Baseball history unpacked, July 16

A Cubs-centric look at baseball’s past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow along as we view selected moments gleaned from the rich pageant of Major League Baseball history.

Today in baseball history:

• 1897 - Colts first baseman Cap Anson becomes the first major-leaguer to collect 3000 hits when he singles off George Blackburn. The 45-year-old infielder’s historic hit comes in a 2-1 loss to Baltimore at Chicago’s West Side Grounds. (1)

There’s no box score, of course. Too early. Baltimore was 43-22 after that game, while Chicago was 30-40. Wee Willie Keeler played for the Orioles that year.

• 1913 - In a game against the Cubs, Superbas’ second baseman George Cutshaw handles 14 chances without an error. The infielder’s defensive prowess helps Brooklyn beat Chicago at Ebbets Field, 4-2, in 11 innings. (1)

Box score. Jimmy Lavender took the loss for the Cubs.

• 1975 - Bowie Kuhn is re-elected to his second term as the commissioner of baseball. Charlie Finley failed in his attempt to force the other owners to vote to remove Kuhn, who had become an adversary of the Oakland A’s owner during his first seven years in the position. (1)
• 2006 - At Wrigley Field, Mets outfielders Cliff Floyd and Carlos Beltran both hit grand slams during a franchise record 11-run inning in the sixth of the 13-7 defeat of the Cubs. The pair of four-run homers marks only the seventh time in baseball history a team has accomplished the feat in one inning. (1)

Box score. Cubs starter Sean Marshall homered in that game, but it wasn’t enough to defray the two grannies. Phil Nevin hit a two-run homer in the pinch. Only five of the runs against Marshall were earned. He did well until the fateful sixth, when Todd Walker’s fielding error opened the gates for Floyd’s second home run of the game, and Roberto Novoa relieved him only to reload the bases, aided by another Walker error, this time on a botched throw, and allowed Beltran to take him deep.

• Cubs birthdays: Dad Clark, Lee Elia.

You might enjoy this look at the history of the Home Run Derby.

Sources:

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

Thanks for playing along.