Baseball history unpacked, December 17

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.

Today in baseball history:

• 1891 - The American Association disbands. The Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Browns, Louisville Colonels, and Washington Senators will become part of the 12-team National League. (1)
• 1920 - The AL votes to allow pitchers who used the spitball in 1920 to continue using it as long as they are in the league. The NL will do the same. There will be 17 holdover spitballers in all. For the NL: Bill Doak, Phil Douglas, Dana Fillingim, Ray Fisher, Marvin Goodwin, Burleigh Grimes, Clarence Mitchell, and Dick Rudolph. For the AL: A.W. Ayers, Slim Caldwell, Stan Coveleski, Red Faber, Dutch Leonard, Jack Quinn, Allan Russell, Urban Shocker, and Allen Sothoron. (2) (3)
• 2002 - The Cubs sign free agent OF Troy O’Leary to a one-year contract for $750,000. (3)
• 2010 - After losing the right-hander to free-agency two seasons ago, the Cubs sign Kerry Wood, one of the franchise’s most popular players of the recent past, to a $1.5 million, one-year deal that includes bonuses for appearances and games finished. After attending Ron Santo’s funeral last week, the 33-year-old free-agent reached out to Tom Ricketts, letting the club owner know he would accept a modest offer to return to the North Side of Chicago. (1)
• Cub birthdays: Bill Hutchinson, Marvell Wynne, David Kelton, Juan Mateo.

Sources:

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

Thanks for reading. #Cubsnews