Baseball history unpacked, July 8

The simCubs, behind Russell Johnson Kyle Hendricks and Ryan Tepera, defeated the White Sox ten to zip as Ian Happ pounded a home run and drove in three on the day. Albert Almora Jr. looked like he wants to stay with the big club and Kris Bryant got small.

A good time was had by all on the right side of the rivalry and the highlight are full of sunshine and rainbows:

Today, southpaws duel on the South Side as Carlos Rodon squares off against Ryan Yarbrough. Al will have more about the game in the game post at 2:30 p.m. CT Tuesday. 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:

• 1907 - Bombarded by pop bottles in Brooklyn, irate Cubs manager Frank Chance throws one back into the stands where it cuts a boy’s leg. Chance is mobbed and leaves the park in an armored car with a police escort after the Cubs’ 5-0 victory. Three-Finger Brown emerges with the shutout win. (3)
• 1912 - At Chicago’s West Side Grounds, Giants hurler Rube Marquard’s consecutive game winning streak is stopped at 19 as the Cubs defeat New York, 7-2. (1,3)
• 1941 - At the All-Star Game at Briggs Stadium, Ted Williams, hitting .405 at the break, homers off Chicago Cubs P Claude Passeau with two out and two on in the 9th inning to give the American League a dramatic 7-5 victory. Williams’s four RBI are matched by National League SS Arky Vaughan, who hits homers in the 7th and 8th.
• 1945 - The Cubs take the National League lead by winning two from the Phillies, 12-6 and 9-2. They never relinquish first place, despite losing 16 of 22 games to the Cards. (3)
• 1952 - The National League defeats the American League, 3-2, in the 1952 All-Star Game behind the pitching of Philadelphia’s Curt Simmons and Cub Bob Rush in Philadelphia. The game is ended after five innings because of rain. Cub Hank Sauer’s homer with Stan Musial aboard in the fourth proves to be the deciding run. (3)
• 1957 - 1957 - The owners decide to re-elect Commissioner Ford Frick to another seven-year term when his present contract is up in 1958. (2,3)
• 1969 - With three runs in the ninth inning, the Mets beat the Cubs, 4-3, cutting Chicago’s lead in the National League East to four games. Ron Santo rips into CF Don Young for two misplays in the outfield. Santo will apologize tomorrow for criticizing Young, who left early and doesn’t take the team bus. Santo will get booed in his first game back at Wrigley Field. (1,3)
• 2008 - The Cubs bolster their pitching staff, obtaining starter Rich Harden and reliever Chad Gaudin from the A’s in exchange for right-hander Sean Gallagher, second baseman/outfielder Eric Patterson, outfielder Matt Murton, and minor league backstop prospect Josh Donaldson. (1,3)

Cubs birthdays: Buttons Briggs, Rowdy Elliott, Charlie Gilbert, Al Spangler, Ken Patterson, Jerome Walton, Bobby Ayala, Jaime Garcia. Also notable: Hank O’Day 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. A note: The history of baseball necessarily reflects certain political realities. My official view is centrist, regardless of my personal feelings or failings. Thanks for reading!