An irreverent, 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. No graphs or advanced metrics were harmed during the commission of these articles. Only the very coolest kids read this series.
Today in baseball history:
- 1905 - Cubs manager Frank Selee resigns and is replaced by Frank Chance, who is elected manager in a narrow vote among the players. Selee, suffering from tuberculosis, had not been making road trips, and Chance has been serving as road manager. Selee, who fashioned the team that will dominate the second half of the decade, retires to Colorado. The visiting Phillies overcome a 5-0 deficit to down Chicago, 7 - 6, in 11 innings. (3)
The two teams remained 3 and 4 in the standings. The Cubs ended up third with a 92-61 record. The Phillies ended up 4th at 83-69. The Giants won 105 games and the pennant, also defeating the Athletics in the World Series.
- 1924 - Dazzy Vance strikes out seven consecutive batters to establish a major league record when the Brooklyn Robins defeat the Cubs at Ebbets Field, 4-0. (1)
Box score. Vic Aldridge took the loss for the Cubs. Gabby Hartnett took the collar three times.
- 1957 - Gil Hodges, in a 12-3 win over the Cubs, hits his 13th and last career grand slam, also the last one in Brooklyn Dodger history. The first baseman’s bases-loaded shot off Dick Littlefield establishes a new National League record, previously shared by Rogers Hornsby and Ralph Kiner. (1)
Box score. Sandy Koufax got the victory over Tom Poholsky. Ernie Banks homered for all three of the Cubs’ runs in the bottom of the fourth.
- 1987 - Andre Dawson hits three home runs, his 29th, 30th and 31st, and drives in all five Chicago runs as the Cubs beat the Phillies, 5 - 3. (3)
Box score. Les Lancaster over Tom Hume. Lee Smith got the save, his 26th. Chris James homered for the Phillies.
- Cubs birthdays today: Ed Gastfield, Harry Croft, Howard Freigau, Wayne Tyrone, Greg Gross.
Sources:
- (1) — The National Pastime.
- (2) — Today in Baseball History.
- (3) — Baseball Reference.
- (4) — Society for American Baseball Research.
Please note that quotes may have been corrected for spelling and/or grammarical errata. Thanks for playing along.