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. The embedded links often point to articles that I’ve chosen as illustrative of the scenes, from The Society for American Baseball Research, reproductions of period newspapers, images, and other such material.
You might learn something, but mostly, it’s for fun!
Today in baseball history:
- 1932 - The Brooklyn Dodgers acquire slugger Hack Wilson from the St. Louis Cardinals. Wilson, who costs only $45,000 and a minor league pitcher, will sign for $16,500, half his previous year’s salary. He will hit .297 with 23 home runs and 123 RBI for Brooklyn this season. (3)
- 1953 - Argyle R. Mackey warns ‘alien players’ they will face deportation if found jumping U.S. professional contracts. The Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization cites the McCarran-Walter Act as the basis of his decision. (1)
Further reading: The history of the Antitrust Exemption (NYT); Los Chorizeros.
- 1979 - Outfielder Willie Mays, considered one of the greatest players of all time, is elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. Mays garners 409 out of 432 votes and becomes the 14th man to gain election in his first year on the ballot. Mays will be officially inducted on August 5th, along with Veterans Committee selections Warren Giles and Hack Wilson. (3)
- 1988 - Arbitrator Thomas Roberts declares seven presently contracted players no-risk free agents as a result of the collusion suit against Major League baseball. The players, who include Kirk Gibson, Carlton Fisk, and Joe Niekro, have until March 1 to make deals with other clubs. (1)
- 2013 - Coming off the best season of his career, free agent OF Scott Hairston signs a two-year deal with the Chicago Cubs. (3)
- Cubs birthdays: Bill Bowman, Joey Amalfitano, Don Nottebart, Dick Burwell, Jeff Samardzija, Addison Russell.
Sources:
- (1) — The National Pastime.
- (2) — Today in Baseball History.
- (3) — Baseball Reference.
- (4) — Society for American Baseball Research.
- (5) — Baseball Hall of Fame.
Thanks for reading. #Cubsnews