Baseball history unpacked, September 7

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.

Today in baseball history:

• 1911 - The Cubs’ Frank Schulte hits his 21st home run and brings in RBI No. 121 as the Cubs sweep the Reds, 3 - 0 and 4 - 2; he will lead the National League in both home runs and rbi. He is the first player to have more than 20 doubles, triples, and home runs in one season. (3)

Box score 1. Box score 2. Ed Reulbach won the first game over Harry Gaspar. Catcher Tom Needham tripled. King Cole won the second with an assist from Mordecai (Three Finger) Brown. Johnny Evers also drove in two runs in the nightcap.

• 1918 - On one day’s rest, Hippo Vaughn gives up only seven hits, but Carl Mays wins a 2 - 1 duel. Wally Schang has two hits for Boston. Game three of the World Series ends with the Cubs’ Charlie Pick caught in a rundown between third base and home while trying to score on a passed ball. (3)

Box score. Both Boston runs scored in the top of the 4th. The Cubs scored in the the bottom of the 5th on a single by Bill Killefer, who was caught trying to steal second to end the threat.

• 1984 - Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets struck out Ron Cey of the Chicago Cubs in the second inning - his 228th of the season setting a National League record for a rookie. Gooden passed Grover Alexander, who set the mark with 227 in 1911. New York won 10-0 behind Gooden’s one-hitter. (2)

Box score. Dick Ruthven was the loser that day. Keith Moreland had the only Chicago hit.

• 1996 - With 129 at-bats and a mediocre .254 batting average at the start of his major league career, Scott Rolen misses the remainder of the season, when his arm is broken by a pitch thrown by Cubs right-hander Steve Trachsel. The hit-by-pitch will prove to be a blessing in disguise when the Phillies third baseman, technically still a rookie due to one less at-bat last season, will have an outstanding year next season, winning the National League Rookie of the Year award. (1)

Box score. Kent Bottenfield took the loss that day as he allowed a run-scoring double to pinch-hitter Ruben Amaro in the bottom of the 7th and the Cubs didn’t score. Mickey Morandini went deep for two of the Phillies’ runs, with Wendell Magee providing the other on a solo homer. Mark Grace hit a sacrifice fly and the other Cubs run scored on a double play.

• 1998 - Mark McGwire, who had become the third player in history to reach 60 home runs, hits his record-tying 61st against Cubs pitcher Mike Morgan. McGwire’s pursuer in the home run chase, Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa, applauds McGwire, as does the adoring sold-out crowd in St. Louis.

Box score. The Cardinals won that game 3-2 behind the pitching of Darren Oliver and four other pitchers and Mike Morgan took the loss. Gary Gaetti hit a solo homer for the Cubs.

• 2006 - The Cubs are honored by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks for their preservation efforts at Wrigley Field. The venerable old ballpark receives Chicago Landmark Awards for Excellence for the bleacher expansion project which improved circulation in the seating section, increased the number of bathrooms, and dramatically improved access for fans with disabilities. (1)
• 2010 - A statue of Billy Williams, who played 16 seasons with the club from 1959-74, is dedicated by the Cubs on the corner of Sheffield Avenue and Addison Street outside of Wrigley Field. In attendance for the unveiling of the sculpture, that portrays the Hall of Famer outfielder finishing his sweet swing from the left side, is his wife, Shirley, former teammates Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Ron Santo, and Glenn Beckert. (1)
• Cubs birthdays: Curt Davis, Bill McAfee, Reggie Otero, Wade Rowdon, Mark Prior, Wade Davis.

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.