A Cubs-centric look at baseball’s past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow along as we review selected moments gleaned from the rich pageant of Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball history.
Today in baseball history:
- 1890 - Cy Young, making his major league debut, is credited with the win when the Cleveland Spiders beat the Colts in Chicago’s West Side Park, 8-1. (1)
The Cubs were 44-42 after that game. Cleveland was 25-61.
- 1901 - The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues is formed to help the minor leagues protect their interests. Date unverified. (2)
Now known as Minor League Baseball after a 1999 name change. They began operations in 1902, with the American Association joining in 1903. Most versions say that the group was formed in September, at Chicago’s Leland Hotel. Please refer to the embedded articles for details.
- 1937 - The Braves become the first National League team to lead off a game with back-to-back homers. At Wrigley Field, Roy Johnson and Rabbit Warstler both go deep to start the first inning off Tex Carleton, but Boston’s quick start isn’t enough when Chicago wins the contest 12-6. (1)
Box score. This was the first game of a doubleheader. The second game was also won by Chicago, 6-2. Frank Demaree, Gabby Hartnett, and Stan Hack all went deep for the Cubs in the first game. Carleton only pitched 1.1 innings, and Curt Davis went the rest of the way for the win, giving up three earned runs. The Cubs were 62-34 at the end of the day, and ended up second at 93-61. The Giants won the pennant at 95-57 and lost the World Series to the Yankees, 4-1.
- 1981 - National League owners agree to the $20.5 million sale of the Cubs to the Tribune Company. In three weeks, Cubs stockholders (led by Bill Wrigley’s with 81 percent) will approve the sale. (3)
Good article about the time of the sale and a little bit after by Steve Daley. The sale was initiated 6/17/1981. Here’s a good piece from the NY Times {$} with some details that you might not have known.
- 1988 - Goose Gossage becomes the second player in major league history to record 300 career saves when he faces one batter and gets the final out in the Cubs’ 7-4 victory over Philadelphia at Wrigley Field. The future Hall of Fame right-handed reliever joins Rollie Fingers, who reached the milestone in 1982. (1)
Box score. Al Nipper beat Mike Maddux. Pat Perry hit a pinch homer in the sixth. Ryne Sandberg made an error on a ground ball in the fifth that led to two unearned runs in that frame.
- 1998 - In Chicago, Jack Brickhouse, the long-time voice of the Cubs, dies at the age of 82. Brickhouse was the play-by-play announcer from 1941 to 1981. Jack also handled the White Sox announcing from 1948 to 1967 and as the radio voice for the Chicago Bears of the NFL from 1953 to 1976. He even did Bulls games in the 1960s, signing the deal for WGN over drinks with the team’s owner. (3)
- Cubs birthdays: Sam Mertes, Jack Wallace, Bobby Sturgeon, Dave Gerard, Wayne Schurr, Joe Schaffernoth, Ray Culp, Jim Dunegan, Ron Davis, Luis Vizcaino, Justin Germano.
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.