Baseball history unpacked, July 22

... 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:

• 1923 - At Cleveland’s Dunn Field, Walter Johnson fans the Tribe’s Stan Coveleski to become the first pitcher in major league history to strike out 3,000 batters. The Senator legend’s milestone will not be reached again until Cardinals right-hander Bob Gibson accomplishes the feat in 1974. (1)

Box score.

• 1977 - 1977 - Rick Reuschel allows just four hits as the Cubs beat the Braves, 1 - 0.

Box score.

• 1986 - The Cubs fire their ball girl, Marla Collins, when it is revealed that she posed nude for Playboy magazine. The photos will appear in the October issue and accompany shots of Marla in her Cubs uniform and one of Harry Caray pointing to a tattoo on her right thigh. The Cubs win today, 6 - 4, behind Ed Lynch, who ties a National League record in the 1st inning by making three putouts. The record was set in 1975 by another Cub, Rick Reuschel.

Box score.

• 2007 - Tulsa Drillers’ first base coach Mike Coolbaugh is killed instantly when struck in the head by a line drive in the top of the ninth inning at Dickey-Stephens Field in North Little Rock, home of the minor league Arkansas Travelers. The 35-year-old dad, who leaves behind a pregnant wife and two small sons, becomes the second on-the-field fatality in professional baseball history. (1)

Box score.

• 2012 - Ron Santo, who died at the end of 2010 disappointed about not being selected for Cooperstown, is inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame. In tribute of the team’s former third baseman and beloved broadcaster, the Cubs click their heels as they jumped over the third-base line to begin the bottom of the first inning during their game in St. Louis, invoking the memory of the Chicago infielder’s signature move after a victory. (1)

• 2013 - The Rangers trade three prospects, third baseman Mike Olt and pitchers C.J. Edwards and Justin Grimm, to the Cubs for Matt Garza, a player the team has attempted to land for the past two seasons. The deal also includes the Cubs receiving a player to be named later, namely Neil Ramirez. (1)
• Cubs birthdays: Cliff Johnson, Scott Sanderson. Also notable: Jesse Haines (HoF), Alex Trebek.

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.