Random Cubs Recap: July 4, 1994

by Al Yellon on Dec 4, 2011 11:00 AM CST in History

Pitcher Randy Myers of the Chicago Cubs throws a pitch during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Today's random recap is actually two recaps.

That's because it takes us back to a time when teams used to play holiday doubleheaders.

This one happened serendipitously. It wasn't scheduled, but back in the days when outside-the-NL-Central teams actually made more than one visit to Wrigley Field on a routine basis, the Rockies and Cubs had been rained out on April 30, so the makeup date was made for a day -- July 4 -- which was to have been the beginning of a three-game series between the two clubs.

Instead, it was a four-game set. And by the time July 4 was over, it must have felt to the players as if they had played all four games on that day. (The story you'll read about what a couple of friends of mine did that day is true, incidentally.)

Wrigley Field doubleheaders, many years ago, used to start at 12:30 p.m.; in the 1960s this meant that on occasion, the second games would be called for darkness before they had completed nine innings; in those days that was common practice. Eventually they moved up the starting time to noon and agreed to suspend games rather than call them.

Once lights were installed at Wrigley Field that all became moot; games could be finished no matter how long they went.

This afternoon and evening, the Cubs and Rockies might have wished that the lights weren't there. Oh, the first game went quickly enough, finishing in two hours and 36 minutes and with an exciting Cubs victory, 4-3, when they scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth off the Rockies' Bruce Ruffin. Eddie Zambrano, who has become a pretty good bench player, led off the inning with a walk; Steve Buechele doubled him to third and then Rey Sanchez was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.

With this Cubs team, that usually spells DOOM. Bases loaded, nobody out? In what creative way would the Cubs fail to score?

This time, they managed to win. Mark Parent tied the game with a line drive sac fly, and after Shawon Dunston struck out, Derrick May singled in the game-winner.

If only they'd just stopped there; big storms came through the north side of Chicago during the second game, causing three separate rain delays. I mention "north side" because the White Sox were also home on Monday. Some friends of mine, hearing that the Sox game against the Brewers was actually going to be played -- it wasn't raining at Comiskey Park -- decided to leave the bleachers and hop on the L to see that game.

They saw that whole game, a 3-2 White Sox win over Milwaukee. It ended shortly after 9 p.m. -- at which time they came back to Wrigley, just in time to see Zambrano drop a fly ball in left field that gave the Rockies a pair of runs and a 4-2, 15-inning win over the Cubs that finished just before 10:30 p.m. I won't blame Randy Myers for this one -- he was already in his third inning of relief.

This season has been pretty much a lost cause since the 9-22 start, although the Cubs have managed -- somehow -- to play .500 ball since then; even the doubleheader split kept them over .500 since that awful start, at 25-24.

At least the Cubs don't have a day game Tuesday; it's a scheduled night game, with Kevin Foster scheduled to throw. Maybe it'll be a better day tomorrow.

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I

I was at that doubleheader with my friends for my birthday (which is the 7th).

Because I had to go out of town for work that year a lot it was my last 2 games that season.

Nothing happens unless it's first a dream

by puckishcubsfan on Dec 4, 2011 11:47 AM CST reply actions

Al what do you think of the talk the Brewers may be moved to the National League in a couple of years?

I hope there isn’t a strike. Do you suppose baseball will ever have labor peace?

Sox fans sure whine about this years possible strike.

Nothing happens unless it's first a dream

by puckishcubsfan on Dec 4, 2011 11:49 AM CST reply actions

Ken "Hawk" Harrelson on the possible strike...

Harrelson: “Ya know, Wimpy, if there is a strike this year…we gone! You can put it on the boarrrrdddd…yes! Yes! Yes!”
Paciorek: “Is that b-o-a-r-d or b-o-r-e-d, Hawk?”

by jeffmills1972 on Dec 4, 2011 2:10 PM CST up reply actions

It's been less than a month since Sandberg retired...

…and already Joe Morgan is going around badmouthing Ryno as a quitter and jerk for walking away from a big payday. What’s it to him, anyway?

Well, as Bud Selig or Don Fehr may have been heard to say during the ongoing labor negotiations, virtue must be its own reward. I imagine Ryno will learn this in the years ahead, if he doesn’t know it already. Hosts and callers on talk radio shows here in New York have been merciless in criticizing Sandberg for leaving all that dough on the table.

Something tells me Ryno’s ethical behavior may be misinterpreted by his peers, and will cost him in the long run if he hopes to remain in the game in some official capacity.

"Elder White! Look at the talent on those Cubs!" Harry Caray, KMOX Radio, 4/22/62

"And you have to wonder – What's the matter with Broglio?" Harry, KMOX, 5/24/64

by ernaga on Dec 4, 2011 12:20 PM CST reply actions

If Joe Morgan is an expert on ethics, then I'm engaged to Anne Hathaway.

This coming from the same man who is friends with Pete Rose. The difference between Pete Rose and Ryne Sandberg is stunning. Sandberg is the type of man who would walk away from big money because he felt like he didn’t deserve it. Rose is the type of man who would push people out of the way including a child to grab some money.

by jeffmills1972 on Dec 4, 2011 2:08 PM CST up reply actions

that honor goes to Adam Shulman

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Dec 4, 2011 2:51 PM CST up reply actions

leading off for Glenview Pony A all star teem and playing centerfield

Hammer

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Dec 4, 2011 12:31 PM CST reply actions

wasnt there a sprite like beverage called Teem?

So i you can give you can take it.

by epsilon on Dec 5, 2011 8:40 AM CST up reply actions

...

Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation

by Al Yellon on Dec 5, 2011 9:27 AM CST up reply actions

my spelling and grammar is getting worse with age

and I am only 31. I always hoped I would get my writing skills from my Mom. Sadly I got mine from my Father. The man can fish – but spelling aghhh no.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Dec 5, 2011 11:13 AM CST up reply actions

Although the Cubs are known to take a conservative approach when it comes to honoring the team's past greats...

… and special moments, there have been some rumblings about putting a historical marker on Waveland at the site of Manager Tom Trebelhorn’s recent “Firehouse Chat.” Any thoughts?

"Elder White! Look at the talent on those Cubs!" Harry Caray, KMOX Radio, 4/22/62

"And you have to wonder – What's the matter with Broglio?" Harry, KMOX, 5/24/64

by ernaga on Dec 4, 2011 12:44 PM CST reply actions

Just as long as they don't have a statue of Tom Trebelhorn outside of Wrigley Field...

I’m okay with that.

by jeffmills1972 on Dec 4, 2011 2:06 PM CST up reply actions

1994 was such a bad year for the Cubs...

But was shaping to be a great year for baseball fans and Major League Baseball. There is no doubt in my mind that the Montreal Expos would have won the National League East, the NL pennant and the World Series. That team was just phenomenal. And had that happened, there probably would still be Major League Baseball in Montreal today.

I think that Tony Gwynn would have hit .400 or at least came closer to doing it than even George Brett did in 1980. And I also think that Matt Williams would have broken Roger Maris’s record of 61 homeruns. History would have been forever changed had the 1994 MLB season been completed. We wouldn’t have had the Sosa/McGwire pursuit of Roger Maris’s record in 1998. Instead they would have been pursuing Matt Williams’s record. There would be a Major League Baseball team in Montreal today being played in an outdoor, baseball-only stadium with grass in downtown Montreal. And the New York Yankees might have made the World Series under Buck Showalter who may have continued to manage for many years.

As a Cubs fan and baseball fan, 1994 leaves a bitter taste in my mouth because it was not fun watching the team that year and the strike was totally unnecessary. I don’t know why they just didn’t wait until after the season was over. I would rather they cancel the whole 1995 season to get their stuff together rather than pull the plug on 1994.

by jeffmills1972 on Dec 4, 2011 2:05 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

A personal note

My friend just reminded me that it was at this doubleheader she started telling me about this guy who was her husband’s best friend she wanted to set me up with. It was the man I am now married to. But we didn’t meet and go out for almost a year because we were both traveling all the time with our jobs.

Nothing happens unless it's first a dream

by puckishcubsfan on Dec 4, 2011 5:10 PM CST reply actions