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.
Today in baseball history:
- 1933 - Kenesaw Mountain Landis, in a move seen as a precursor the reduction of all salaries during the depression years, voluntarily cuts his pay by forty percent. In 1920, the Millville, Ohio native accepted the offer to become the game’s first commissioner for seven years at an annual salary of $42,500, on condition he could remain a federal judge. (1)
- 1985 - The BBWAA elects St. Louis outfielder Lou Brock and Hoyt Wilhelm, who played with nine different teams, to the Hall of Fame. The Cardinals speedster broke Ty Cobb’s record for stolen bases in 1977 with 893 career steals, and the veteran knuckleballer, best remembered for his seasons with the Orioles and the White Sox, had appeared in more games than any other pitcher in major league history. (1)
- 1992 - Tom Seaver, one of the greatest starting pitchers of all time, and Rollie Fingers, who helped revolutionize the role of the relief pitcher, are elected to the Hall of Fame. Between the two of them, they won or saved 767 games: Seaver had 311 wins and one save, while Fingers had 114 wins and 341 saves. (2)
- 2011 - In an eight-player trade, the Cubs send outfielder Sam Fuld and minor-leaguers Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Brandon Guyer, and Robinson Chirinos to the Rays to acquire starter Matt Garza. In addition to receiving the 27-year-old right-hander, who compiled a 15-10 record last season that included a no-hitter, Chicago obtains outfielder Fernando Perez and minor league southpaw prospect Zac Rosscup. (1)
The rise and fall of Hak-Ju Lee.
- Cubs birthdays: Dad Clarke, Kitty Bransfield, Al Todd, Al Dark, Dick Calmus, Doug Capilla, Alfonso Soriano, Jon Lester.
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