Baseball history unpacked, August 28

... 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:

• 1884 - New York Gotham pitcher Mickey Welch strikes out the first nine Cleveland Blues hitters to come to the plate, establishing a major league record. The mark will last until 1970 when Mets right-hander Tom Seaver strikes out the last ten San Diego he faces in a Shea Stadium contest. (1,3)
• 1932 - Due to the anticipation of an eclipse, the Red Sox complete a game several days earlier than scheduled with the Indians and beat the Tribe in 11 innings, 4-3. Three days later, Fenway Park goes dark for twenty minutes during the solar event. (1,3)
• 1940 - The Cubs recall Dizzy Dean from Dallas and release Billy Rogell. (3)
• 1950 - At Wrigley Field, Hank Sauer socks three consecutive home runs off Curt Simmons, as the Cubs edge the Phillies 7-5 in game 1. Sauer will connect for three homers off Simmons once more, in 1952. (3)
• 1971 - With 34,988 looking on, the Braves spoil “Ron Santo Day” at Wrigley Field by beating Ferguson Jenkins and the Cubs, 4-3. Santo is 1 for 3 with a run scored. (1,3)
• 1990 - Ryne Sandberg homers to become the first second baseman to hit 30 home runs in consecutive seasons as the Cubs beat the Astros, 5-2. ‘Ryno’ will finish the season with 40 round-trippers, the most in the National League. (1)
• 2008 - The Cubs game against the Phillies at Wrigley Field becomes the first contest to be played with the use of video replay available to umpires to review calls in regards to fair or foul home runs, balls in or out of the ballpark, and fan interference determinations. The new technology, not employed in any of the three ballparks going online today, will be used by all major league clubs starting tomorrow. (1)
• 2012 - Starlin Castro agrees to a seven-year contract extension with the Cubs, which includes a club option for an eighth season in 2020. The 22-year-old shortstop, already a two-time All-Star, became the youngest player in National League history to lead the circuit in hits when he collected 207 last season. (1)
• Cubs birthdays: Dode Paskert, Charlie Grimm, Jeff Cross, Cliff Aberson, Johnny Pramesa, Billy Cowan, Dick LeMay, Darren Lewis, Shane Andrews, Randy Wells. Also notable: Lou Piniella.
• SimNews:

The suddenly sucky simCubs dropped another game to the simMarlins, losing two out of three contests to a moribund franchise, as Jon Lester walked himself into trouble, letting what turned out to be the deciding run score on a free pass with two outs in the fourth, one of six he issued.

Anthony Rizzo homered and will be back in his GLOAT spot today against Marcus Stroman (9-11, 2.56) and the 62-71 Mets, also out of the playoffs and looking forward to golf and fishing, which will likely make them dangerous. Old friend Tyler Chatwood has returned from Triple A, changing places with Max Fried, who will try to pitch Iowa into a championship before rejoining the big club. Or at least, that’s the plan.

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!