Baseball history unpacked, February 21

... on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue brings a you a lighthearted 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*. Beware of rabbit holes.

Today in baseball history:

• 1891 - The National Board of Control, which manages the National Agreement between the two major leagues, with Allen W. Thurman still acting as chairman although he was replaced as President of the American Association three days earlier, declares all AA players fair game for contract raiding. (3)
• 1923 - Christy Mathewson, who becomes the principal owner and team president, and Giants attorney Emil Fuchs put together a syndicate that buys the Boston Braves for $300,000. The future Hall of Fame right-hander’s deteriorating health reduces him no more than a figurehead, turning over the presidency to Fuchs at the end of the season. (1)
• 1931 - The Chicago White Sox and the New York Giants become the first major league teams to meet in a night game. They collect 23 hits in a 10-inning exhibition game played at Buffs Stadium in Houston, TX. (2,3)
• 1957 - 1957 - Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley trades minor league franchises with Phil Wrigley of the Chicago Cubs. Brooklyn gives up its Ft. Worth club (Texas League) in return for the Los Angeles Angels (Pacific Coast League). In a year’s time, Brooklyn will be without a team and Los Angeles will be a major league city. (2,3)
• 1963 - The Cubs officially put an end to their radical approach in using multiple field bosses during the season when they hire Bob Kennedy as their only manager. With the “College of Coaches” system disbanded, the club will post an 82-80 record under their lone skipper. (1)
• 1968 - Major League Baseball owners and the Players Association sign the first “Basic Agreement” in the game’s history. The agreement will serve as a working contract between players and owners, dictating the working relationship between the two sides along with financial rules and parameters. (3)
• 1989 - Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose meets with Commissioner Peter Ueberroth and Commissioner-elect Bart Giamatti to discuss his gambling habits. (2,3)
• 1992 - After Homer’s Springfield Nuclear Power Plant’s team qualifies for the league final, Darryl Strawberry, Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ken Griffey Jr., Steve Sax, Ozzie Smith, Jose Canseco, Don Mattingly, and Mike Scioscia are hired by owner Montgomery Burns to win a $1 million bet with his Shelbyville rival. Although Strawberry, the only major leaguer to play due to a series of bizarre pregame accidents, has hit nine home runs in the game, the the southpaw slugger is replaced by Homer in the last inning because Burns wants a righty to face the opponent’s left-hander. (1)

• 2012 - The Cubs and Red Sox finally agree on compensation for the Cubs’ hiring of Boston GM Theo Epstein to be their team President while Epstein was still under contract earlier this off-season. The Cubs agree to send pitcher Chris Carpenter to the BoSox, and the two teams will also exchange players to be named later to complete the deal.
• Cubs birthdays: Joe Hughes, Ted Savage, Tsuyoshi Wada. Also notable: Alan Trammell (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.
• (6) — This Day in Chicago Cubs history.

*We try to vet each item. Please let us know if an item is in error, especially if you have a source.

Thanks for reading.