Baseball

Baseball is imprinted on the national consciousness as part of Chicago, not because of victorious dynasties but because of the opposite -- the Black Sox scandal of 1919 and the perennially losing Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs haven't made a World Series appearance since 1945 and haven't been world champs since 1908, but that doesn't stop people from catching games at Wrigley Field, with its ivy-covered outfield walls, its hand-operated scoreboard, its view of the shimmering lake from the upper deck, and its "W" or "L" flag announcing the outcome of the game to the unfortunates who couldn't attend. After all the strikes, temper tantrums, and other nonsense, Wrigley has managed to hold on to something like purity. Yes, Wrigley finally installed lights (it was the last major-league park to do so), but by agreement with the residential neighborhood, the Cubs still play most games in the daylight, as they should. Because Wrigley is small, just about every seat is decent.

No matter how the Cubs are doing, tickets ($15-$50) go fast; most weekend and night games sell out by Memorial Day. Your best bet is to hit a weekday game, or try your luck buying a ticket on game day outside the park (you'll often find some season-ticket holders looking to unload a few seats).

Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison St. (tel. 773/404-CUBS), is easy to reach. Take the Red Line to the Addison stop, and you're there. Or take the no. 22 bus, which runs up Clark Street; #8 bus from 79th St to Broadway/Waveland; #152 bus on Addison from Cumberland to Lake Shore Drive; and #154 Wrigley Field Express from parking lots on game night. Buses are $1.50. To buy tickets in person, stop by the ticket windows at Wrigley Field, Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm, Saturday from 9am to 4pm, and on game days. After April 1st, the box office will not be open on Sundays unless there is a home game being played. Call tel. 800/THE-CUBS for tickets through Tickets.com (tel. 866/652-2827 outside of Illinois); you can also order online through the team website.

Despite their stunning World Series win in 2005, the Chicago White Sox still struggle to attract the same kind of loyalty (despite the fact that they regularly win more games than the Cubs). Longtime fans rue the day owner Jerry Reinsdorf (who is also majority owner of the Bulls) replaced admittedly dilapidated Comiskey Park with a concrete behemoth that lacks the yesteryear charm of its predecessor. That said, sightlines at the new stadium, U.S. Cellular Field, are spectacular from every seat (if you avoid the vertigo-inducing upper deck), and the park has every conceivable amenity, including above-average food concessions, shops, and plentiful restrooms. The White Sox' endearing quality is the blue-collar aura with which so many Cubs-loathing Southsiders identify. Games rarely sell out -- an effect, presumably, of Reinsdorf's sterile stadium and the blighted neighborhood that surrounds it. All of this makes it a bargain for bona fide baseball fans. Tickets cost $$8.50 to $50 and are half-price on Monday.

U.S. Cellular Field is at 333 W. 35th St. (tel. 312/674-1000), in the South Side neighborhood of Bridgeport. To get Sox tickets, call Ticketmaster (tel. 866/SOX-GAME), or visit the ticket office, open Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, with extended hours on game days. To get to the ballpark by subway/El, take the Red Line to Sox/35th Street; or #24 bus (Wentworth, 35 35th St).

Field of Dreams -- Wrigley Field is one of the last old-time baseball stadiums in the country (no luxury boxes here!). For an intimate look at the historic ballpark, take one of the 90-minute tours offered June-Sept, 2-7 days per week; stops include the visitors' and home-team locker rooms, press box, behind-the-scenes security headquarters, and, yes, a walk around the field itself, unless restricted by game day events. Tours sell out, so buy tickets ($25) as far in advance as possible. Call tel. 800/THE-CUBS, or stop by the box office at 1060 W. Addison St.

Basketball

When it comes to basketball, Chicagoans still live in the past, associating the Chicago Bulls (tel. 312/455-4000) with the glory days of Michael Jordan and the never-ending championships of the 1990s. Although the team has rebounded somewhat from the dismal seasons following the departure of Jordan et al., the current players don't inspire the same city-wide excitement. The upside for visitors? The Bulls don't consistently sell out, which means you might be able to catch a game at the cavernous United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. (tel. 312/455-4000). Most tickets run $20 to $100 through Ticketmaster tel. 312/559-1212). Take the Orange, Green, Purple, or Brown lines to Madison or #20 bus west. For Bulls and Blackhawks games only, Bus 19 takes you there as well.

The DePaul Blue Demons, the local college team, are another good bet. They play mostly at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Rd., Rosemont (tel. 773/325-7526 to reach DePaul's athletic department; 847/635-6601 for arena) ), and sometimes at the United Center.

Football

The Chicago Bears play at Soldier Field, Lake Shore Drive and 16th Street (tel. 847/295-6600 for Chicago Bears; 312/235-7000 for Soldier Field), site of a controversial renovation that added what looks like a giant space ship on top of the original stadium's elegant colonnade. Architecturally, it's a disaster, but from a comfort perspective, the place is much improved -- although that doesn't impress longtime fans who prided themselves on surviving blistering-cold game days and horrifying bathrooms. The Bears themselves have been inspiring high hopes -- most recently, winning a trip to the Superbowl in 2007. But even during losing seasons, tickets are hard to come by (most are snapped up by season-ticket holders long before the season starts). If you plan ahead, individual tickets run $68 to $350; expensive seats are usually available through ticket brokers or online sites.

The Northwestern Wildcats play Big Ten college ball at Ryan Field, 1501 Central St., in nearby Evanston (for ticket office, tel. 847/491-CATS).

Hockey

The Chicago Blackhawks have devoted, impassioned fans who work themselves into a frenzy with the first note of "The Star-Spangled Banner," but don't expect heroics that challenge the exploits of past Hawks legends such as Bobby Hull and Tony Esposito. Any player who turns into a star and, hence, earns the right to restructure his contract for a higher salary, is immediately traded by penny-pinching owner Bill Wirtz -- derided by fans and local sportswriters as "Dollar Bill." The Blackhawks play at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. (tel. 312/455-7000). Tickets cost $15 to $100.

For a more affordable and family-friendly experience, catch the semipro Chicago Wolves at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Rd., Rosemont (tel. 847/724-GOAL). The team has been consistently excellent over the past few years, and the games are geared toward all ages, with fireworks beforehand and plenty of on- and off-ice entertainment (tickets $12-$50).

Horse Racing

Thoroughbreds race at Arlington International Racecourse, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights (tel. 847/385-7500), and Hawthorne Race Course, 3501 S. Laramie Ave., Stickney/Cicero (tel. 708/780-3700).