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. We do our best to verify the accuracy of the contents. Please let us know if an item is inaccurate (but be nice).
Today in baseball history:
- 1904 - Cubs P Bob Wicker, who pitched a 12-inning one-hitter in June, allows just one hit in regulation in beating Brooklyn, 4 - 0. Chicago also takes the nitecap, 7 - 4, in seven innings. (3)
- 1908 - Harry Pulliam upholds Hank O’Day’s delayed decision and declares the previous day’s controversial game between the Giants and Cubs a tie, a decision nobody likes. The Cubs demand the game be forfeited to them as the crowd prevented play from continuing, although darkness would have soon ended it. Both teams appeal. Pulliam sees no inconsistency with the September 4th incident that was similar to Merkle’s Boner and claims he has merely upheld his umpire on a question of fact in each case. Meanwhile, the Giants beat the Cubs, 5 - 4, after almost blowing a 5 - 0 lead. Hooks Wiltse is relieved by Christy Mathewson, and the official scorer awards the win to Matty. The loss goes to Three Finger Brown, his first loss to Mathewson since June 13, 1905. (3)
- 1971 - In the top of the fourth inning of a losing effort to Philadelphia, Cubs’ starter Milt Pappas strikes out the side, throwing just nine pitches. Greg Luzinski, Don Money, and Mike Anderson are the victims of the right-hander’s immaculate inning. (1)
Box score. Unfortunately, Pappas also allowed five earned runs in 6.2 innings, making a winner out of Barry Lersch, who allowed only a run-scoring double by Pappas in nine innings. Willie Montanez put some mustard on a long fly and Anderson also homered.
- 1975 - Tom Seaver learns the adage the “third time’s the charm” isn’t always true when he loses his bid for a no-hitter in the ninth inning for the third time in his career. After striking out Don Kessinger and Rick Monday, rookie outfielder Joe Wallis, playing in his 15th career game, singles to right field for the Cubs’ first hit off the Mets’ starter in the Wrigley Field contest. (1)
Box score. Bill Madlock later drove in the only run of the contest with an 11th-inning walk as the Cubs went on to win behind Big Daddy Rick Reuschel, who threw ten complete innings, and reliever Ken Crosby, who got the win.
- 1979 - With a week to go, Herman Franks resigns as Cubs manager, and is replaced on an interim basis by Joey Amalfitano. After resigning, Franks criticizes a number of Cubs players, including Barry Foote, Mike Vail, Bill Buckner and Ted Sizemore. (3)
- 1984 - The Cubs clinch the National League East flag with a 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh at Three Rivers Stadium. Rick Sutcliffe’s two-hitter gives the North-Siders their first title since 1945. (1) The win is Sutcliffe’s 14th in a row. (2)
Box score. The Red Baron’s 20th win was the biggest Cub victory ever for a lot of us faithful. Ryne Sandberg doubled twice and Sutcliffe helped himself with a 2nd-inning single as the victorious Cubs celebrated their title. Al wrote about it a few years ago.
Watch the game yourself!
- 2001 - Former American major leaguer Tuffy Rhodes ties the Japanese record set by Sadaharu Oh in 1964 when he takes fireballer Daisuke Matsuzaka deep for his 55th home run of the season. The Kintetsu Buffaloes outfielder has five games left to break the record, but opposing pitchers will intentionally walk him to prevent the immortal Oh’s record being broken. (1)
- 2017 - The Cubs’ principal mid-season acquisition, P José Quintana, proves to be worth it as he shuts out the Brewers on three hits in a 5-0 win in the final game of a four-game series at Miller Park. By winning three of four against their closest rivals, the Cubs have increased their lead in the NL Central to 5 1/2 games and lowered their magic number to two. (3)
Box score. Quintana’s complete game defeated Chase Anderson and a succession of Brewer relievers as the Cubs got ready to move on to the playoffs. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo doubled and Ben Zobrist homered.
Here’s a condensed version for you:
- Cubs birthdays: John Kane, Mike Gonzalez, Dick Nen, Rafael Palmeiro, Mario Encarnacion, Jake Buchanan.
Sources:
- (1) — The National Pastime.
- (2) — Today in Baseball History.
- (3) — Baseball Reference.
- (4) — Society for American Baseball Research.
Please note that individual lines may have been corrected for spelling and/or grammarical errata. Thanks for playing along.