 1988, with the first scheduled night game under the new lights on August 8, 1988.

Quick Scoop

• Wrigley Field was the last Major League Baseball park to get lights, finally approving and installing them for the 1988 season.

• The first Cubs night game under the lights was set for August 8, 1988, against the Philadelphia Phillies, a date often remembered as “8/8/88.”

• That game was rained out after a few innings, so the first official completed night game at Wrigley actually came the next night, August 9, 1988, against the New York Mets.

A Bit Of Background

For decades, neighborhood opposition and ownership preferences kept Wrigley a daytime -only ballpark, even as every other MLB park added lights by the mid‑20th century. Pressure from Major League Baseball and threats to move postseason “home” games finally pushed the Cubs and the city to approve night games in the late 1980s.

Why 1988 Matters Now

• “8/8/88” has become a nostalgic landmark date in baseball history and is still referenced in broadcasts and fan discussions.

• Modern upgrades since then (including more efficient lighting systems) trace back to that late‑80s decision to finally bring night baseball to the Friendly Confines.

TL;DR: They put lights in Wrigley Field for night baseball in 1988, with the first scheduled night game on August 8, 1988.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.