Baseball history unpacked, March 25

Baseball history marches forth ... as always on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I bring 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. It’s all lightly unpacked and folded neatly, just for you.

You might learn something, but mostly, it’s for fun!

Today in baseball history:

• 1891 - Albert Spalding retires from active participation in the affairs of the Chicago Colts club and the National League. James A. Hart will assume the club presidency. (3)
• 1914 - Babe Ruth makes his first start of his professional career when he defeats the world champion Philadelphia Athletics, 6-2, in an exhibition game played in Wilmington, N.C. The 19 year-old Red Sox rookie left-hander had faced 29 batters in relief, allowing just six hits to earn a spot in manager Jack Dunn’s rotation. (1)
• 1935 - The Yankees purchase pitcher Pat Malone from the Cubs. Malone had led the N.L. in wins in 1929 and 1930. (2)
• 1962 - Elvin Tappe is named as the Chicago Cubs’ first “head coach” of the season in team’s college of coaches plan. Chicago hasn’t had a manager since 1960. (3)
• 1985 - A judge in Illinois rules that state laws prohibiting night baseball at Wrigley Field are constitutional. The Chicago Cubs had previously sued to have the laws overturned after Major League Baseball took away one of the Cubs’ home games during the 1984 NLCS. (3)
• Cubs birthdays: Frank Dwyer, Bill Carney, Polly McLarry, Denver Grigsby, Dutch Leonard, Jim Ellis, Jeff Kunkel, Scott Sanders, Neal Cotts. Also notable: Tom Glavine (HoF).

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