Baseball history unpacked, August 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*.

Today in baseball history:

• 1881 - With his team already ahead in the eighth inning, 5-0, White Stockings (Cubs) outfielder Abner Dalrymple becomes the first player to be intentionally walked with the bases loaded. The run-producing free pass is given up by Buffalo Bisons’ right-hander Jack Lynch in an eventual 11-2 Chicago victory. (1)
• 1963 - At Wrigley Field, Jerry Lynch leads off the top of the ninth with a pinch-hit home run off Lindy McDaniel, which proves to be the difference in the Pirates’ 7-6 victory over Chicago. The historic homer is the southpaw slugger’s 15th career homer coming off the bench, establishing a new major league record previously shared with former Cincinnati teammate George Crowe. (1)
• 1975 - The Reuschel brothers of the Cubs join forces to blank the Dodgers, 6-0. Rick goes 6⅓ innings and Paul finishes the game for the first shutout thrown by siblings. (1,3)
• 1987 - Andre Dawson belts his 39th and 40th home runs of the season and Lee Smith picks up his 30th save in Chicago’s 7-5 win over the Astros. (3)
• 1989 - Cubs rookie OF Jerome Walton goes 0 for 4 in a 6z5, 10-inning loss to the Reds, ending his hitting streak at 30 consecutive games.
• 1999 - Joining Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr., and Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa becomes the fourth player to hit 50 home runs in consecutive seasons. The Cubs right fielder, who hit 66 dingers last season, blasts his major league-leading 50th and 51st home runs in an 8-6 victory over the Rockies at Wrigley Field. (1)

Cubs birthdays: Frank Isbell, Jim Mosolf, Whitey Platt, Vern Fear, Jim Bullinger, Tuffy Rhodes, Ismael Valdez, Jason Marquis, Tim Collins.

SimNews:

The simCubs won 25 percent of their games against the simDodgers, salvaging the last game 6-4, thanks to a seventh-inning long fly off of Ian Happ’s bat that untied the game. Brandon Morrow gave up a long ball to Gavin Lux but Craig Kimbel battened down the hatch and nailed down his 40th save. Ryan Tepera got the win in relief.

Morrow has been looking a little tired and he’s been sent down to Iowa for a minute, with Jeremy Jeffress coming up to perform setup duties. Greg Allen has also been called up and Albert Almora and his sub-Mendoza bat can try to help The I-Cubs win their championship.

The Cubs are still miles ahead of the Brewers for first place and will be commencing a three-game set with the stinkin’ Cardinals. Ryan Yarbrough will pitch for Chicago and Daniel Ponce de Leon will take the hill for the Redbirds. The game will ‘air’ at 3 p.m. CT. All game video and related material is available commercial-free, 24/7, at the BCB Media Center.

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!

Thanks for reading.