Baseball history unpacked, October 15

A wildly popular Cubs-centric look at baseball’s past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow along as we review select scenes from the rich tapestry of Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball history. It’s a beautiful day for a ball game — let’s get started!

Today in baseball history:

• 1892 - On the last day the season, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Charles ‘Bumpus’ Jones, in his first major league appearance, throws a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This will turn out to be the latest date in the season that a no-hitter is ever pitched in the major leagues. After that, Jones will pitch only one more season, in 1893, leading to a 2-4 career record with 10 strikeouts and a 7.99 ERA in 41 2/3 innings of labor. (3)
• 1968 - Orioles right-hander Roger Nelson is selected first by the Royals in the American League expansion draft. The Pilots then choose first baseman Don Mincher from the Angels as their franchise’s first choice. (1)
• 1972 - In his last appearance at a major league ballpark, Jackie Robinson, speaking prior to Game 2 of the World Series nine days before his death, urges baseball to hire a black manager. The first African- American skipper will not be hired until 1975 when the Indians employ Frank Robinson to run the team. (1)
• 2003 - The Cubs lose Game 7 of the NLDS to the Marlins. Reliever Brad Penny gets the win over Kerry Wood, who homered but allowed 7 earned runs in 5.2 innings.

Box score.

• 2016 - The Cubs take the opening game of the NLCS, 8-4, over the Dodgers. The score is only 3 - 1 for the Cubs in the 8th, when a two-run, two-out single by Adrian Gonzalez off Aroldis Chapman ties it, but Chicago comes right back when pinch-hitter Miguel Montero hits a two-out grand slam off Joe Blanton, followed by a solo homer by Dexter Fowler. (3)

Box score. Andre Ethier homered in a losing cause as the Cubs kept the crooked numbers to a minimum, allowing single runs in the 5th and 9th and two in the 8th.

• 2017 - Justin Turner hits a three-run walk-off homer in the 9th inning to lead Los Angeles to a 4-1 win and a two games to none lead over the Cubs in Game 2 of the NLCS. Turner also drives in his team’s first run in the 5th, negating a homer by Addison Russell. (3)

Box score.

Sources:

• (1) — The National Pastime.
• (2) — Today in Baseball History.
• (3) — Baseball Reference.
• (4) — Society for American Baseball Research.

Thanks for reading.