A 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:
- 1906 - The Cubs’ Jack “Brakeman” Taylor is knocked out by Brooklyn in the 3rd inning, breaking a string of 187 complete games and 15 relief appearances in which he finished each game. The record run began June 20, 1901. In 10 years, he will fail to finish only eight of 286 starts. With relief help from Orval Overall, Chicago wins, 11 - 3. (3)
- 1932 - Commissioner Kenesaw Landis clears Rogers Hornsby of charges of fraudulently “borrowing” money from Cubs players. The Chicago papers said Hornsby had obtained money from players, either loaned to him to bet on horse races, or to share in joint ventures. When Hornsby is fined, the players want refunds. Hornsby wants a lump payoff by the Cubs, who refuse. Landis holds several hearings, and as he doesn’t punish anyone, it is taken as exoneration. (3)
- 1959 - The Giants and Cubs set a record for the longest 9-inning game in history, playing 3 hours and 50 minutes. Chicago wins the marathon at Wrigley Field by a score of 20 - 9, pounding out 19 hits and five home runs. Eddie Fisher takes the loss while Ed Donnelly is the winner. (3)
- 1969 - After being swept in a three-game series by Houston at the Astrodome, the Mets fall ten games behind the front-running Cubs in the first-ever NL East race. (1)
Bill Hands beat Joe Niekro that day. Billy Williams doubled in two runs and lined into a triple play. All of the Cubs’ runs scored in the 4th. That was one of the high points of that star-crossed season.
- 1979 - Lou Brock collects his 3,000th career hit, a single off Dennis Lamp, as the Cardinals top the Cubs 3-2. (2)
Box score. Garry Templeton drove in Tom Herr, who was pinch-running for Ken Reitz, who had singled, with the winning run on a sacrifice fly. Willie Hernandez took the loss.
- 1987 - Billy Williams joins Ernie Banks as the second Cubs player to be honored by having his uniform number (26) being retired by the team. Sweet Swingin’ Billy from Whistler (AL) played 16 of his 18 major league seasons in the Windy City, hitting .296 and 392 home runs for the team that plays on the North side of Chicago. (1)
- Cubs birthdays: Andre Thornton, Will Ohman, Corey Patterson.
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.