Baseball history unpacked, December 7

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:

• 1876 - The first annual meeting of the National League is held. The New York Mutuals and the Philadelphia Athletics are expelled because the two teams had decided not to play their final games in the west without permission. Also, William Hulbert is elected to succeed Morgan Bulkeley as president.
• 1937 - The National League extends permission for night baseball but the American League refuses to permit arc light games.

Good article about the history of night games from SABR.

• 1939 - At the urging of Senator owner Clark Griffith, the other American League owners enact a rule prohibiting the league’s pennant winner from buying, selling or trading players during the following season. The winter meeting decision appears to have the desired effect as the Yankees finish in third place. (1)
• 1966 - Dick Ellsworth is traded by the Cubs to the Phillies for right-hander Ray Culp and cash. During his eight-year tenure in Chicago, the southpaw, who had both a 22-win (1963) and 22-loss (1966) season for the club, compiled 84 victories, the most by a North-side hurler during the decade. (1)
• 1983 - In a complicated three-team swap‚ pitcher Scott Sanderson is traded from the Expos to the Cubs. Montreal receives pitcher Gary Lucas from San Diego‚ and the Padres get P Craig Lefferts‚ 1B-OF Carmelo Martinez and 3B Fritzie Connally from Chicago, and IF Al Newman from Montreal. (3)
• 1998 - The Cubs sign two free agents, 3B Gary Gaetti and OF Glenallen Hill.
• 2004 - After refusing a $60 million, four-year extension from the Red Sox last winter, Nomar Garciaparra signs a one-year deal with the Cubs, the team he was traded to in July, for $8 million. The All-Star shortstop, who is coming off an injury-plagued season, can increase the value of the contract with bonus incentives based on performance and playing time to $11 million. (1)
• 2016 - The Royals trade closer Wade Davis to the Cubs in return for OF Jorge Soler. (3)
• 2017 - The Cubs sign free agent P Tyler Chatwood to a three-year deal worth $38 million. (3)
• Cubs birthdays: Ed Morris, Don Johnson, Jorge Comellas, Mark Freeman, Don Cardwell, Scot Thompson, Ryan Theriot, Mike Baxter, Kyle Hendricks. Also notable: Johnny Bench (HoF).

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