To the Editor:

In the early 1980’s Wrigley Field was the only professional baseball team that didn’t have lights, and every game was played during the day under God’s light. Day baseball was the way the game should be played. The fans liked it this way, it had always been that way, and they didn’t want it to change. People argued that if they played games at night under the lights, people would be out on the streets late getting mugged, and crime rates would go up. They thought it wouldn’t be safe.

Beautiful Wrigley Field was the icon of Chicago, much like our Tremont Nail Factory. Everyone loves it but doesn’t want to change much, even if it would be an advantage.

Year after year, decade after decade, the Cubs record was horrible!!! It was exhausting for the players to play all their home games during the day in the city all summer long, while other teams had the cooler night advantage for most of their home games.  Because of their refusal to adapt to the changing times, the team’s nickname for decades was “the Loveable Losers.”

The sad thing for the Cubs organization is that they were the first team to propose putting lights up at the field, and instead they were the last.  They say that if you really want to be successful at something you have to be first or be different. My plan for this town is to be all three. Be first…be different…and be successful!!!

Town Meeting Article 13 is our opportunity to be first, be different, and be successful, so that we can change our “Loveable Loser” into a winner.  Our fears today about change at Tremont Nail are as unfounded as the Chicago community’s fears about night lights were. The Cubs suffered for decades, even after every other team had installed lights with successful results.  Let’s not be last like Chicago, let’s take advantage of the opportunities presented in the new Tremont Nail Overlay District article before you. Right now we have a perfect pitch heading towards us, and we need to swing and connect so that we can start winning!

Mary Bruce

Selectman and Member of Wareham Redevelopment Authority