Baseball history unpacked, May 22

The simCubs looked bad losing to the woeful Pirates, who took the meatloaf and will probably have it with pierogi while the Cubs travel to the city that beer made famous to oppose the Brewers in a weekend set-to.

Freddie Peralta will face Kyle Hendricks as the 35-16 Cubs try to extend their lead over division rivals Milwaukee (28-23). Al will have more in the game post (at 2:30 p.m. CT, for our 3 p.m. start). I’ll drop the specific URL to the contest in the game thread, but you can lurk at the BCB Media Center and catch it there as well. All past games and highlights reels are available there too, if you want the full #simCubs experience.

... 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 hand-picked scenes from the rich tapestry of Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball history*.

Today in baseball history:

• 1926 - Before the Braves-Cubs game at Wrigley Field, Grover Cleveland Alexander is given the keys to a Lincoln automobile, a gift from the fans. The Braves then cuff Alex around and win, 7-1. When the Cubs end their homestand, Alexander will be left behind in Chicago, and then waived. (3)
• 1946 - With the score tied 1 - 1 in the 10th inning at Ebbets Field, Cubs SS Lennie Merullo and Dodgers 2B Eddie Stanky start punching each other, precipitating a brawl between the two teams. Claude Passeau rips off Leo Durocher’s jersey before calm is restored. The Dodgers win, 2-1, in 13 innings, collecting 11 hits off Johnny Schmitz, who goes the distance. Joe Hatten gives up four hits in 12 innings, with Kirby Higbe pitching the last round. (3)
• 1952 - The Celler committee finds legislation for government control of baseball to be unnecessary. It says that the sport can solve its own problems, and opposes legislation exempting the reserve clause from antitrust laws. (1,3)
• 1962 - Roger Maris, who went all of 1961 without receiving an intentional walk, gets four in a 12-inning, 2-1 win against the Angels to set an American League record. Maris receives five walks in all. Four Yankee pitchers (Whitey Ford, Jim Coates, Bud Daley and Bob Turley) combine to give up just one hit in 12 innings. Ford leaves after seven innings because of back spasms, and Coates gives up the lone hit, a one-out 9th-inning single to Buck Rodgers. (1,3)
• 1968 - At Wrigley Field, Pirates slugger Willie Stargell hits three home runs and just misses a fourth in a 13-6 rout over the Cubs. “Pops” also hits a single and a double which bounces off the railing in left field fence back onto the playing field. (1,3)
• 1990 - During the Cubs’ 2-1 victory against the Reds in a 16-inning contest at Wrigley Field, Andre Dawson is walked five times intentionally to set a major league record. Yankees outfielder Roger Maris established the previous mark of four free passes in a game on this date in 1962 and then equaled by Padres shortstop Gerry Templeton in 1985. (1)
• Cubs birthdays: Hooks Warner, Hooks Cotter, Mel Kerr, Frank Coggins, Jim Colborn, Julian Tavarez, Chad Tracy, Jaye Chapman. Also notable: Al Simmons 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, and please drive home safely.