Baseball history unpacked, July 19

... on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue brings a you 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 pertain to the scenes, such as reproductions of period newspapers, images, and/or other such material as is often found in the wild.

Today in baseball history:

• 1902 - John McGraw, the team’s third skipper this season, begins his 30-year tenure as manager of the Giants, losing to Philadelphia at the Polo Grounds, 5-3. The fiery skipper left the fledgling American League Orioles midseason, bringing three key players from Baltimore, first baseman Dan McGann, catcher Roger Bresnahan, and right-hander Joe McGinnity, all who started in today’s game. (1)
• 1909 - During the top of the second inning of a 6-1 win over the Red Sox at Cleveland’s League Park, Neal Ball executes the first unassisted triple play in the post-1900 era of baseball. The Naps (Indians) shortstop catches an Ambrose McConnell line drive, steps on second to force out Heinie Wagner, and then tags Jake Stahl for the third out as he comes from first base. (1)

Box score. The Cubs beat the Superbas that day, 2-0 behind Three-Finger Brown.

• 1910 - 43-year-old Cy Young wins his 500th game when the Naps (Indians) beat the Senators in 11 innings at American League Park, 5-4. During his 22-year major league career, from 1890-1911 pitching for five different teams, the right-hander will compile 511 victories, 94 more than Walter Johnson, who is second on the all-time list. (1)

Box score. The Cubs lost to the Superbas that day, 4-3 in ten innings, behind Three-Finger Brown.

• 1911 - Former circus acrobat Walter Carlisle completes an unassisted triple play for the Vernon Tigers of the Pacific Coast League. With the score tied at 3 - 3 in the 6th inning, and men on first and second base, he makes a spectacular diving catch of a short fly by batter Roy Akin, touches second, and runs to first to retire both runners. Vernon wins, 5 - 4, with the speedy English-born Carlisle pulling off the only unassisted triple play ever accomplished by an outfielder in organized baseball.(1,3)
• 1912 - The Chicago Cubs had twenty-one hits in eleven innings but still lost to the Philadelphia Phillies when Gavvy Cravath stole home. (2)

Box score.

• 1916 - At Chicago, the Giants edge the Cubs, 8 - 6, as New York CF Benny Kauff tags out two runners at second base for a double play. With one out the Cubs load the bases. Giant catcher Bill Rariden throws to second and catches the runner, Les Mann, off. In the rundown, the runner on third breaks for home and scores when the Giants fumble. But the ball is recovered and the throw to Kauff covering second gets the runner sliding back. Kauff then looks up and tags the runner trying to advance from first base to end the inning. (3)

Box score.

• 1927 - The Giants honor John McGraw, the team’s manager since 1902, with a Silver Jubilee celebration, showering ‘Mugsy’ with gifts that include a huge silver loving cup, a silver platter, and a silver cane for his 25 years of service to the club. The rain during the pregame ceremony at the Polo Grounds doesn’t dampen the spirits of the enthusiastic crowd of 25,000 fans, which includes Mayor Jimmy Walker, many former players, Commissioner Landis, George M. Cohan, and Commander Richard E. Byrd. The Cubs spoil the day with an 8-5 win. (1,3)
• 1966 - In the first major league game to be played totally on artificial turf, Houston beats Philadelphia at the Astrodome, 8-2. Prior to this contest, the outfield consisted of painted dirt with only the infield covered with the new material created by Monsanto Company, dubbed Astroturf. (1)

Box score.

• 1966 - At Chicago, Cub Byron Browne strikes out five times against Reds starter Jim Maloney. The Reds finally win, 3 - 2, in 18 innings, with Joe Nuxhall victorious over Fergie Jenkins. Don Pavletich belts a homer in the 18th inning off Jenkins. In tomorrow’s Reds win over the Cubs, Browne will strike out another three times to set a National League record for two games on his way to leading the NL in strikeouts with 143. (3)

Box score.

• 1988 - In the top of the 9th at Wrigley Field, Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe picks Brett Butler off first base unassisted. With Jose Uribe at second, Butler wanders too far off the bag and the Cubs pitcher nabs him for the out. But Sutcliffe loses, 3 - 1, to Rick Reuschel. (3)

Box score.

• 1997 - The Cubs sweep two from the visiting Rockies, 7-0 and 6-5, to hand Colorado its 15th loss in 16 games. Steve Trachsel tosses seven shutout innings in the opener for the win, and the Cubs score the winning run in the nitecap on Mark Grace’s sacrifice fly. The Rocks have 13 hits in the nitecap, but strand 14 runners. Larry Walker is 0 for 9 for the afternoon, dropping his average 10 points to .392.
• 2000 - Chicago Cubs general manager Ed Lynch resigns. His job will be taken over by team president Andy MacPhail. (3)
• 2018 - The only game played today features the Cubs hosting the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. The Cubs win, 9 - 6, handing interim Cards manager Mike Shildt his first loss as a skipper. Jason Heyward, who ended the first half very hot, has 3 hits and 2 RBIs, Victor Caratini scores three times and Ian Happ adds a two-run homer. Pedro Strop picks up the save after the Cubs place closer Brandon Morrow on the disabled list before the game. (3)

Box score.

• Cubs birthdays: Bob Pettit, Mark Koenig, Phil Cavarretta, Marcelino Solis, Phil Coke.

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.