Baseball history unpacked, June 17

The simCubs took the series opener as Ryan Yarbrough didn’t allow any runs and only three hits through eight and Dan Winkler provided a seamless ninth. Ian Happ powered two home runs to left-center and added another hit, seldom-used outfielder Ian Miller chipped in with an RBI triple off the wall and the Cubs went on to earn their 52nd victory of the year. Al says the magic number is 79 and I have no reason to question that figure. Yarbrough won his ninth of the year, second on the team and in the league to Jon Lester, who pitches today.

Plenty of simCubs highlights (also, the AL All-Star votes):

Marcus Stroman (6-5, 2.74) will oppose the ageless Jon Lester (10-3, 2.20) in today’s contest. Al will have more about the game in the game post at 2:30 p.m. CT, and then I’ll post the actual url to the stream at 3 p.m. CT. Or you can catch the game at the BCB Media Center and also catch past games and game videos, 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:

• 1915 - Cubs right-hander reliever George Washington Zabel, called into the game with two outs in the bottom of the first inning, throws 18⅓ innings of the Cubs’ 4-3 victory over the Robins at Chicago’s West Side Park. ‘Zip,’ establishing the major-league record for the longest relief stint in one game, beats Brooklyn starter Jeff Pfeffer, who tosses a 19-inning complete-game. (1)
• 1931 - Longtime umpire and future Hall of Famer Tom Connolly announces his retirement. Connolly, who had worked the first game in American League history in 1901, will become the supervisor of AL umpires.
• 1962 - Chicago Cubs outfielder Lou Brock hits a home run into the right-center field bleachers at the Polo Grounds, 460 feet from home plate, in the first game of a Chicago doubleheader sweep over the New York Mets, 8-7 and 4-3. Known more for his speed than his power, Brock becomes the second player to reach that section of seats. Joe Adcock was the first. (2,3)
• 1970 - At Candlestick Park, Giants legend Willie Mays (615) and Ernie Banks of the Cubs (504) both hit home runs making it the first time two big leaguers with 500 home runs do it in the same game. (1,3)

• 1971 - Don Kessinger of the Chicago Cubs goes 6 for 6, with five singles and a double, in a 7-6, 10-inning decision over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. (1,3)
• 1987 - Former Kansas City Royals manager Dick Howser dies from brain cancer at the age of 51. The popular Howser, who led the Royals to the 1985 World Championship, fell ill during the 1986 season. He attempted to return to managing in spring training in 1987, only to give up the comeback because of his weakened condition. His uniform number, 10, will be retired by the club on July 3rd. (2,3)
• 1993 - Baseball owners vote overwhelmingly, 26-2, in favor of expanding the playoffs for the first time since 1969. The new system, which is set to begin in 1994, will double the number of teams that qualify for the postseason to eight by realigning each league to three divisions, with two teams qualifying as wild cards. The 1994 strike will delay its implementation by one year, however. (1,3)
• 1995 - Relief pitcher Mitch Williams is released by the California Angels. Williams, who considered retirement last year after being released by Houston, ends his career with a unique statistic on his resume: 526 hits and 537 walks allowed in 684⅔ innings pitched. He is the only pitcher in major league history with more than 250 innings to allow more walks than hits. (3)
• Cubs birthdays: Phil Douglas, Zeb Terry, Pete Elko. Also notable: Joe Charboneau.

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!