Baseball history unpacked, July 5

... 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:

• 1898 - Lizzie (Stroud) Arlington becomes the first woman to play in organized baseball as she pitches for Reading in the Eastern League. Some claim she also pitched in Atlantic League exhibition games after being hired by Ed Barrow, the league’s president. (1,3)
• 1937 - In the first game of a doubleheader, Frank Demaree goes 6 for 7 (three doubles and three singles), helping the Cubs edge the Cardinals, 13 - 12, in 14 innings. The Californian adds two more singles in the second game - a 9 - 7 Chicago victory. (1,3)

Box scores. Game 1. Game 2.

• 1947 - Striking out as a pinch hitter in an Indian 6 - 5 loss to the White Sox, 22-year old Larry Doby becomes the first black to appear in the American League. The former Newark Eagles standout will play in the major leagues for 13 years, amassing 1,515 hits, just three less than Jackie Robinson. (1,3)

Box score.

• 1966 - Three seasons after trading future Hall of Famer Lou Brock to the Cardinals for right-hander Ernie Broglio, the Cubs send the beleaguered pitcher to their Pacific Coast League farm team in Tacoma (WA), where he will never be called to the major leagues again. During his dismal tenure with Chicago, the former 20-game winner compiled a woeful 7-19 record and an ERA of 5.40. (1,3)
• 1985 - At Wrigley Field, the first three hitters in the Cubs’ announced batting order are Billy Hatcher, Davey Lopes and Ryne Sandberg. After Hatcher walks, Lopes takes a strike before someone in the Cubs’ dugout sees that the lineup card submitted to the umpire has Sandberg listed second and Lopes third. Sandberg then finishes the at-bat (during which Hatcher is picked off) and singles. Lopes, hitting in his proper turn, doubles Sandberg home. All for naught as the Giants beat them, 12 - 6. (3)

Box score.

• 1991 - In a unanimous vote, final approval is given by baseball owners for the Rockies and the Marlins to join the National League in 1993. The addition of the new franchises brings the Senior Circuit total to 14, with Colorado being placed in the West Division and Florida joining the NL East.
• 1992 - Umpire Bill Hohn ejects an Atlanta Braves fan from the Braves-Cubs game for making obscene gestures. The gestures might have been meant for the Braves, who are shut out, 8 - 0. Greg Maddux goes seven innings for the win over John Smoltz, giving up three runs. The other five come off Juan Berenguer, who lasts a third of an inning. Chicago gets homers from Kal Daniels, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg and Mark Grace. (3)

Box score.

• 1997 - Prior to their game with Atlanta at Olympic Stadium, the Expos retire Andre Dawson’s uniform number 10. During his 11-year tenure with Montreal, the future Hall of Fame outfielder once set the single-season club records for home runs (32), RBIs (113), extra base hits (78), and sacrifice flies (18).
• 2002 - The Cubs fire manager Don Baylor and hire Bruce Kimm in his place.
• Cubs birthdays: Pat Wright, Ward Miller, Buck Freeman, Dave Lemonds, Gary Matthews Sr., Rich Gossage (HoF), Tim Worrell, Bo Porter.

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.