A century is a long time to wait for anything - and Chicago Cubs fans are holding their breath in a collective gasp as they see their north side home team enter June with the best record in the major leagues - and the best opening record the team has accumulated since it last won the World Series in 1908. Perhaps it is the discussion of changing the name of the stadium that is helping lift the infamous curse - or perhaps it is just their time. Or perhaps the Cubs will fold, once again, in ignominious defeat in a home field loss that breaks the team's fans' hearts. But, regardless, the team is playing in Wrigley Field, a favored destination for baseball fans around the world.

Frankly, from this fan's perspective, the Cubs cannot play anywhere except a ball park called Wrigley Field, the last of its kind, a veritable historical monument to what was once America's favorite pastime.

And this year's Cubs are making it tough for anyone to take seriously the threats being leveled by team owner Sam Zell and Governor Rod Blagojevich of renovating or making major changes to the park, with their 26-8 home record for the season so far, and an amazing 37-21 overall record as of June 3.

Over the next four months, the Cubs could become the next World Series champion if the team can continue its winning ways, without injuries, or the infamous September slump that has plagued the team over and over since the 1960s. And we, the true fans of baseball, could see the ivied walls of Wrigley Field become a part of history, rather than a living tribute to the game that tens of millions have played - and a testament to how fans of the game will throng to cheer on their home team, regardless of whether they win or lose.

Wrigley Field seats the fewest of all of the major league stadiums - and yet, manages to pack into its 41,118 seats 3 million fans of the game every year. Some say they come to see the home team, some say it is to see the ballpark. And some say it is because Americans root for the underdog, which has been the trademark play of the Cubs, nearly achieving greatness several times since 1969 - and always falling just a little bit short.

This could be the final season for fans of baseball to see the game played the way it was originally envisioned, in a small, intimate ballpark, with pre-game access to the players, a view of the entire park from any seat, all set within a living neighborhood, not as a standalone, sterile stadium meant solely to make money.

Wrigley Field is last of the ballparks - and within the next year, it could become merely a nostalgic memory.